46 - National Audubon SocietyRehabilitator Gerri Griswold as The Bat Lady but did ... 65 KINGS HILL ROAD SHARON, CONNECTICUT 06069. 46th Annual Sharon Audubon Festival 9 Almost Wild!

2 46th Annual Sharon Audubon Festival

FESTIVAL COMMITTEE

Eileen FieldingLaurie FortinKathleen FuhrAaron HaberScott Heth

Bettie SnyderMargaret Szubra

Information Booth: Jane RossmanVolunteer Coordinator: Erin O’Connell Setup/Logistics: David Paton, Mike Dudek, Bill

McKelvy, Mel PaskellGraphics: Margaret SzubraProgram: Wendy Miller, Scott Heth, Laurie FortinPublicity: Kathleen Fuhr, Aaron Haber, Wendy MillerArt Show: Bettie SnyderBucket Raffle: Eileen Fielding

AUDUBON SHARON STAFF 2013Sharon Audubon Center • Miles Wildlife SanctuaryScott Heth: DirectorMike Dudek: Land ManagerWendy Miller: Education Program ManagerErin O’Connell: Wildlife Rehabilitation & Outreach CoordinatorDavid Paton: CaretakerMel Paskell: Buildings ManagerChristine DeVito: Environmental Education InternMark Tolhurst: Environmental Education InternMattie VandenBoom: Avian Research InternAdrienne Doyle: Avian Research InternCristin Meilink: Wildlife Rehabilitation Intern

Summer Camp AssistantsJessica BarberShannon Paton

Audubon Sharon Stewardship Board:Gerald Freedman: ChairDon Mayland: Vice ChairSandra Slemmer: SecretaryMarge DeMarrais: TreasurerJim LevyBill McKelvyKathleen FuhrEileen Fielding

Bank Street Theater 17Beardsley Gardens 11Bee Tree Veterinary Clinic 8Best & Cavallaro Real Estate 8Bulls Bridge Inn Restaurant 10C.A. Lindell & Son 16Darren Winston, Bookseller 11Decker and Beebe, Inc. 10DeVries Excavation 21Elyse Harney Real Estate 15Founders Insurance Group 8Fountain Press 4Herrington’s Lumber and Hardware 20Hotchkiss School 17Housatonic River Outfitters 22Interlaken Inn 23Larkin Construction 14Litchfield Hills Solar 11McEnroe Organic Farm 10National Iron Bank 4Nejame 14Northwest Lumber and Hardware 10Oblong Books 4 Paley’s Farm Market & Garden Center 9Palmer Construction 8Petpourri 8Prindle Insurance 5Riley’s Furniture 17Salisbury Bank and Trust Co. 21Salisbury Garden Center 16Sharon Dental 14Sharon Hospital 24Sharon Package Store 9Sharon Pharmacy 5Stacked Kitchen 23Staub Electric 23The Wish House 22Upcountry Services 23WHDD 16Whetstone Builders, Inc. 22Wild Birds Country Store 11William Cole Agency, Inc. 20William Perotti and Sons 20

A SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS

Audubon Sharon would like to thank all of our dedicated volunteers who work as baby bird feeders, raptor and reptile curators, educators, store clerks, summer camp helpers, groundskeepers, special events helpers and in many other areas. We would not have the impact we do without your help. — Thank You!


Saturday’s Featured Performers

Skyhunters in FlightBrian Bradley

Saturday, August 10th, 3:30 pm

Brian Bradley has been a falconer and animal trainer for over twenty years. His passion for the outdoors

and birds of prey began as a child. At age 14 he became an apprentice falconer and crafted his skills under the tutelage of famous falconer and biology professor Heinz Meng. Today his love of raptors and a desire to educateothersaboutthesemagnificentcreaturesledto the creation of Skyhunters in Flight - an educational program with performing birds of prey.

Skyhunters is a detailed look into the world of raptors.Theprogramexaminesthenaturalhistory

and biology of birds of prey from around the world. Learnabouttheancientsportoffalconry.Experiencethesilentflightofanowl.Watchahawkandhuntingdog work together, and see a falcon chase a lure at high speed. This informative, action-oriented program offers something for everyone.

