HUMMER/BIRD CELEBRATION
September 12 - 15, 2002

About our Speakers and Programs

Advance Registration Form

MALCOLM BECK is the co-author of The Texas Bug Book and is a much-respected pioneer of organic farming and gardening. He developed natural controls for several pests and brought the use of composting as a means of water conservation and plant disease control to the forefront. In 1973, he started a commercial compost operation that now composts nearly 250,000 cubic yards of waste annually. Malcolm has written numerous articles and publications on organic farming and gardening, composting, mulching and non-toxic weed and plant control and helped to write the rules and regulations on composting for the T.N.R.C.C. He is a paid consultant to a number of towns, cities and industries on composting and recycling and set up a composting operation in Monterrey, Mexico. He has been featured in national magazines, on television and radio. In 1997, he received the Governor's Award for Environmental Excellence.

UNDERSTANDING THE INSECTS A color slide presentation on good and troublesome bugs, their life stages from egg to adult and the rolls they play in Nature. Malcolm will explain that all bugs are here for a reason and when you understand them, you will know that there are no bad bugs, just misunderstood bugs.

BATS A slide presentation on the bats of Bracken Cave, the largest colony of bats in the world housing 20 million bats. Malcolm will present a history of the cave and how bats and other life use it. Malcolm will explain how his company has been harvesting bat guano for the past 16 years and how it is used.

GENE BLACKLOCK is an authority on the subject of natural history with a special emphasis on birds. He is the author of numerous checklists and several books including Birds of the Texas Coastal Bend and A Field Guide to Birds of Texas. Gene has taught classes on natural history and led field trip studies for over 35 years. 

HOW TO IDENTIFY BIRDS THE EASY WAY Designed for adults with little or no background in this science, this program will concentrate on how to easily identify birds by focusing on the habitats in which they are found and the special adaptations they use to make their living. This program is followed by a field workshop around Rockport-Fulton and will offer participants the opportunity to put to use techniques on how to identify birds the easy way. Cost of program is separate from field trip.

DAVID DAUPHIN has been an avid birder for over 30 years. He is past President of the Texas Ornithological Society and co-author of "A Birder's Checklist of the Upper Texas Coast". He is a licensed bird bander and has served on boards of the Houston Ornithology Group, the Outdoor Nature Club of Houston, the Houston Audubon Society and the Texas Ornithological Society. 

FALL BEACH BIRDS Fall birds of beaches, bays and marshes can be very difficult to identify and this program, presented by a leading authority on birds of Texas, will help birdwatchers of all levels to better identify this often frustrating group of birds. The program will be followed by a field workshop to Mustang Island for a close-up look at fall beach birds. Cost of the program is separate from the field trip.

CLAYTON FOGLE is a professional photographer who holds a Master of Science degree from Brooks Institute of Photography in Santa Barbara, CA, and a Certificate in Digital Multimedia from the Technology Development Center. As Professor of Photography aboard the SS Universe Explorer for the University of Pittsburgh, he traveled around the world and photographed in 11 countries. His photographs have appeared in many books, cards, calendars and magazines including National Geographic, Birdwatcher's Digest, and Birder's World. Clayton became fascinated by hummingbirds about 20 years ago and he has been applying his extensive photographic skills to capturing their images ever since.

THE LIFE OF A HUMMINGBIRD This digital presentation will use some of the latest technology to show the life of hummingbirds, their shimmering brilliance, racing metabolism and aerial maneuvers that have long delighted and intrigued people from all walks of life. THIS SHOULD NOT BE MISSED.

JESSE GRANTHAM is the Director of Conservation for Texas Audubon (state program of the National Audubon Society). He is responsible for developing and implementing comprehensive bird conservation programs throughout Texas. He served as Manager of National Audubon Society's Texas Sanctuaries System in the '80's and is an acknowledged expert on the birds of Texas. He is the co-founder of the Hummer/Bird Celebration.

LANDSCAPING FOR HUMMINGBIRDS: A WORKSHOP FOR BEGINNERS This is a landscaping workshop for beginners showing how native plants that attract hummingbirds can be used in the home garden. A slide presentation will feature flowers and gardens as examples. 

