Adams County Amish Bird Symposium
Registration Opens January 1, 2025
March 1, 2025, 9:30 am to 3:15 pm
2891 Wheat Ridge Road, West Union, OH
Symposium Presentations
The Hidden History of Warblers, Kenn Kaufman
The many species of small, colorful warblers are popular with birders, providing some of the peak excitement of spring migration. But they have a complicated history. Two centuries ago the American warbler family hadn’t been defined yet, and naturalists were identifying some of the warblers as flycatchers, creepers, titmice, or thrushes. The females, males, and fall plumages of some warblers look so different from each other that they were originally described and named as separate species. Even after these were figured out, some warblers wound up with misleading names because of old mistakes, some hybrids have caused confusion for years, and at least one mysterious warbler vanished for no obvious reason. Kenn Kaufman has been studying this fascinating history, and in this talk, he’ll present some highlights. The program draws on his most recent book, A Season on the Wind: Inside the World of Spring Migration(2019), but most of it is based on a chapter from his forthcoming book, The Birds That Audubon Missed, scheduled for release in late spring 2024.
Kenn Kaufman burst onto the birding scene as a teenager in the 1970s, hitch-hiking all over North America in pursuit of birds, an adventure later chronicled in his cult-classic book Kingbird Highway. After several years as a tour leader, taking birding groups to all seven continents, he transitioned to a career as a writer, editor, and illustrator. He has authored or co-authored 13 books, including seven titles in his own series, Kaufman Field Guides. Currently, Kenn is a field editor for Audubon, a Fellow of the American Ornithological Society, and the only person to have received the American Birding Association’s lifetime achievement award twice.
A Celebration of Bird Song, Wil Hershberger
Wil Hershberger has been an avid naturalist most of his life. After becoming an accomplished and well-respected birder, photography skills learned in his Dad’s basement darkroom were rekindled. Today his photography has become an extension of his passion for the natural world. He has an innate ability to capture the natural world artistically. Wil is also an accomplished nature sounds recordist with over 5,100 recordings, including birds and bugs, which are archived at the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology’s Macaulay Library of Natural Sounds. Wil’s images and sounds have been published in books, calendars, and in museum exhibits around the US. Through his photography and sound recordings, he hopes to instill in others the desire to protect and save these sacred natural treasures.
We’ll examine some of the songs in detail by slowing them down with visual displays to help us “see” what they are hearing. We’ll explore what the birds are conveying to one another and other fascinating aspects of bird communication that are being revealed in the current literature. We will also explore the wonders of the Merlin Bird ID online app.
From Rescue to Release – Rehabilitating Local Birds of Prey, Marc Alverson
This presentation will provide an overview of RAPTOR Incorporated, including our mission, volunteers, facilities, and history. In addition, we will discuss how we care for injured birds of prey – from their admission, evaluation, treatment, and finally, release back to the wild.
How did an electrical engineer who worked as an engineer and program manager for a defense contractor building radio systems get involved with saving raptors? Easy – I was drafted. My wife, Cindy Alverson, the Executive Director of RAPTOR, Inc. immediately wanted to get involved with rehabilitating raptors as soon as she found out about the organization and she asked me to help. Today, I am currently serving on RAPTOR Inc.’s Board of Trustees.
For the Love of Birds, Marty Dermody
S. Marty Dermody, SC is the current Director of the Spirituality Center for the Sisters of Charity and loves sharing her work of photography and watching birds. She is an avid birder (birdwatcher) and enjoys sharing her knowledge with those willing to learn. She enjoys spending time in the woods, lakes and ponds looking for a variety of bird species that live in various habitats. Birding is her passion and she looks forward to sharing her knowledge and love of birds with others.
Adams County Bird Symposium
In the fall of 2003, Adams County Amish resident and local bird aurity Roman Mast stood in his back yard and dreamed of bringing the Adams County Amish community an event to celebrate birds and bird-watching. Together with Cincinnati Museum Center’s Edge of Appalachia Preserve Director Chris Bedel and resident Randy Lakes, the idea was “hatched” in February of 2004 with the first-ever Adams County Amish Bird Symposium. Expected to attract a few dozen attendees to the basement of local Amish businessman Larry Miller, over one hundred English and Amish from around the region filled the basement. They came to learn about birds and bird-watching from professionals and self-taught Amish experts on bird-related topics. So began the annual bird symposium innocently conceived in an Adams County backyard. the first year the event outgrew its basement beginnings and interest swelled by word of mouth. In 2005, the event was moved to Yoder Log Homes with a sellout crowd of over 240 people. Bird-related vendors and live bird demonstrations were added as well as another set of compelling speakers and topics. Topics ranged from hawk and owl identification, bird migration from both the Amish and English perspectives, the plight of the barn owl in Ohio, and newly discovered saw-whet owl winter movements in Adams County. Again, both Amish and English attended to share stories and knowledge about their common passion—birds.
In 2006 the symposium format was gelled with speakers, vendors, live bird demonstrations, silent auctions, and informational exhibits at the Yoder Log Home location. Capacity was expanded and another sellout crowd demonstrated the intense interest in birds and watching around the region. Topics included bird vocalizations, sparrow identification, planting native plants for birds, birding Adams and Scioto Counties, and promoting bluebird and purple martins around your yard. Today the symposium is hosted at a venue with a capacity of 300, and we continue to offer talks on all things birds, bring local vendors to sell unique artwork and hand-crafted items as we continue to sell out.
We recommend that you complete the web email sign-up form to be alerted when registration opens. Be sure to make your reservations early to avoid missing our fun and informative event in beautiful Adams County. We hope you will join us at the next Adams County Amish Bird Symposium!
Thank you to our Supporters
None of these annual events would have been possible without the support of our sponsors and the help of local organizations and individuals. A special thank you to the following organizations for their support. A list of all donors and sponsors will be displayed at the event.
Murphin Ridge Inn
Miller’s Bakery and Furniture
Yoders Bakery and Furniture
The Ohio Nature Conservancy
Edge of Appalachia Preserve System: Cincinnati Museum Center
Hilltop Cabinets
Midwest Native Plant Society, Inc.
Are you interested in helping with the symposium?
The Bird Symposium is always looking for people who are interested in the natural world in Adams County to help with events, help lead field trip to Adams Lake, and more! Email the team for more information at [email protected].
Sign-up for symposium updates!
Vendors & Exhibitors
Ann Geise Art– Ann Geise is a landscape, wildlife and nature artist from the Cincinnati, OH area who works in oils and watercolors.
Bill Dreger Art-Hand made unique rustic birdhouses
Rob Liptak Art-bird carvings
Mucky Boots Farm-specializes in Elderberry products
OOS-Ohio Ornithological Society
Raptor, Inc. – raptor rehabilitators and educators in SW OHio
Ride the Wind Wild Bird Rehab Center, New Richmond, OH (connect on Facebook)
The Nature Conservancy of Ohio and partners Edge of Appalachia Preserve System-Adams County
Time & Optics – Binoculars, Spotting Scopes, Tripods and accessories. Also some nature books and field guides. Family business for 43 years supplying birders and nature enthusiasts with high quality binoculars and spotting scopes. Buy from the people that know their product!