FolktalesEshu Bumpus

Saturday, August 10th, 1:00 pm

Eshu is a renowned storyteller, an accomplished jazz vocalist and a master at physical characterization.

HehasperformedontheExchangePlacestageattheNational Festival, and performed 36 sold out shows in 13 days at the Smithsonian. After appearing at the 10th Annual Connecticut Storytelling Festival, Eshu was acclaimed as,“ … a fresh, responsible and knowledgeable voice... distinct and compelling... the hit oftheFestival.”Hehastravelledextensivelyvisitingschools, organizations and municipalities telling stories, singing songs and offering writing workshops and drama residencies. To date, this multi-talented artist has presented programs in 18 different states across America.WeareexcitedtohaveEshuwithustosharehis repertoire of world stories and songs at the Sharon Audubon Festival.

46th Annual Sharon Audubon Festival 7

Nature Nick’s Animal Adventures

Sunday, August 11th, 1:00 pm

Nature Nick Jacinto is one of the most well-known animal handlers in the New York tri-state area.

He and his animals have appeared on numerous TV shows and public events throughout the area. His TV credits include The Martha Stewart Show, The Wendy Williams Show, Petkeeping with Marc Morrone, and GoodMorningAmerica.Inadditiontobeingacertifiedteacher, he is also one of the few animal handlers inNewYorkStatewhocurrentlyholdssixpermitsfrom New York State Department of Environmental Conservation which allow him to showcase many rare andunusualexoticanimals.TheanimalsusedinNatureNick’s programs are either former zoo animals who wereinjuredandcouldnotbeplacedbackonexhibitorconfiscatedexoticpets.Hisshowsarefast-paced,originally scripted and interspersed with his own brand

of humor. Each show features 10-12 animals from all corners of the world including, but not limited to, kangaroos, monkeys, alligators, gigantic snakes, owls and falcons.

Sunday’s Featured Performers

The Wolf Conservation Center“Atka”

Sunday, August 11th, 3:30 pm

The Wolf Conservation Center (WCC), founded in 1999byHélèneGrimaud,isaprivate,not-for-profit

environmental education organization located in South Salem, NY. The WCC’s mission is to promote wolf conservation by teaching about wolves, their relationship to the environment, and the human role in protecting their future. The WCC accomplishes this mission through onsite and offsite education programs emphasizing wolf biology,theecologicalbenefitsofwolvesandotherlargepredators, and the current status of wolf recovery in the United States. Atka is the oldest ambassador wolf at the Wolf Conservation Center (WCC). He arrived at the WCC from Minnesota when he was just 8 days old. He was raised by the WCC staff, volunteers, ambassador wolves and Eno. Eno was the WCC’s resident German Shepherd and ambassador wolf nanny. In 2012, Atka visited almost 160 schools, nature centers, museums and libraries helping people learn about the importance of his wild “brothers and sisters.”


Wild Edible Plant WalkPresenter: Ron Aakjar

Exploreourtrailslookingforplantsthatcanbeusedinvarious ways. Edibility won’t necessarily mean eating the item raw. It could mean making a tea for drinking, cookingtoremovepotentialtoxins,etc.Wewilltalkabout making certain plants more palatable and when you can eat certain plants and when you should not. We will also be discussing plants that are poisonous and may look like the edible ones. Ron has a Master’s degree in Botany and is a Staff Associate teaching Biology Labs at Bridgewater State University. This is Ron’s 20th year as a volunteer at Audubon Sharon and his 20th festival.

Meet the North American PorcupinePresenter: Geraldine Griswold

You may know CT DEEP Licensed Wildlife Rehabilitator Gerri Griswold as The Bat Lady but did youknowshealsomoonlightsasThePorcupineLady?Meet the world’s third largest rodent (not Gerri but a non releasable Quill Pig named Pacer), in this one hour program which addresses the natural history of one of Connecticut’s most under-appreciated mammals! You will fall in love!!!! Gerri is Director of Administration and Development at White Memorial Conservation CenterinLitchfield,CT.

