For the Birds Conference Coming to Queens

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'For the Birds' Conference Coming to Queens!

by Gary Hartlen

February 4th, 2003 Liverpool, N.S. - "For the Birds" will bring together birders, tourism operators and those providing guest services to birders for a weekend of talks, workshops and unique birding experiences. How to attract birders to the area and tap into this growing tourist market will be the focus of many of the weekend presentations beginning February 27^th at White Point Beach Lodge, Queens County.

Ecological and habitat changes affect the increase and decrease of bird populations worldwide. Can tourism development help or hinder conservation measures? How can we enhance the birders’ visit to our area?

Tom Hince, author of A Birder’s Guide to Point Pelee, will open the conference with a talk on "Birder Impacts - lessons from Canada’s most popular birding destination".

Linda Campbell, Nature Tourism Coordinator for Texas Parks and Wildlife, will share her experience developing and marketing the Texas Coastal Birding Trail, where over 350 nature preserves were created as economic generators.

Other guest speakers and topics will include: Lief Helmer, Tobeatic Wilderness Area discussing The Importance of Wilderness; Ted D'Eeon talking about the recovery of the Roseate Tern colonies near the Pubnicos in Nova Scotia; Laurel Bernard, on Birding Habitats; and Joan Czapalaya joining a panel discussion: Visiting Birders & Meeting their Needs.

Gary Hartlen and Peter Davies of Northern Diver Adventure Birding, Liverpool will conduct birding tours during the three-day conference and lead an excursion to the Brant Winter Birding Festival on Cape Sable Island. This designated Important Bird Area (IBA) is a rich feeding ground for shorebirds year-round.

Afternoon workshops held on the island will feature a slide show by photographer/birder Grant Milroy and a presentation by Ronna Schneberger, Banff National Park, on The Language of Birds.