Keynote Speaker
and Dessert Reception
2009

Jim Burns’ Arizona Birds –
Looking at Central Arizona

Saturday April 25, 2009
6pm – 8:30pm
$15
Yavapai College Campus

Jim Burns is an outdoor writer/photographer based in Scottsdale, Arizona. He became hooked on birding while backpacking with his wife, Deva, trying to place proper labels on the birds they were seeing along the trail. Jim’s articles and photographs have been published in Birding, Birder's World, Outdoor Photographer, and Valley Nature, He has written three books illustrated with his photography: A Beginner's Field Guide to Phoenix Birds, North American Owls--Journey Through a Shadowed World and Jim Burns' Arizona Birds - From the Backyard to the Backwoods, published in 2008. He currently writes a birding column, "Bird Is A Verb," which appears on the Outdoor page of the Arizona Republic. Check out his articles on his website at jimburnsphotos.com.

“It is mandatory that those of us who love nature pay it forward
to the uninitiated, preserving it so that future generations may experience and love it as we do.”

Jim’s philosophy describes the goal of the Verde Valley Birding & Nature Festival and we are very excited to have him here as a local Arizona birder instrumental in reaching those who love nature and those who will love nature if we all can only “pay it forward.”

We are adding some changes to our program this year with the addition of the Birdy Verde Art Affair and our second speaker. Doug Von Gausig, Mayor of Clarkdale, naturalist and the man we consider to be the guardian of Tavasci Marsh, will present a short talk on why we proclaimed that the “River is the Reason” as the theme of this year’s event. Doug is also a talented photographer and respected member of the birding community. To visit his website, check out www.naturesongs.com.

We’ll announce the raffle winners too. So be sure to purchase your tickets during the festival at the raffle booth in the main event tent or at the reception. All proceeds are used to “pay it forward” to the youth of our community.