DR. NANCY GREIG is a tropical botanist by training who learned about butterflies while in graduate school at the University of Texas with author Phil DeVries (The Butterflies of Costa Rica). In 1994 she was hired as Director of the Cockrell Butterfly Center where she has put both her plant and butterfly knowledge to use. 

THE LIVES AND TIMES OF BUTTERFLIES Butterflies are beautiful creatures whose popularity with nature lovers is beginning to rival that of birds. But how much do you really know about them? Nancy will talk about butterfly habits and behavior including feeding preferences, defenses, courtship and mating, migrations and other aspects of their ephemeral but fascinating lives.

BOB HILL has been photographing birds of the Coastal Bend for over 15 years. His photos were primarily the result of an effort to describe to his family and friends the fascinating things Mother Nature reveals. 

PHOTOS AND COMMENTS ON SELECTED BIRDS OF THE COASTAL BEND An avid outdoorsman for over 60 years, Bob will feature his unique photography of special birds of the Texas Coastal Bend. He will share some of his different and interesting observations of nature while encouraging you to participate in the enjoyment and protection of the great outdoors. 

KAREN KREBBS graduated from the University of Arizona with a degree in Wildlife Biology. She began working at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum in 1987 as a Keeper. For 3 years she nurtured and cared for the hummingbirds in the "Hummingbirds of the Sonoran Desert Region" exhibit. She was promoted to Head Keeper, Assistant Curator and Conservation Biologist. Karen has studied hummingbirds for 15 years and published 8 research papers, written a book on hummingbirds and contributed to 4 other books on hummers. She also consults for other institutions on the care and well being of captive hummingbirds. 

ARIZONA'S AMAZING HUMMINGBIRDS Seventeen species of hummers have been documented in Southeastern Arizona. Each species is unique and special. Karen will talk about these amazing jewels of flight and what makes them so fascinating. The common species found in Arizona will be covered in this program with tips for identification, attracting and general natural history. 

MADGE LINDSAY has spent the last four years in the Lower Rio Grande Valley developing the World Birding Center, a $30 million project sponsored by Texas Parks and Wildlife and nine Rio Grande Valley communities. Located in Mission, Texas, she is part of the Wildlife Division in the Wildlife Diversity Branch. In addition to the World Birding Center, Madge's work at TPW has included development of the Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail, the Great Texas Birding Classic (birding tournament), the Hummingbird Round-Up back yard survey and the Governor's Task Force on nature tourism. She received the agency highest award for "partnering" and was honored with the National Partners in Flight award for her work in bird conservation. Madge is a graduate of Texas A & M. 

WORLD BIRDING CENTER TAKING FLIGHT Madge will reveal the exciting plans for creating the nation's finest regional birding destination. This project is slated to open late 2003. 

BILL AND ELSA THOMPSON have been birdwatching for almost 30 years. They started publishing Birdwatcher's Digest in 1978.

BIRDS: WHAT'S NOT TO LIKE ABOUT THEM? An informative musical slide show presented with piano accompaniment and a little humor.

GLORIA & JOHN TVETEN are full-time freelance naturalists, writers and photographers whose weekly column, "Nature Trails", appeared in the Houston Chronicle for more than 24 years. They are the authors of several books including The Birds of Texas, Butterflies of Houston and Southeast Texas, Wildflowers of Houston and Southeast Texas and Coastal Texas. In addition, their photographs and articles have appeared in several hundred other books and magazines. John has also led numerous natural-history tours throughout North, South and Central America and the West Indies for the Smithsonian Institution travel program and for other organizations. The Tvetens have served as featured speakers at nature festivals throughout Texas and have received several statewide awards for conservation and education. 

MOTHS: BUTTERFLIES OF THE NIGHT While the study of butterflies has become enormously popular in recent years, moths have attracted much less attention and are sometimes thought of as drab little insects scarcely worthy of a second glance. In truth, however, many of the more than 10,000 moth species that occur in North America are large and beautifully patterned. Some are also of enormous ecological importance. Meet these fascination moths through the Tveten's color slides and learn more about their strange and varied life cycles that allow them to fill virtually every environmental niche.

