Page 16 - Ft. Huachuca Scout 7-10-15

1B The Scout FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015

Southwest Wings festival offers something for everyone

Special to The Scout

Southwest Wings Birding and Nature Festival PHOTOS COURTESY OF SOUTHWEST WINGS
will host its 24th annual festival July 29 through 9RWHGRQHRIWKHWRS¿YHELUGLQJDQGQDWXUHIHVWLYDOVLQWKHFRXQWU\WKH6RXWKZHVW:LQJV%LUGLQJDQG1DWXUH)HVWLYDOLQFOXGHV
Aug. 1 featuring more than 30 free programs and ¿HOGWULSVIRUELUGHUVWRVHYHUDO&RFKLVH&RXQW\ORFDWLRQV
events for all age groups.
and birds on display. Flight to Extinction.” For the past four years, Green-
This nature festival has been voted one of the top “Children especially enjoy the chance to berg has been a leader in Project Passenger Pigeon
five birding and nature festivals in the country due to handle snakes and other animals at the fes- which aims to mark the anniversary of the species’
the abundance and variety of wildlife species as well tival,” Lewis added. “It is an opportunity extinction. He co-produced the documentary, From
as the educational programs provided free of charge for everyone to learn about wildlife in Billions to None: The Passenger Pigeon’s Flight to
to children and adults. southeast Arizona.” Extinction with director David Mrazek. The film is
Other activities include paid field a 2014 American Conservation Film Festival award
“Our organization’s mission is to promote nature- trips for birders to “hot spots” all winner.
based tourism, environmental awareness and educa- over Cochise County and the key-
tion in Southeastern Arizona,” said Gordon Lewis. note speaker, Joel Greenberg, au- Information about the upcoming Southwest
“This festival is a major educational and nature thor of “A Feathered River Across Wings Summer Festival can be found online at
event in Southeastern Arizona.” the Sky: The Pas- www.swwings.org.
senger Pigeon’s
Southwest Wings provides free programs on
many diverse subjects including hummingbirds, op-
tics, natural history, desert ecology, insects, plants

and flowers, photography and birding
tips. Several programs also include
free car pool trips to local sites.
The vendor area will include
live animal displays with
many insects, reptiles, mam-
mals

The Southwest Wings Birding and Nature Festival July 29-Aug.1 features pro-
grams for all ages, including live animal displays popular with children.