Announcing, the first-ever New River Hummingbird Festival, August 13-15, 2010 at the Blackberry site at ACE Adventure Resort in Minden WV (near Oak Hill in Fayette County).

The New River Hummingbird Festival will be an exciting family-oriented three-day festival offering an array of birding and nature presentations. Born of Fayette County's internationally acclaimed New River Birding & Nature Festival (named a Top 10 birding venue in Bird Watcher’s Digest) and co-hosted by ACE Adventure Resort, the New River Hummingbird Festival is destined to be a real crowd-pleaser.

Directing the Festival:

Ø  Dave Pollard, Fayette County Resource Coordinator who co-conceived of and implemented the annual New River Birding & Nature Festival

Ø  Bill Hilton Jr., Hummingbird expert, Consulting Director of New River Birding & Nature Center, and cited by Discover magazine as one of “50 Best Brains in Science”

Festival schedule overview:

o    Friday, August 13

• 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Hummingbird Workshop on hummingbird natural history from feeding to

nesting to migration; observing and photographing hummingbird behavior; designing a hummingbird habitat; attracting and caring for hummingbirds in your own backyard (or schoolyard or nature center); reporting hummingbird observations via EarthTrek and The GLOBE Program; using hummingbirds as a teaching tool; banding hummingbirds; etc.

(Advance reservation required; limited to 20 guests, ages 16 and up; $20 fee; lunch provided; recommended audience is formal and home-school educators, naturalists, and hummingbird enthusiasts. Dave Pollard, 304-574-4258)

• 7 – 9 pm Presentation: “Ruby-throated Hummingbirds: From Your Yard to Costa Rica . . . and Back!”

(free and open to the public; recommended audience ages 12 and up)

o    Saturday, August 14

• 9 am – 5 pm Hummingbird banding demonstrations, vendors, exhibits

(free and open to the public; all ages)

o    Sunday, August 15

• 9 am – 3 pm Hummingbird banding demonstrations, vendors, exhibits

(free and open to the public; all ages)

A percentage of monies received go to the Fayette County Education Fund, which underwrites youth programs. Their principal activity is Leadership Fayette County, whose goal is “to provide Fayette County youth with the information and tools needed to enable them to make the choice to return to Fayette County to Live, Learn, Work and Play upon completion of their higher education.”

We hope you’re able to be there and we look forward to seeing you at the inaugural New River Hummingbird Festival!

Best Regards,

The New River Hummingbird Festival Team