CLAY SUTTON teaches workshops for the Institute for Field Ornithology of the American Birding Association and for the Cape May Bird Observatory. He has authored and co-authored numerous books including Hawks in Flight, the Flight Identification of North American Migrant Raptors, the National Audubon Society Pocket Guide, North American Birds of Prey, and How To Spot Hawks and Eagles. Clay has served on the Board of Directors of the New Jersey Audubon Society for 6 years and chairman of its Conservation Committee. He has been a research associate for the Cape May Bird Observatory, past Chair of the Delaware Valley Ornithological Club's Conservation Committee, was the Mid-Atlantic regional editor for the Hawk Migration Association of North America for 10 years and was adjunct professor of bird studies at Stockton State College. 

HOW TO SPOT HAWKS AND EAGLES This slide program will cover raptor basics, how to find hawks and eagles both near and far. Clay will share the excitement of fall at Cape May and the excitement of the migration at many other hotspots such as Santa Ana NWR, Duluth in Minnesota, Braddock Bay in New York and Hawk Mountain in Pennsylvania.

PAT SUTTON is the Program Director for the Cape May Bird Observatory. From 1977 to 1985, she was the Interpretive Naturalist at the Cape May Point State Park. She was a founding member of the North American Butterfly Association and has served on its Board of Directors since 1992. Pat is the co-author of the Checklist of Butterflies of Cape May County, How To Spot Butterflies, and the butterfly watching site guide in Butterflies Through Binoculars as well as numerous articles on butterflies. 

HOW TO SPOT BUTTERFLIES In this slide program, Pat will relate her fascination with butterflies and convey the excitement of searching for, studying, attracting and enjoying these winged jewels. Included are coverage of butterfly watching adventures at Cape May, an Arctic wilderness trip in northern Alaska and a winter trip to THE Monarch roost in Mexico. 

SHERI WILLIAMSON is Director/Naturalist of the Southeastern Arizona Bird Observatory. She grew up in Fort Worth, Texas and moved to Arizona in 1988 where she and her husband, Tom Wood, managed The Nature Conservancy's Ramsey Canyon Preserve until 1996 when they founded SABO. Sheri has banded hummingbirds since 1990 and has banded more species of hummingbirds than any other bander in North America. She is the author of several popular and scientific articles on birds, a guide to attracting and feeding hummingbirds, the trogon chapter in the Sibley Guide To Bird Life and Behavior and the Peterson Field Guide to Hummingbirds of North America. 

HUMMINGBIRD IDENTIFICATION: Drawing on more than a decade of specialized study and photos taken both in the field and in hand, Sheri will use this three hour seminar to cover hummingbird identification issues from beginning to advanced. Sheri will meet with those interested in some fieldwork following the seminar. Location to be announced during seminar. 

RICHARD WOLINSKI has a B. S. from Central Michigan University and a M. S. from Eastern Michigan University, both in biology. He has been an active field ornithologist for over 30 years and currently is employed as an ecologist for the state of Michigan.

PURPLE MARTINS An introduction to how the martin makes its living while on the wing in North America. Richard will discuss the martins' travels, foraging behavior, nesting habits and how humans and martins interact. He will include basic information on attracting and keeping martins. 



HUMMINGBIRD BANDING
Hanna and Artie Richard of Ingram, Texas will conduct hummingbird banding at the 2002 Hummer/Bird Celebration. The two have been banding birds since 1974 and have banded hawks, owls and other raptors, passerines, swallows, purple martins and, of course, hummingbirds. They have been involved in a number of special projects including a Snowy Owl winter banding operation at JFK Airport, a Barn Owl spring/summer nest box survey on the islands in Jamaica Bay for the National Park Service and conducted a Black-capped Vireo banding operation at Camp Bullis (Bexar County, Texas) helping to determine the effects of the artillery firing range on the bird's nesting. In cooperation with Texas Parks and Wildlife, they have banded birds at Bentsen-Rio Grande SP, Devil's River SNA and Davis Mountains SP. They have an intense interest in hummingbirds and conduct several yearly-banding operations in Texas.

