BBC Snippets

Link: http://www.freelists.org/archives/bristol-birds/02-2008/msg00089.html

(left to right) Bill Grigsby, Brian K. Wheeler, Dave Worley, Chris O'Bryan, Wallace Coffey. . . . watching hawk migration together at Piney Mountain, Ky, fall of 2004.

Members of the Bristol Bird Club were pleasantly surprised when word arrived that the BBC was being approached by the Kentucky Ornithological Society to assist the state group with financial help for their fall meeting. At the next meeting of BBC the request was quickly acted upon.

Brian Wheeler, of Firestone, CO, had an outstanding national reputation as an authority on hawks, raptor photographer, artist and field guide author. The KOS was pulling together a plan to invite him as their speaker for the society's September 17-19, 2004 fall meeting at Pine Mountain State Park, Ky. KOS had talked with Wheeler and found him available. The sticker price was over their heads.

KOS had heard much about the BBC. They had watched the Bristol club online and heard and seen some of the projects and speakers the club had tackled, including prominent birder and field guide author Kenn Kaufman. The Kentucky group believed BBC could lend a hand, would tackle something like this and become a good and willing partner.

The request came to BBC on Oct 17, 2003 from Hap Chambers, the president of KOS. The Bluegrass birders where shopping BBC to cover some $1,350 of expenses in getting Wheeler. BBC didn't let that window sticker scare them off. There were many creative minds in the club and birders with vision and courage.

Wheeler's involvement with the BBC would be priceless to the club. He had been in a three-year collaboration with noted raptor author, William S. Clark, from 1983 to 1986 to produce the highly acclaimed A Field Guide to Hawks of North America that was published in 1987. This book is in the prestigious Peterson Field Guide Series published by Houghton Mifflin. Brian illustrated and co-authored the field guide. Hawks has become one of the best selling Peterson Field Guides.

Wheeler had just published his book with Princeton University Press under the title Raptors of Eastern North America--together with its companion volume, Raptors of Western North America--they are the best and most thorough guides to North American hawks, eagles, and other raptors ever published. Abundantly illustrated with hundreds of full-color high-quality photographs, they are essential books for birders. Brian's photography had become an art form of its own. He had established himself as a highly respected bird photographer, particularly of raptors. His photographs, including cover designs, are regularly published in numerous nationally published magazines and books--as well as his own books.

Negotiations with the KOS continued for several days. The leaders of the Bristol Bird Club asked for several considerations. Chief among those were that the meeting would be fully billed in every way with the BBC as a the co-sponsor of the entire fall meeting. In additions, the Bristol birders wanted full recognition on everything published, announced, printed or put on the KOS materials, state journal, website and sent by e-mail. KOS did not expect this but was not concerned either. BBC had also asked to have a special table for our members in a visible and prominent place during Wheeler's presentation.

BBC also asked that the KOS sell copies of BBC's recently published book -- Birds of the Virginia Cumberlands by Dr. Dick Peak of Wise.

BBC's membership passed a motion on Oct 21, 2003 to present that offer to the Kentucky Ornithological Society. The KOS board of directors received the proposal and acted immediately. They accepted all terms. It was good to go.

The Kentucky birders and KOS leadership were good as gold. They kept their agreement to the T. In addition, Wallace Coffey was invited to introduce Brian Wheeler at the Saturday, 7 p.m. presentation -- Oct 18, 2004. A good group of BBC members attended the KOS meeting. Cabins were rented and excitement was high.

Among the most enjoyable parts of the meeting was hawk watching with Wheeler from a lookout point at Cumberland Gap National Historic Park. It was delightful to have hours and hours getting to know one another, talking about raptors and raptor identification. Everyone had their books and got autographs. Brian was warm and cooperative for anything. Dozens of personal photos were staged.

BBC was fully acknowledge. Some of the Bristol folks attended the KOS board of directors meeting and learned a few things about all that.

It was another good milestone for BBC and its members.

From the Archives of the Bristol Bird Club