provided to The Santiva Chronicle
Ever wonder what it would be like to be a bird? Prolific birding guide author and illustrator David Allen Sibley answers the question with his latest book What It’s Like to Be a Bird: From Flying to Nesting, Eating to Singing—What Birds Are Doing, and Why. He will speak about the book at two free lectures at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Friday, March 11 for the “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge at the Sanibel Congregational United Church of Christ Fellowship Hall, 2050 Periwinkle Way.
For birders and non-birders alike, Sibley’s special, large-format volume excites and inspires by providing a new and deeper understanding of what common, mostly backyard birds are doing and why.
Sibley’s exacting artwork and wide-ranging expertise bring observed behaviors vividly to life. His book covers more than 200 species and includes more than 330 new illustrations. While its focus is on familiar backyard birds—blue jays, nuthatches, chickadees—it also examines species that can be fairly easily observed, such as the seashore-dwelling Atlantic puffin.
Author and illustrator of the series of successful nature guides that bear his name, including the New York Times bestseller The Sibley Guide to Birds, Sibley has contributed art and articles to Smithsonian, Science, The Wilson Journal of Ornithology, Birding, BirdWatchng, and North American Birds; and wrote an illustrated syndicated column for The New York Times. He is the recipient of the Roger Tory Peterson Award for Lifetime Achievement from the American Birding Association and the Linnaean Society of New York’s Eisenmann Medal.
This season’s “Ding” Darling Lecture Series evolves with the times and persisting distance protocols by presenting at a larger off-refuge venue. DDWS hosts the 18th annual lecture series, and Stan & Connie Grayson, HighTower/Thomas & Swartz Wealth Management, and Drs. John & Wendy Kindig co-sponsor Sibley’s lecture.
The schedule of remaining lectures is listed below; book signings follow all lectures.
Socially distanced seating for the free lectures is limited and available on a first-come basis. Staff will be taking temperatures and distributing entry wristbands while they last to attendees that day, beginning one hour before each lecture. Guests must be wearing wristbands and facemasks to enter the lecture room. Early arrivals may save their seat and one other with personal items. Saved seats must be filled by 15 minutes before the lectures start.
Note: Opinions expressed in guest lectures do not necessarily reflect the views of refuge and DDWS management, staff, and board of directors.
Lectures start at 10 a.m. on Fridays at The Community House, unless otherwise indicated.
• March 11 (10 a.m. and 1 p.m.) – Author David Allen Sibley, What It’s Like to Be a Bird: From Flying to Nesting, Eating to Singing—What Birds Are Doing, and Why (co-sponsors: Stan & Connie Grayson, HighTower/Thomas & Swartz Wealth Management, Drs. John & Wendy Kindig)
• March 18 – Author Jack Davis, The Bald Eagle: The Improbable Journey of America’s Bird (co-sponsors: Pat Appino, Sonya Keene & John Moy, In Appreciation of the DDWS Staff Donor, In Memory of Roddy West)
• March 25 – Author Stan Tekiela, Bird Nests: Amazingly Ingenious and Intricate (Sponsors: Vortex Optics, A Fellow Minnesotan, The Jenni & Kyle Foundation)
For more information about the 18th annual “Ding” Darling Lecture Series, visit the DDWS website.
ABOUT DDWS
As a non-profit 501(c)3 organization, DDWS works to support J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge’s mission of conservation, wildlife and habitat protection, research, and public education through charitable donations and Refuge Nature Shop profits. To support DDWS and the refuge with a tax-deductible gift, visit the ‘Ding’ Darling Society website or contact Birgie Miller at 239-472-1100 ext. 4, or dingdarlingsociety@gmail.com.
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