BANDING HOURS
Thursday 1:00 - 5:00 PM 
Friday & Saturday 
7:00 AM - 12:00 PM and 2:00 - 5:00 PM
No fee required

LOCATION
Take Bus. 35 north. Left on FM 3036 West to Spanish Woods Estates. Right on Spanish Wood about one mile north. Home at corner of Spanish Wood and San Leanna (112 San Leanna).

BOAT TOURS
Aboard the 100 passenger New Pisces docked at Rockport Harbor.
The 1 3/4 hour trip travels up the Intracoastal Canal for channel, flats, bay and overhead birdwatching.

BOAT TOUR HOURS
Thursday
3:00 - 4:45 PM 5:00 - 6:45 PM
Friday & Saturday
7:00 - 8:45 AM
9:00 - 10:45 AM
11:00 AM - 12:45 PM
2:00 - 3:45 PM
4:00 - 5:45 PM
$15.00 per person

HUMMER HOMES
You are invited to visit over 25 public and private gardens that act as temporary HOMES to migrating hummingbirds. Each fall, the hummingbirds are in the Rockport-Fulton area for a short but crucial time. It is while they are here that they must prepare for a critical leg of their migration that will take them south for the winter. Here they will eat and eat and eat, greatly increasing their body weight with a store of fat that will fuel their most incredible non-stop flight across the Gulf of Mexico. A remarkable journey of over 500 miles. HUMMER HOMES offer the hummingbirds sources of nectar vital to fueling this trip. Some of the HOMES are primarily native habitat with no feeders and some draw the birds with dozens of feeders but most are landscaped and maintained specifically to attract and nurture hummingbirds. All hold the potential to host hundreds of hummingbirds at any given time.

Enjoy the 11/2 hour narrated bus tour of a few of the HOMES or take your time to see them all on a self-guided tour. Maps are available at any information table or the Rockport-Fulton Area Chamber of Commerce. Some HOMES are open to human visitors before and after the Celebration dates. 

HUMMER HOME BUS TOUR HOURS
Friday & Saturday
6:55 - 8:25 AM
8:45 - 10:15 AM
10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
3:00 - 4:30 PM
4:45 - 6:15 PM
$7.00 per person
Buses depart from Patio Area

THE STACEYS ARE BACK WITH LIVE HUMMINGBIRDS
The Hummer/Bird Celebration is very pleased to announce that hummingbird rehabilitators Marion and Susan Stacey are returning to the event this year and bringing live hummingbirds with them. They also bring fascinating and entertaining stories detailing their many years of experience in rescuing, raising and releasing hummingbirds. The mother/daughter team will have the birds on display at a booth just inside the entrance to the Commons Building (Vendor Booth Hall). Stop by and take advantage of this opportunity to visit with these dedicated women and to see the vivid colors and brilliance that make hummingbirds some of the most beautiful creatures on earth.

FIELD TRIPS WITH A PLUS
Four very special field trips will be offered this year. Each will be led by an expert on the birds and habitat specific to that trip. These field workshops will include instruction on bird identification, behavior and habitat. 

It is recommended that each participant bring water, snacks and mosquito and sun protection. All bus trips depart from Patio Area.

FALL BEACH BIRDS
Led by David Dauphin, this six-hour trip will travel to Mustang Island where David will instruct participants on field marks and other tips useful in identifying some of the most troublesome of birds. This trip will be preceded by a one-hour lecture on beach bird identification. Attending the lecture is not required but is recommended. Cost of the lecture is not included in cost of field trip. A sack lunch will be provided. Please bring your own drinks. Registration must be received by 9/12/02.
Friday & Saturday
9:45 AM - 3:45 PM
$42.00 

HOW TO IDENTIFY BIRDS THE EASY WAY
Led by Gene Blacklock, this trip will travel throughout the Rockport-Fulton area as Gene highlights the special adaptations and characteristics that make identifying birds much easier. This trip will be preceded by a one-hour lecture on how to identify birds the easy way. Attending the lecture is not required but is recommended. Cost of the lecture is not included in cost of field trip. 
Friday & Saturday
9:45 AM - 12:45 PM
$30.00

