Ohio Bluebird Society Annual Educational Conference
By: Karen Skubik
February 1, 2014
378
Members of the Ohio Bluebird Society will be flocking to their yearly gathering at Fisher Auditorium on February 22nd in potentially record numbers.
This will be the 6th annual educational conference held in Wooster, according to the societys executive director Marcella Hawkins. Our crowd has grown from 150 the first year to 350 in 2013. This will be the first year we have moved to Fisher Auditorium – we have literally outgrown the Shisler Conference Center.
The statewide organizations one-day event is open to the public with this years theme: Finding Your Happiness Through Nature: the Domino Effect of Bluebirding.
Originally popularized by a 1930s song, the expression The Bluebird of Happiness is well known. Hawkins shared her personal feelings about the saying by noting, it is impossible to watch bluebirds and not smile while she also reference a Wikipedia article, the mythology of the bluebird has deep roots that go back to thousands of years. Indigenous cultures across the globe hold similar myths and beliefs about the bluebird. It is the most universally accepted symbol of cheerfulness, happiness, prosperity, hearth and home, good health, new births, the renewal of springtime, etc. Virtually any positive sentiments may be attached to the bluebird.
The Ohio Bluebird Society, Inc. (OBS) was formed in 1987 for the purpose of supporting the return and the perpetuation of the Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis) and other native cavity nesting birds in Ohio, according to their mission statement. To this end, OBS will strive for the best methods to use, conserve and create habitat for the protection of such species.
The range of topics offered during the educational event is explained by the domino effect. Hawkins describes this phenomenon as follows, the fact that once you are interested (or addicted) to bluebirds, it leads to other interests – you become more in tune with Nature. When you are out in Nature, you continue to find more and more things that are interesting to you. Dragonflies, Butterflies, Kestrels, Meadow Larks, Eagles, Ospreys ..there are so many things that lead you to another ..THATs the domino effect and it all started for me with bluebirds. By monitoring them and supplying places for them to nest, we become more aware of other birds, etc. that we can help.
Speakers and topics during the 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. event include: Paula Ziebarth, Trail Tales, Tips and Tricks; Dick Tuttle, The Beaver Hypothesis: Bluebirding in the Seventeenth Century; Medina Raptor Center, Eagle; Ohio Wildlife Center, Owls and Kestrels; Carrie Elvey, Milweeds, Monarchs, and More; Chuck Jakubchak, The Kestrel Project; and Darlene Sillick, Youth: Working on Conservation Projects for the Birds. Plus Jay Brindo will present a breakout session on Bluebirding 101, and a panel of experts including Mel Bolt, Dick Tuttle, Dean Sheldon, and Don Plant will answer questions.
For more information on the Ohio Bluebird Society or to register for the conference, go to http://www.ohiobluebirdsociety.org/ or call 330-465-6987. The event costs $10/person or $25/family. Attending the event will make Hawkins statement clear, There truly are many people dedicated to helping out our beloved bluebirds.
