PRESS RELEASE

For immediate release.
Contact: Chelle Koster Walton
239-472-3499
ChelleTrav@aol.com

Caption: Bobby Harrison in camouflage as he stalks his bird “prey.”

Bird photography according to an ivory-bill spotter
“Ding” Days workshop back by popular demand

Bobby Harrison has gained recent fame for his ivory-billed woodpecker sighting in Arkansas’ Cache River National Wildlife Refuge, but long before his obsession with the “Grail Bird,” he was known as an award-winning nature photographer.

Back by popular demand, Harrison will lead a three-hour bird photography workshop on Thursday, Oct. 11, 2007, as part of “Ding” Darling Days. His workshop, which he conducted during 2006’s “Ding” Days for the first time, will take participants to where birds live in the refuge to learn about bird behavior, composition, exposure, depth of field, and use of tele-extenders and extension tubes.

“It was a very worthwhile workshop,” said Terry Baldwin, an award-winning Sanibel nature photographer who attended last year’s program. “Harrison’s one-on-one group teaching style is very effective. Everyone participating had all their questions and concerns answered, and by addressing his responses to the entire group, I learned solutions to problems I had yet to encounter.”

Harrison is the director of the art program at Alabama’s Oakwood College and a charter member of the North American Nature Photography Association. His ivory-bill sighting with fellow birder Tim Gallagher--the first sighting since 1944 where two qualified observers positively identified an ivory-bill in the U.S.--quickly led to the largest search ever launched to find a rare bird and ultimately to the announcement in April 2005 of the species’ rediscovery.

Participation is limited to 15 people, and spots will go quickly, so make your reservations early. Cost of the workshop is $100 each. Please call 239-472-1100 ext. 221 to reserve.

Harrison, along with FGCU’s Dr. Jerry Jackson, will also be speaking about his ivory-bill obsession at a special “Ding” Days presentation at BIG ARTS on Oct. 10. For more information on his appearances and other “Ding” Days events, visit www.dingdarlingdays.com.

“Ding” Darling Days is presented by J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge and “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society, the refuge’s friends group. To become a friend of the refuge, visit www.dingdarlingsociety.org.