HAWKS & OTHER RAPTORS
Led by Clay Sutton, this trip will travel to Hazel Bazemore Park in Corpus Christi where it could be possible to see over 100,000 hawks as they take off and pass over the Park in their fall migration. Clay will present a lecture on hawks and eagles Thursday evening. 
Friday & Saturday
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
$30.00

LAKE CORPUS CHRISTI/MATHIS AREA
Led by Jesse Grantham, this trip will travel to the Mathis area where the variety of brushland, open waters, woodlands and mesquite grassland can produce some exciting birdwatching with such birds as Pyrruloxia, Black-throated Sparrow, Green Jay, Great Kiskadee and White-winged Dove. Jesse, an acknowledged expert on the habitat and birds of this area, will highlight the trip with tips on identification and how the special birds found in this area depend on the varied habitat.
Friday ONLY
7:00 AM - 1:00 PM
$40.00

Advance Registration Form

A WALK IN THE WETLANDS
Take a walk through the wetlands in this huge display depicting a real wetlands complete with water and plants indigenous to area wetlands. The display includes information on the birds, mammals and other wildlife that depend on the wetlands and how the wetlands provide for them and for humans. This is a fun and unique way to learn about the importance of wetlands and just how vital they are to all living things. So take your shoes off and enjoy. 

PLANTS, PLANTS, PLANTS
Members of the Aransas Home & Garden Club will once again have a variety of hummingbird attracting plants for sale during the Celebration. These plants go fast, so shop early. The plants will be located in the Patio area.

REHABILITATOR
Local wildlife rehabilitator Rachael Brooks will be on hand to discuss her work with injured and orphaned birds found in the Rockport-Fulton area. Look for Rachael near the Wetlands Display on the Auditorium grounds.

SPEAKER AUTOGRAPHS
Following each presentation in the Multi-Purpose Room (Commons Building), the speaker will be available to autograph books for you. Bring your books and meet the speakers at a table just outside the Multi-Purpose Room. 

HUMMER/BIRD CELEBRATION GUEST ARTIST OFFERS ORIGINAL OF 
2002 HUMMER/BIRD CELEBRATION ARTWORK
Popular Rockport artist Kay Barnebey is the featured guest artist for the 2002 Hummer/Bird Celebration. Kay's artwork is much sought after and the Celebration is most pleased and fortunate to have Kay as the 2002 guest artist. The original of Kay's artwork that will appear on the event tee shirts will be auctioned to the highest bidder with proceeds going to an art scholarship for a Rockport-Fulton High School student. The work will be on display at Kay's booth in the Vendor Hall during the event and written bids may be submitted at the booth. Bids will be accepted until noon on Sunday at which time the picture will be awarded to the highest bidder. 

The 2002 Hummer/Bird Celebration original artwork will be on display at Frame of Mine, 1010 Wharf Street in downtown Rockport beginning in July, 2002. Bids for the picture may be made at Frame of Mine until Wednesday, September 11, 2002.

If you are unable to be in the Vendor Hall at noon on Sunday, please leave a mailing address along with your bid and the picture will be sent to you. 

FOOD VENDOR
The Lion's Club will have a snack booth located in the Patio area.

Assistant to Chair…………………………Bron Rorex
Bus Tours…………………………………Bron Rorex
Hummer Homes…………………………..Ernie Edmundson
Volunteers………………………………...Betsy Larrey
Speaker Meals…………………………….Cynthia Womack 
Speaker Announcers………………………John Beree
Vendors……………………………………Patsy Phemister
Publicity…………………………………..Diane Probst
Facilities…………………………………..Connie Herring
Pre-Registration …………………………. Michael Tarachow/Merce Dostale

HUMMER/BIRD CELEBRATION
Rockport-Fulton Area Chamber of Commerce
404 Broadway, Rockport, Texas 78382-2765
(361) 729-6445 (361) 729-7681 FAX 1-800-826-6441
www.rockport-fulton.org
hummer@1rockport.org