Sometimes I wonder whether what I’ve written is relevant. Perhaps at a point in time a piece was newsworthy or interesting. However, time and current events often catch up and leave your piece as something to be filed under “P” for passed its best before date.
However, this story, basically a report on a presentation on birds and birding, seems more relevant today that when I put fingers to keyboard back in May of 2014.
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It has been said that golf is a good walk spoiled.
But birding is “a good walk perfected.” That was the message Jeff Gordon brought recently to a large group of outdoor enthusiasts at Bird Studies Canada’s (BSC) National Office in Port Rowan just about 400 metres from my residence.
Yes, we have a National Office in Port Rowan. And Gordon, a celebrity in the birding world was a most able and appropriate speaker as spring migration is ramping up here on Ontario’s South Coast.
Gordon heads up the American Birding Association (ABA), a non-profit organization that provides leadership to North America birders and also contributes to bird and bird habitat conservation through its programs.
He was in town to participate as the Celebrity Birder in the annual Baillie Birdathon as well as to speak at this special event billed as a Celebration of Birding.
Gordon is passionate about birding and birds. He worries, though, that birders need to open up to others who may be interested in nature and the outdoors but are intimidated by the vast knowledge many experienced birders present. Rather birders need to be “evangelists” about their hobby and help “break down barriers” for newcomers.
Gordon’s presentation included plenty of action shots of birders from around North America including Alvaro Jaramillo. (Jaramillo coined the “good walk perfected” line.) The ABA head takes these types of pictures because birders are good at taking photos of warblers and eagles and the like but not so good at taking pictures of people enjoying birds. More images that capture the “grandeur of birding” are needed.
Earlier in the day, local ornithologist Tim Lucas found a rare Kirtland’s Warbler near the entrance to the new Long Point Provincial Park. This is considered North America’s rarest warbler and is normally found only in a small area in the north central part of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula during breeding season.
Gordon and a dozen or so others were there. He captured the excitement on his smart phone and shared the footage in the evening presentation thereby reinforcing his key message.
I think Gordon made his point well that night. The next day another relatively rare bird was located in the area. Check out this picture from Jody Allair's twitter account and you should be able to share in the enthusiasm with those seeing a Bell’s Vireo for the first time.
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This story was originally published by Forever Young, a Metroland paper.
Update:
**In 2020 Bird Studies Canada changed in name to Birds Canada. That change is recognition that their work extends beyond the study of birds and encompasses “public engagement, habitat stewardship, education and training, involvement in guiding conservation decisions, and more.”
