FOR MORE MEDIA INFORMATION:
NETA HARRIS
BREVARD NATURE ALLIANCE - (321) 268-5224
NETA@NATUREANDSPACE.COM |
|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NOV 9, 2004 |
Seabirds Injured During Hurricanes Released to Natural Habitat During
Space Coast Birding And Wildlife Festival
Titusville, Fla. - Families, birders and wildlife watchers will flock to Florida's Space Coast, home of the largest collection of endangered plants and wildlife in the country, for the Eighth Annual Space Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival© Nov. 17-21, 2004. The Space Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival has more activities than any other birding festival in the United States, offering a unique opportunity to explore globally significant natural areas while interacting with the world's leading ornithologists, wildlife biologists and naturalists through a comprehensive collection of field trips, seminars, workshops, boat trips, kayak adventures and social gatherings.
"We're looking forward to hosting this festival following the recent hurricanes," said Rob Varley, executive director, Space Coast Office of Tourism. "The Birding and Wildlife Festival draws nature enthusiasts from around the United States and many foreign countries each year. This year we have the rare opportunity to showcase our recovery by releasing seabirds injured by the storms during the Pelagic Birding Offshore Cape Canaveral trip."
This all-day trip held on Wednesday, Nov 17, takes participants offshore on an 85-foot fishing vessel, the Miss Cape Canaveral, to look for some of the most sought after species in Florida - birds that are not normally seen close to shore. Possible sightings include northern gannets, magnificent frigatebirds, pomerine jaegers and Cory's shearwaters. Views of the Cape Canaveral Lighthouse and the launch pads at Kennedy Space Center are highlights and bottle-nosed dolphins and loggerhead sea turtles are commonly seen.
One of the county's most well respected birders, master storyteller, Pete Dunne, will share treasured stories about his old friend, Roger Tory Peterson, the forever "Grand Master" of North American birding. Noted biologists and naturalists will present informative programs on and lead field trips to see other native animals from manatees and sea turtles to butterflies and bats. Internationally acclaimed wildlife photographer, Arthur Morris, will present a new collection of more than 300 of his spectacular digital photographs. Photography gurus can participate in a wide range of workshops and presentations by world-renowned photographers.
Additional highlights include the Wild Side of Kennedy Space Center tour, a technology and wildlife tour into restricted-access areas of the complex, an exploration of the archaeological sites of Canaveral National Seashore, a unique guided tour to a sea turtle and seabird rehabilitation center and a tour of the habitats of the world's most endangered crane species, the whooping crane, accompanied by the world's leading whooping crane experts.
Baby birders can participate in interactive seminars from Bird Banding, Beginning Birding and Build Your Own Birdhouse to Florida Sea Turtles - Up Close and Personal and The World of Bats. Children under 12 are admitted free to seminars and regular workshops when accompanied by an adult.
Visitors may also explore a variety of exhibit and vendor booths ranging from nature and wildlife crafters, artists and photographers, environmental organizations, kayak retailers, optics and camera dealers and governmental agencies.
Some of the other speakers during the five-day event include Brian Harrington, Manomet Bird Observatory's well-respected shorebird researcher, world-renowned woodpecker expert, Dr. Jerry Jackson, Kevin T. Karlson, noted wildlife photographer and writer, Stephen Ingraham, birding and wildlife observation specialist with Zeiss Sports Optical, Jeff Bouton, product specialist for Leica Sports Optics and Herb Hiller, noted Florida tourism critic and author.
Florida's Space Coast features more than 72 miles of Atlantic shoreline, two natural inlets,
a national seashore and four national wildlife refuges, in addition to the nation's most biologically diverse estuary and Florida's longest freshwater river with associated lakes and marshes.
Headquarters for the Festival is Brevard Community College, Titusville Campus. Pre-registration is required for all field trips. Fees vary from free to $85.00 for the pelagic trip. Specific times
and fees for events, seminars and exhibits, directions, and registration forms can be found on the festival website, www.nbbd.com/fly.
For more information, contact Neta Harris at the Brevard Nature Alliance at (321) 268-5224,
e-mail neta@naturandspace.com, or visit www.nbbd.com/fly.
