Fran Morley and John Borom

Dear Editor:

The 5th annual John L. Borom Alabama Coastal BirdFest, held Oct. 16-19, was another great success. We welcomed visitors from across the U.S. and Canada, from Massachusetts to Ontario, to California. Everyone enjoyed four days of great birding, thanks to our wonderful volunteer guides, Eric Soehren, Bill Summerour, Linda Reynolds, David and Carrie Dortch, John Trent, Chazz Hesselein, Patti Russo, Sue Broussard, Celeste Hinds, Kris Lindquist, Jereme Phillips, Anita Salinas, Sandra Smith, Kent Schwartz and Roger Clay, an outstanding guide who also coordinates the work of all of the other guides.

Our evening speakers did a wonderful job this year. We thank Greg Harber, president of Dauphin Island Audubon Bird Sanctuaries, and Dr. Frank Moore, Chairman of the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Southern Mississippi, for informative and entertaining presentations.

BirdFest has grown to be a great community event thanks to our dedicated sponsors and supporters, including the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources: State Lands Division, Alabama Power, The Forum, Mobile Bay NEP, Faulkner State Community College, Degussa/Evonik, ConocoPhillips, Alabama Coastal Heritage Trust, Dauphin Island Sea Lab, Mobile Bay Audubon Society, Mobile County Commission, Baldwin County Commission, The Talking Phone Book, NOAA, Alabama Gulf Coast CVB, the City of Fairhope, Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce, 5 Rivers Delta Center, and The Munson Foundation. Special thanks to Walter Ernest and Marcia Miller for their hard work and to the Weeks Bay Foundation for being BirdFest’s financial partner.

Many of our visitors and special guests enjoyed fine lodging, thanks to Holiday Inn Express-Fairhope, our official host hotel, and to Fairhope’s Storybook Guest House.

Graphic Designer Kathie Hicks created our logo, and photographer Terry Hartley took the amazing photo of two Baltimore Orioles that graced this year’s poster and brochure. Terry also allowed us to display a collection of his photos at the Fairhope Public Library. BirdFest’s new partnership with the library included a First Friday Artwalk reception, a series of bird and nature films, book displays, special children’s activities, and the first annual 3rd grade Art Contest for Fairhope school children. Special thanks to Library Director Ilse Krick, Youth Services Director Tamara Dean, and the Friends of the Fairhope Library for their help and support, especially to Mary and Harry Gregg, Roberta Long, and Susan Acree for helping with the Art Contest.

Speaking of kids, the boys and leaders of Cub Scout Pack 47 in Fairhope went above and beyond for BirdFest this year, building bluebird houses to give away and taking charge of the birdhouse build at the Bird & Conservation Expo, which took place on the grounds of Faulkner State Community College in Fairhope on Oct. 18.

Sherry Sullivan and Alex Robinson with the City of Fairhope, Peggy Duck, Science Coordinator for Baldwin County Schools, and Desiree Bishop with the Mobile County Environmental Science Center helped us get the word out to children and their families who came to enjoy the Expo.

This year’s Expo was jam packed with speakers and exhibitors, and we thank everyone who gave up their Saturday to help make the day a big success.

As with any event, BirdFest could not fly without the help of many volunteers and dedicated workers. Thanks to Beverly Shiver, Emily Canaan, Fred Scott, and George York at Faulkner State Community College. Thanks to everyone with Alabama State Lands, especially Amy King, BirdFest’s hard-working registrar. Thanks to Expo volunteers Kathie Barton, Martha Luke, Liisa Flournoy, Missy Dorgan, Betty Bowdoin, Chimene Gecewicz, Peter Zellner, Pete and Nancy Tuttle, and members of the Fairhope Police Explorers. Thanks to trip volunteers Nancy Ward, Sally DeMott, Gaye Lindsey, Mac and Jaca McLaren, Steve and Terry Delker, and George and Celeste Hinds for all your help. Thanks also to our hard-working silent auction volunteers Eleanor Livaudais, Ottilie Hallstead, and Betty Bowdoin, and to all the merchants, artists and organizations that donated items.

With sales from our silent auction, plus merchandise sales, registration fees, and our generous sponsors and supporters, we are once again able to donate proceeds to help preserve and protect bird and wildlife habitat on the Alabama Gulf Coast. Since 2004, the Alabama Coastal BirdFest has donated $60,000 toward this cause, this year giving $10,000 to Dauphin Island Audubon Bird Sanctuaries, Inc., and $10,000 to Weeks Bay Foundation. Each organization will use the money to help purchase protected habitat land.

Finally, thanks to everyone on the Alabama Gulf Coast who graciously welcomed our visitors. For many of our out-of-state visitors, this was their first trip to our area. They had great things to say about everyone they encountered, in shops, restaurants, hotels, and visitor centers. Hopefully many will be back for additional visits in the future. And speaking of the future, mark your calendar - the 6th annual John L. Borom Alabama Coastal BirdFest is Oct. 15-18, 2009.

Sincerely,

Fran Morley

BirdFest “Nestkeeper”

John Borom

Chairman, BirdFest Steering Committee