Inaugural Adirondack Birding Festival

Hamilton County honors its birds, June 17-19, 2005

INDIAN LAKE, N.Y.- Indulge in Adirondack birds at the first ever Adirondack Birding Festival. Life lists will grow from June 17-19 with participation in nature walks, canoe trips and hikes throughout the county. Over 100 species nest in Hamilton County including the Bicknell's thrush, a rare songbird found in mountaintop forests of the Northeast. Many boreal bird species are likely to be observed, including the olive-sided and yellow-bellied flycatchers, ruby-crowned kinglet, palm and blackpoll warblers, Lincoln's sparrow, and a number of other species. Birds like the black-backed woodpecker, gray jay, and boreal chickadee are native to the Adirondack region and live in Hamilton County throughout the year. However, by June, all birds that migrate to the Adirondack region have arrived and are singing on territory. In fact, many species can be seen and heard from within close proximity to the roads. To help facilitate viewing and education during the birding festival there are over 16 planned field trips of varying difficulties throughout the county. Trips range from easy walks in Perkins Clearing to hikes up Blue Mountain and the Northville-Placid Trail. There is even a canoe trip from Little Tupper Lake to Round Lake, a part of the William C. Whitney Wilderness Area. "Hamilton County is the perfect place for boreal birders," comments Joan Collins, president of High Peaks Audubon Society, and member of the board of directors for the Audubon Council of New York state. "The county contains sphagnum bogs with tamarack and black spruce trees, and forests of spruce, fir, and pine that are often associated with the northern forests of Canada. These habitat areas attract boreal species and Hamilton County has many of the best areas in New York state to view these birds. Not to mention that the county is made up of friendly small towns surrounded by vast, scenic wilderness and not a traffic light to be found!" The festival will continue into the night with owl and coyote calling trips. There will also be evening lectures and presentations on topics such as: loons; loon banding; the Mountain Birdwatch Program: high elevation species; and Important Bird Areas of New York state. Daytime indoor activities will be scattered throughout the county, check www.AdirondackBirds.com for times and locations. There will be workshops and exhibits on topics like photography, birds of prey, and Adirondack warblers. Exhibits at the Adirondack Lakes Center for the Arts in Blue Mountain Lake will feature Jeff Nadler's nature photography and Ellen and Rick Butz's award winning bird carvings. Hamilton County is also home to four Important Bird Areas (IBAs) as designated by Audubon New York. Important Bird Areas help facilitate the conservation of birds by identifying the most essential habitats. To receive this designation an area must meet certain criteria that indicate its importance for birds. The Hamilton County IBAs are Moose River Plains, The William C. Whitney Wilderness, Adirondack High Peaks, and the Adirondack Loon Complex. A wide variety of birds, in addition to those already mentioned, may be seen during the festival, including: common loon; a variety of raptor and woodpecker species; common raven; eastern wood-pewee; least flycatcher; red- eyed vireo; blue-headed vireo; winter wren; brown creeper; golden-crowned kinglet; Swainson's thrush; hermit thrush; over twenty warbler species; scarlet tanager; several sparrow species; and many more. Package deals on hotels are available throughout Hamilton County at lodging properties. For details and offers go to www.HamiltonCounty.com and click on lodging. For more information on the first Adirondack Birding Festival and planned activities please contact Hamilton County Tourism at www.HamiltonCounty.com or 800-648-5239. ###