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2009 Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival - May 7-10

 

The 16th Annual Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival was a huge success. Thanks to the many, many individuals, businesses, corporations and of course all the wonderful participants who supported this great community event. We truly value your feedback, so please complete and return the Festival Survey, as we continue to grow Alaska's largest Wildlife Viewing Festival.

The 17th Annual Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival is May 7-10, 2009, themed Birds in Culture: Our Brothers and Sisters Return. We are thrilled to celebrate spring and the 50th anniversary of Alaska's Statehood with two keynote speakers: Yup'ik storyteller Jack Dalton and Paul Baicich, author, former employee of the American Birding Association and chair of the Council on Environmental Education's Bird Education Network.

Rooted in Naparyarmiut (Hooper Bay), born in Bethel and raised in Anchorage, Alaska, Jack Dalton has grown up an ambassador between two worlds - his Yup'ik and European heritages. A professional storyteller, writer and teacher, Jack has been honored by the World Indigenous Peoples' Conference on Education as a Distinguished Dignitary, featured as the cover story for the premiere issue of First Alaskans magazine and considered by many people around the world, indigenous and non-native alike, to be "The Storyteller". He was also chosen as one of Alaska's Top 40 Under Forty, one of the top forty business people in Alaska under the age of 40, and was the first storyteller ever to perform at the Camai Dance Festival which is held annually in Bethel, Alaska.

He has created and produced five theatrical works of epic storytelling, written a book, and has both a DVD and a CD of his storytelling available. He travels extensively around Alaska, the US and the world sharing his culture and stories in schools, universities, theatres and on Alaskan summer cruises to a wide variety of audiences. At residencies in schools across the country, he teaches the importance of storytelling to the continuation of all cultures and works with students to create their own stories, thus continuing the tradition. He also speaks Swedish fluently and carries a great deal of wisdom for one still considered young. His company, Raven Feathers & the Wind, is based in Anchorage, where he has called home for most of his life. For more information, visit www.ravenfeathers.com

Paul J. Baicich (pronounced "base-itch") has been an active birder since his early teens in New York City. A former employee of the American Birding Association (ABA), he organized their conferences and conventions from 1991 through 1995. He edited 14 of their "ABA Birdfinding Guides" from 1990 to late 1997. From late 1997 to early 2002 he edited "Birding", ABA's bi-monthly magazine. He then served as ABA's Director of Conservation and Public Policy until late 2003.

His concerns include an abiding interest in bird conservation and studies in the breeding biology of North American birds. In this last regard, he has co-authored (with the late Colin Harrison) "a Guide to the Nests, Eggs, and Nestlings of North American Birds (1997)". Paul also has co-led a number of birding tours and workshops to Alaska. These Alaska destinations include the Aleutians, the Pribilofs the Seward Peninsula, and St. Lawrence Island.

He is on the Management Board of the Prairie Pothole Joint Venture. He is also on the Waterbird Conservation Council and is chair of the Council on Environmental Education's Bird Education Network (BEN). Paul worked for two years for Swarovski Birding, a North American birding project, and for the National Wildlife Refuge Association, promoting support for our unique and valuable Refuge System. He has also been a consultant for the National Wildlife Refuge System (Visitor Services) on issues of popular birding and parallel refuge receptiveness. In addition, Paul co-edits (with Wayne Petersen) the popular monthly "Birding Community E-bulletin".

Happy birding!

Christina M Whiting, Festival Coordinator
For more information, call 907-235-7740 or e-mail shorebirdster@gmail.com
 

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Website Festival photos courtesy of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, unless otherwise noted.