Hello everyone: CLEVELAND METROPARKS "NORTH COAST NATURE FESTIVAL" FEATURES NATIONAL AND LOCAL SPEAKERS Cleveland Metroparks invites everyone to hear an array of nationally-recognized and local speakers at the "North Coast Nature Festival" event for nature lovers, beginning Friday evening, April 25 through Sunday, April 27. The event features a variety of programs and activities for novice to experienced nature enthusiasts, and includes "The Nature & Art Show" on Saturday and Sunday at Rocky River Nature Center in Rocky River Reservation in North Olmsted. In addition to "The Nature & Art Show" activities, visitors have the opportunity to enjoy two Special Evening Presentations on Friday night, April 25 at 7 and 9 p.m. and Saturday night, April 26 at 7 p.m. The Friday evening presentation (at 7 p.m. and repeated at 9 p.m.) features nationally-known Nature Photographer & Author Rod Planck with "South Georgia Island - Antarctic Paradise." Planck will share images and stories and take everyone on a virtual tour to one of the more remote areas in the southern hemisphere, South Georgia Island. Visit colonies teaming with hundreds of thousands of penguins, beaches strewn with elephant seals and see breathtaking landscapes along the way. Planck: Rod Planck has been involved in nature photography for over 25 years. His images have appeared in such magazines as Audubon, Sierra, Natural History, Backpacker, Birder's World, National and International Wildlife, and Ranger Rick, and in numerous calendars and textbooks. Planck has also been featured in print advertisements with such clients as Nikon, Fuji and Kodak, and in television advertisements. His devotion to using ethical photographic methods has gained him the respect of many nature photographers worldwide. The Saturday night presentation at 7 p.m. is entitled "Wings of the Imagination: Why We Need Birds" with Kenn Kaufman. Why is it that some birds of daylight sing their most glorious songs at night? How can a bird build an intricate, detailed nest, and then use it for only one season? Why can we find birds thriving both in verdant jungles and in the most desolate landscapes? What can we learn from the ability of birds to adapt to changes in their surroundings? Drawing on a lifetime of experiences from Africa to the Antarctic to American back yards, Kenn Kaufman explores the mysteries of bird life and the ways that they can add to our understanding of our place in the world. In this richly illustrated talk, he suggests that our encounters with birds not only increase our sense of wonder, but also can increase our ability to communicate with our fellow humans. Kaufman: Often compared to the late Roger Tory Peterson, Kenn Kaufman is an author, artist, photographer, and speaker who has focused on birds and nature since the age of six. He now edits his own field guide series, the Kaufman Field Guides, with volumes on North American birds, butterflies, mammals, and insects. The bird guide has been published in a Spanish version, as well as the English version. His other books include a popular memoir, Kingbird Highway, and a standard reference, Lives of North American Birds. A new memoir, Flights Against the Sunset, is being published in spring 2008. In addition, Kaufman is a field editor for Audubon and a regular contributor to most major birding magazine, and has led birding tours on all seven continents. He lives in northwestern Ohio with his wife, Kim. Both of the evening presentations are free. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and seating is limited for both. "The Nature & Art Show," on Saturday, April 26 and Sunday, April 27 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days, also features a great variety of presentations by guest speakers, along with nature art/photography exhibits and sales, exhibits of nature-related organizations and other nature-minded vendors, hikes for all ages, live animal presentations, musical entertainment, a birding field trip (off-site), children's activities, a 'Native Plant Sale,' and more. Speakers featured on Saturday and Sunday include: Andy Jones on "Migration All Around Us: How Birds Navigate Through the Americas" at 10:30 a.m., "Amphibians of the Great Lakes" with Bill Flanagan at 12:30 p.m., "Modern Bird Photography Techniques'" with Rod Planck at 2 p.m., and "The Big Picture Through Little Eyes, A Truly Ribbiting Story" with Kathy Krynak at 4 p.m. Mini-seminars are also offered on "Birding Optics" with Eagle Optics at 11 a.m., "EarthWords Birding Gadgets: Low-Tech to High-Tech" with Heidi Stelmach at noon, "Digital Nature Photography" with Dodd Camera at 1:30 p.m., and "Photoshop" with Dodd Camera at 3:30 p.m. Rocky River Nature Center is located at 24000 Valley Parkway, between Cedar Point Road and Shepard Lane in North Olmsted - just off the I-480/Clague Road exit (westbound) and I-480/Columbia Road exit (eastbound). For more information and a complete list of speakers and activities, visit clevelandmetroparks.com, call 440-734-6660 or 216-635-3200. Discover more about nature through all the great speakers at the "North Coast Nature Festival" of Cleveland Metroparks - part of your life, naturally! -30- ______________________________________________________________________ Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. Additional discussions can be found in our forums, at www.ohiobirds.org/forum/. You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask]