Cape Ann Winter Birding Weekend

Mark your calendars for the first ever Cape Ann Winter Birding Weekend from January 30 to February 1, 2009! Cape Ann is known to birdwatchers worldwide for its exciting concentrations of winter seabirds, and the Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce, working with Mass Audubon, has planned a weekend filled with a variety of events for all levels of birders. Both local and state wide birding experts will lead field trips to many of Cape Ann’s hot spots, so all participants will see as many specimens as possible. Presentations include a live raptor show, bird carving, and beginning bird drawing with nature artist Clare Walker Leslie. Special guest speaker Jim Barry, Essex County Coordinator for MA Breeding Bird Atlas, will give a Cape Ann Birding Orientation talk on Friday evening, and the Director of Mass Audubon’s Blue Hills Trailside Museum, Norman Smith, will be the featured speaker at a buffet dinner on Saturday night. His talk will be ‘From Snowy Owls to Saw-whet Owls’. The fun continues Sunday morning with a boat trip aboard the 7 Seas Whale Watch boat, the Privateer IV, weather permitting.

Be part of this exciting new event! There are three sponsorship levels available for businesses, $750 for Gold, $500 for Silver, and $250 for Bronze. All sponsors will receive recognition in the program, on the Chamber’s website, a link to the Mass Audubon website and an exhibitor’s space at the event. Exhibitors selling supplies of interest to the bird watching community are also welcome to be part of this weekend. The fee for exhibitor space is $100. For more information on becoming a sponsor or exhibitor, go to www.capeannchamber.com/birdingweekend or contact Program Manager Judy Caulkett at 978-283-1601 or judy@capeannchamber.com.