] On Tuesday, September 25, the John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove (JJAC) will host one of the country’s best-known natural history authors and historians, who helps celebrate the close of JJAC’s Ned Smith art exhibition (October 7, 2007). From 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm, noted author and naturalist Scott Weidensaul joins visitors to JJAC for an evening of informative and fun discussions. Weidensaul has written more than two-dozen books, including his widely acclaimed Living on the Wind: Across the Hemisphere with Migratory Birds (North Point 1999), which was one of three finalists for the Pulitzer Prize for general nonfiction. Weidensaul will discuss the artwork of Ned Smith, who served as a friend and mentor. In addition, he will be promoting the recent release (September 10) of his new book, Of a Feather: A Brief History of American Birding (Harcourt 2007), which examines the men and women who laid the groundwork for transforming birding into one of the fastest growing outdoor recreation activities in the last 20 years. “Given the focus of this book, I'm delighted and honored to be coming to Mill Grove, one of the cradles of American ornithology,” says Weidensaul. “There's no better place to trace the links between the science of birds and the sport of birding than where it first began.” [img:28771The evening begins at 6:00 pm with an informal gathering on the front porch of Mill Grove’s historic farmhouse, where the slow-rolling Perkiomen Creek provides a backdrop for sampling a variety of mouth-watering desserts and engaging Weidensaul (and other guests) in casual conversation. At 7:30 pm the front porch camaraderie moves into JJAC’s 240-year-old barn, where Weidensaul conducts a formal lecture about Smith’s impressive body of work—nearly 120 covers illustrated for Pennsylavania Games news and various natural history articles—while discussing the history of birding in America and reading passages from his book.
The event ends at 9:00 pm, but not beforfe guests have the opportunity to purchase a signed copy of Weidensaul’s new book. It promises to be a memorable evening. Anyone wishing to join the festivities must pre-register, and the fee for the program is $10 per person for JJAC/VFAS members, $20 per person for non-members. All proceeds benefit JJAC’s Community Education Program. For more information or to pre-register, call JJAC at 610-666-5593 x101. We look forward to seeing you on September 25!
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