Mike McConnell from Patuxant NWR was on hand during the Heinz Refuge "Cradle Of Birding" Festival on Sept. 24, 2005 to show visitors how to tie fishing flies. Here, Mike helps out Jacklyn Avory of Colwyn, PA. Photo by Heinz Refuge Photo Group Volunteer, Mark Bohn.

Heinz Refuge "Cradle of Birding" Festival, Sept. 24, 2005. Cheronda Frazier from the New Jersey Academy for Aquatic Sciences shows a live starfish to Rachel Schmidt and Tristyn Malesia, both of southwest Philadelphia. Photo by Heinz Refuge Photo Group Volunteer, Ned Connelly.

Lorrie Westman of "Talons: A Birds of Prey Experience", thrilled visitors as several of her birds were on hand during the Heinz Refuge "Cradle of Birding Festival on Sept. 24. Here, she is with her Eurasian Eagle Owl and an Africal Red-tialed Hawk. Photo by Heinz Refuge Photo Group Volunteer, David Goldberg.

Winners of the 2005 Heinz Refuge Photo Contest, sponsored by the Friends of the Heinz Refuge Photo Group, were presented their awards during the "Cradle of Birding" Festival on Sept. 24. Back row (l-r): Angela Hutton, Richard Van Zandt, Ian Rafter. 2nd Row: Gillian and Robert Hutton III, Anne Marie Palita. Front: Ian Moore. Not pictured: Charles Dallara and Pat Shorten. Photo: Bill Buchanan, USFWS.

The second annual “Cradle of Birding” Wildlife and Conservation Festival at the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum on September 23 and 24 was a great success.  Unlike last year, the weather was just perfect and allowed for the estimated 800-1,000 who attended to amble about both in the Cusano Environmental Education Center or outside to participate in the various workshops, visit the dozens of displays and exhibits set up by many refuge partners, see exciting wildlife demonstrations, and hear guest speakers, including keynote speaker, Scott Weidensaul.  Weidensaul is the author of numerous books on nature related subjects including his Pulitzer nominated, “Living on the Wind”.  His talk was about his amazing trip around the country retracing the original route followed by modern birdwatching’s founding father Dr. Roger Tory Peterson.

The festival started on Friday evening with a special reception featuring acclaimed nature photographer, Karen Hollingsworth.  Hollingsworth and her late husband, John, traveled the country for several years in the 1980’s and 90’s documenting the amazing beauty and diversity of the National Wildlife Refuge System.  Their efforts would lead to their images used in the Smithsonian Guide to National Wildlife Refuges, the annual National Wildlife Refuge System Calendars, and an exhibit that will be on display at the Heinz Refuge through next March, “Wild Sites! Our National Wildlife Refuges”.

Photography played big in this year’s event as the winners of the 2005 Friends of the Heinz Refuge (FOHR) Photo Group Photo Contest were announced on Saturday afternoon and the group’s Traveling Exhibit, just back from an engagement at the Swarthmore Library, was put up in various areas of the Cusano Center. The winners of the contest were: Children’s Group: Ian Moore of Norwood, PA., 1^st place; Robert Hutton of West Chester, PA., 2^nd and 3^rd place: Teen’s Group: Gillian Hutton of West Chester, PA., 1^st and 2^nd place; Ian Rafter of Wallingford, PA., 3^rd place: Adult Group: Anne Marie Palita of Rose Valley, PA., 1^st and 2^nd place; Richard Van Zandt of Worcester, PA., 3^rd place; Angela Hutton of West Chester, PA. and Charles Dallara of Broomall, PA., honorable mention. Former volunteer and founder of the Photo Group, now on the refuge staff, Bill Buchanan, selected his personal choice for the award given in his name and this year it was a color shot of Ozone Falls in Rickets Glen State Park, PA. by Pat Shorten of West Chester, PA. 

Festival Coordinator and Deputy Refuge Manager, Dr. Gary Stolz, said he was extremely pleased with the turn out this year and the great depth and diversity of the exhibitors and guest speakers who all contributed in a continued effort to increase public awareness of the refuge, wildlife, habitat management and important conservation partnerships and the National Wildlife Refuge System.