What’s Hiding in the Soil?Presenter: Katrina Venhuizen

Soil is important for all living things. It allows plants to grow which in turn can provide food, shelter and homes for people, birds and other animals. It also serves as home for many small critters who help create soil or provide the soil with nutrients. Join Audubon Sharon Education Intern Alum Katrina Venhuizen on a critter hunt in the woods, searching the soil and leaf litter for decomposers and predators such as worms, beetles, salamanders, millipedes, toads and whatever else we canfind.

860-364-5967 Phone860-364-1660 Fax

PALMER CONSTRUCTION LLCEXCAVATORS

GENERAL CONTRACTORS

FLORIEN A. PALMER65 KINGS HILL ROAD

SHARON, CONNECTICUT 06069


Almost Wild!Presenter: Anthony Dibella

The Kensington Bird and Animal Hospital (KBAH), located in Berlin, Connecticut, works with the community and the CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection to treat injured wildlife and pays for the costs associated with stabilizing and placing wildlife with licensed wildlife rehabilitators. Join Anthony DiBella, Veterinary Technician from KBAH,asheshareshisexperienceregardinganimalbehavior and husbandry of both wild and companion animals.Anthonyhasover16yearsexperienceandhasbeen with KBAH since 2009. Meet some of the animals that have come through the wildlife program at KBAH and learn their stories and the great work that they are doing in support of wildlife and wildlife rehabilitation.

Sharon Package Store1 Gay Street

Sharon, CT 06069

Jack Murtagh�

(860) 364-5760

Come see our new store!

Thanks for thirty extraordinary years!

— Scott


Schedule of Events, Saturday August 10

10:00 Early Birds and Bobcats!Birding Basics/Bird Song Fred Baumgarten (pg. 15)

Live Bird Banding Demonstration Mattie VandenBoom and Adrienne Doyle (pg. 11) Bobcats in Connecticut Chris Clark (pg. 23) 10:30 Tracks and Traces Laura Rogers-Castro (pg. 20) Children’s Pond Exploration Mark Tolhurst and Wendy Miller (pg. 15)

Reptiles and Amphibians Erin O’Connell and Jenn Healy (pg. 10)Tabitha’s Tale Linda Bowen (pg. 17)Writing Workshop - Imagery from Nature in Poetry Paul Nash and Denise La Neve (pg. 16)

Exploring Bog Meadow by Canoe (limited, sign up at info booth) Mike Dudek (pg. 15)

11:00 Training the Canine Hero (Search and Rescue Dogs) Chris Clark and Cathy Kohut (pg. 5)Family Nature Walk Katrina Venhuizen (pg. 11)Stream Safari Ted Gilman (pg. 5)Tree Identification Walk Geoff Romero (pg. 14)Gardening for Butterflies Catie Aakjar (pg. 10)KIDS CRAFT: Foxy leaves Christine DeVito (pg. 17)Almost Wild Anthony DiBella (pg. 9)

12:00 Lunchtime Music 1:00 Eshu Bumpus - Folktales (pg. 6)

2:15 Training the Canine Hero (Search and Rescue Dogs) Chris Clark and Cathy Kohut (pg. 5) A Quest for Ancient Amber Paul Nash (pg. 10) KIDS CRAFT: Funtastic Frogs- Amy Reiss (pg. 10) Tree Identification Walk Geoff Romero (pg. 14) Butterflies and Dragonflies Laura Rogers-Castro and Ted Gilman (pg. 5))

Exploring Bog Meadow by Canoe (limited, sign up at info booth) Christine DeVito (pg. 15)Wild Edible Plant Walk Ron Aakjar(pg. 8)

2:30 KIDS CRAFT: Make Your Own Binoculars Wendy Miller (pg. 20)2:45 KIDS CRAFT: Pressed Flower Bookmarks Catie and Megan Aakjar (pg. 22)

3:30 Skyhunters in Flight - Brian Bradley (pg. 6)

ALL DAY Ongoing Activities and Exhibits- see page 19

__________________________________________________________________________________Note: Most programs are good for families and will last approximately one hour unless noted.


