Newsletter

First International Migratory Bird Day in San Vito

by Julie Girard International Migratory Bird Day (IMBD), the premier education project of Environment for the Americas, was started in 1993 by visionaries at the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center and the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology. To this day it continues to focus SVBC, she had been talking of creating such an IMBD event for our community here in San Vito. So under her fearless leadership, we took on the challenge: build it and they will come And so they did! On the sunny morning of April 4, 2009, at OTSs Wilson Botanical Gardens/Las Cruces Biological Station, our IMBD took flight. It was chock full of demonstrations and events geared to different age levels. Among the big hits were face painting, bird bingo, mask painting, bird drawing, origami, a Measure your Wings station, guided bird walks, mist netting demonstrations, and a Birds in Culture presentation, the official theme of this years IMBD. Over 90 people, mostly kids, showed up for this first IMBD. I cant tell you enough how rewarding an experience it was to see the awed and amazed faces of kids from 5 to 20 learning about the beauty and wonder of their environment! Muchas gracias to all of the organizers and volunteers (in alphabetical order) who made our first IMBD such a success: Aracelly Barrantes, Yenni Cespedes, Robert Chavez, Kate Desvenain, Julie Girard, Monique Girard, Harry Hull, Gail Hull, Pablo Elizondo, Alison Olivieri, Michael Olivieri, Dionisio Paniagua, Danny Ruiz, Sonia Vargas, Lydia Vogt, and Dave Woolley. And many thanks as well to the Wilson Garden/Las Cruces Station and all their staff without whose facilities and help this wonderful event would not have been possible. An especially huge gracias to Ariadna Sanchez of OTS for
Photo: Dave Woolley

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being such a key organizer and enthusiastic emcee for this event. See you all next year!

Drawing birds.

Photo: Dave Woolley

Boys in bird masks they made themselves.

attention on one of the most important and spectacular events in the life of migratory birds--their journey between summer and winter homes. It is celebrated throughout the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Central America with bird festivals and walks, education programs and Bird Day itself ! Our energetic President, having participated in these festivals in the U.S., knew their popularity and their power to educate and enlighten. Ever since the inception of the

Monique Girard at the mask workshop. Photo: D. Woolley

Lydia Vogt at the painting workshop. Photo: Dave Woolley

Kate Desvenain painting a pretty face. Photo: Dave Woolley

Julie Girard with Clay-colored Robin during mist-netting demonstration. Photo: A. Olivieri

Newsletter
Primer Da Internacional de las Aves Migratorias en San Vito
por Julie Girard El Da Internacional de las Aves Migratorias (DIAM), el principal proyecto de educacin de Environment for the Americas, inici en 1993 por visionarios en el Centro Smithsoniano de Aves Migratorias y el Laboratorio de Ornitologa de la Universidad de Cornell. Hasta la fecha, contina estos eventos DIAM para nuestra comunidad aqu en San Vito. As que, bajo su temerario liderazgo, tomamos el reto: hazlo y ellos vendrn Y as ocurri.

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En la asoleada maana del 4 de abril de 2009, en la Estacin Biolgica Las Cruces y Jardn Botnico Wilson de la OET, nuestro DIAM alz vuelo. Estaba lleno de demostraciones y eventos Y muchas gracias tambin al destinados a diferentes edades. Jardn Wilson/Estacin Las Entre las atracciones que hubo Cruces y todo su personal, figuran pinta-caritas, bingo pues su infraestructura y de aves, pintura de mscaras, ayuda hicieron posible este dibujos de aves, origami, una Emilce Ramirezs wingspan. Olivieri maravilloso evento. Unas Photo: Alison estacin de Mida sus Alas, gracias especialmente grandes caminatas guiadas sobre aves, demostraciones a Ariadna Snchez de la OET por ser una con redes de niebla, y una presentacin sobre organizadora particular y una entusiasta Aves en la Cultura, el tema oficial del DIAM maestra de ceremonias para este evento. Nos de este ao. vemos el ao entrante! Ms de 90 personas, la mayora nios, participaron en este primer DIAM. No les puedo transmitir suficientemente lo gratificante que fue ver las caras impresionadas y sorprendidas de nios de 5 a 20 aos aprendiendo sobre la belleza y maravillas de su ambiente! Muchas gracias a todos los organizadores y
Some of key organizers and volunteers (from L. to R.): Lydia Vogt, Julie Girard, Sonia Vargas, Ariadna Sanchez, Alison Olivieri, Kate Desvenain, and Yenni Cespedez. Photo: Harry Hull

voluntarios (en orden alfabtico) que hicieron de nuestro primer DIAM todo un xito: Aracelly Barrantes, Yenni Cspedez, Robert Chvez, Kate Desvenain, Pablo Elizondo, Julie Girard, Monique Girard, Gail Hull, Harry Hull, Alison Olivieri, Michael Olivieri, Dionisio Paniagua, Danny Ruiz, Sonia Vargas, Lydia Vogt, y Dave Woolley.

Alison Olivieri at mist-netting demo.

Photo: D. Woolley

enfocando su atencin en uno de los eventos ms importantes y espectaculares en la vida de las aves migratorias sus viajes entre los sitios de verano y de invierno. Se celebra en todos los Estados Unidos, Canad, Mxico y Centroamrica con festivales y caminatas sobre aves, programas educativos, y el propio Da del Ave! Dado que nuestra energtica presidenta ha participado en estos festivales en los Estados Unidos, conoca de su popularidad y su poder para educar e informar. Desde que se inicio con el SVBC, ella ha hablado de crear uno de