Schedule of Events, Sunday, August 11

10:00 Early Birds and Bats! Birding Basics Fred Baumgarten (pg. 15) Live Bird Banding Demonstration Mattie VandenBoom and Adrienne Doyle (pg. 11)

Bats Gerri Griswold (pg. 17)

10:30 Children’s Pond Exploration Christine DeVito and Wendy Miller (pg. 15) Family Nature Walk Katrina Venhuizen (pg. 11)

Reptiles and Amphibians Mark Tolhurst and Jenn Healy (pg. 10)Almost Wild Anthony DiBella (pg. 9)Exploring Bog Meadow by Canoe (limited, sign up at info booth) Kevin McCracken (pg. 15)

11:00 Meet the North American Porcupine Gerri Griswold (pg. 8) Nature Photography for Kids Ken Elkins (pg. 20) The Swarming Behavior of Honey Bees Al Avitabile (pg. 16) Pressing and Preserving Flowers Catie Aakjar (pg. 21) Hummingbirds and Butterflies Patrick Comins (pg. 21) Stream Safari Ted Gilman (pg. 5)

12:00 Lunchtime Music 1:00 Nature Nick’s Animal Adventures (pg. 7)

2:15 The Swarming Behavior of Honey Bees Al Avitabile (pg. 16) What’s Hiding in the Soil? Katrina Venhuizen (pg. 8)

KIDS CRAFT: Foxy Leaves Christine DeVito and Mark Tolhurst (pg. 17)Exploring Bog Meadow by Canoe (limited, sign up at info booth) Kevin McCracken (pg. 15)Insects and Spiders! Ted Gilman (pg. 20)Mushroom Walk Richard Novick (pg. 21)

2:30 KIDS: Call of the Wild Ken Elkins (pg.17)2:45 KIDS CRAFT: Pressed Flower Bookmarks Catie and Megan Aakjar (pg. 22)

3:30 Wolf Conservation Center - Featuring Atka the Wolf (pg. 7)

ALL DAY Ongoing Activities and Exhibits- see page 19

__________________________________________________________________________________Note: Most programs are good for families and will last approximately one hour unless noted.


Bats!Presenter: Geraldine Griswold

Festival-goerswillhavetheopportunitytoexaminelive bats and learn about their importance from “The Bat Lady”, Geraldine Griswold, a licensed wildlife rehabilitator and Director of Administration and Development at White Memorial Conservation Center. “Bats are the kindest, gentlest creatures on our planet” says Gerri. “They are of no harm to humans if humans just leave them alone. What bats do for our planet is astonishing! The earth cannot survive without the contributions made by bats. They are the number one controller of nightflying insectsworldwide.Theyare primary pollinators and seed dispersers for many plants such as bananas, mangoes, cashews, dates, and figs.”Unfortunately,populationsofmanyspecieshavedeclined rapidly due to White Nose Syndrome. Join Gerri as she dispels the myths about these misunderstood animals.

Call of the WildPresenter: Ken Elkins

Explorehowanimals"talk"withtheirsounds,feathersand fur. Communication comes in many different forms and animals can “talk” to us in many different ways! Ken is a long-time birder and naturalist and is the Environmental Education Specialist at the Bent of the River Audubon Center in Southbury, Connecticut.

Tabitha’s Tale Presenter: Linda Bowen

Tabitha’s Tale is a story of Tabitha, a big brown bat who, along with her friends, loses her home to development. Asthebatstrytofindanewhome,theyencounteraman that does not understand bats and so evicts them from his home. As he starts to learn the truth about bats, he sets out to bring the bats back to his property. With colorful, eye-catching illustrations, the children in your life will enjoy and cheer for Tabitha and her friends while learning valuable information about bats. Join the book’s author, Linda Bowen, for a reading of the delightful story under the tent, Saturday at 10:30am Signed copies of the book will be available for purchase underthemaintentfollowingthereading.[81/2x11format, 25 pages, soft cover; suitable for ages 4-9].

Foxy LeavesPresenters: Christine DeVito & Mark Tolhurst

Join Audubon Sharon’s Environmental Education Interns Mark and Christine for this cute craft for both kids and adults! With a little bit of paint, some googly eyes and a pom pom, we will be turning a regular sugar maple leaf into a red foxfacetotakehome!


Conserving birds through education, research, wildlife rehabilitation and land stewardship.


Ongoing Activities at the Sharon Audubon FestivalWhen you are not participating in one of the many great scheduled programs throughout the day, there is still plenty to do around the festival and Audubon grounds!

Audubon Sharon is grateful to theSharon Veterinary Clinic

Bee Tree Veterinary ClinicKensington Bird and Animal Hospital

Sharon Pheasant FarmIt is with their support and that of many other

businesses and myriad volunteers that we are able to continue our work in wildlife

rehabilitation for the benefit of our individual patients and the community.

Thank you!

Live animals•

Clothesline Nature Art Show

•Rescue Dogs

•Exhibits

•Vendors

•Nature Store

•Crafts

•Children’s Activity

Tent•

Much more!


Insects and SpidersPresenter: Ted Gilman

Insects and spiders come in all shapes and sizes and are among the most maligned of groups. Join us as we exploretheamazingworldofthesesmallcreatures,discoverhowtofindthemandlearnhowsometimestruthisstrangerthanfictionintheirlifestyles.Thisprogram is good for all ages. Ted Gilman, a naturalist at the Audubon Center in Greenwich, has had a life-long love of insects, spiders and other tiny creatures and loves sharinginsectandspiderexplorationswithnaturalistsofall ages. Come join in the fun and search some of these most fascinating, and often tiny, neighbors.

Make Your Own BinocularsPresenter: Wendy Miller

What do you get when you cross two toilet paper tubes, some paper, string and markers or crayons with a child’s artistic imagination and sense of naturalwonder?Homemade binoculars! Kids will be able to make theirveryownpairtotakehomeanduseontheirnextnature hike outdoors! Wendy is the Education Program Manager at Audubon Sharon as well as the Summer Camp Director. This binocular craft was a huge hit with the 2013 summer campers!

Tracks and TracesPresenter: Laura E. Rogers-Castro

Animal signs are everywhere. Even if you don’t see the animal you will know it was once there. During this program,wewilltakeawalktoexplorebeautifulwebs,mysterious egg cases, cool galls and other interesting signs of insects and animals that live among us. Laura E. Rogers-Castro has worked for the State of Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) for the past twenty-one years. She is currently a Natural Resource Educator for the Wildlife Division at the Sessions Woods Wildlife Management Area, in Burlington, Connecticut.

Nature Photography for KidsPresenter: Ken Elkins

The power of observation can be heightened when the goal is to capture an experience on film.All childrenhave an artistic and creative side and can learn a lot about nature by taking good pictures, as can adults. Hike while learning to compose pictures, work with natural lighting and bring home some great memories. Families are responsible for providing their own camera. Any type of cameraorcamera-phoneisfine.


Merry Marsh Children’s Craft TentPresenter: Rachel Lenihan

Mixedmedia,naturalmaterialsandrecyclablesareusedintheMerryMarshtenttoteachscientificconceptsandprovideanexcitinghands-onadventureexploringandappreciating the boundless possibilities found in nature. This year, Rachel Lenihan will be helping your children make some incredible, imaginative creations. Rachel is a young artist from Stanfordville, NY and a recent graduate of Vassar College. During the past four years, she has cultivated a variety of interests, working as a Biology Research Assistant while majoring in both Studio Art and Psychology. She hopes to combine these interests to become either an art therapist or an educator, integrating natural science with creative arts, psychology and a hint of comedy.

Pressed Flower BookmarksPresenters: Catie and Megan Aakjar

In this fun program, kids will learn about pressing wildflowers,makingtheirownhomemadeplantpressesand different crafts and projects they can create with theirpressedflowers.Thekidswillbemakingtheirownbookmarksoutofalreadypressedflowers,cardstockandclear contact paper to take home.

Documents

46 - National Audubon SocietyRehabilitator Gerri Griswold as The Bat Lady but did ... 65 KINGS HILL ROAD SHARON, CONNECTICUT 06069. 46th Annual Sharon Audubon Festival 9 Almost Wild!