The Paul Smiths VIC will continue the tradition of hosting the Adirondack Wildlife Festival on August 6 from 10 AM to 8 PM. There will be presentations on all creatures great and small, from Bears to Salamanders, live music with Roy Hurd, storytelling with David Fadden of the 6 Nations Indian Museum, Mark Manske’s bird on hand demonstrations, fun and games, visits to the butterfly house and a special presentation on Loon Conservation in America by Dr. Jim Paruk.

Current schedule of activities includes:

10 AM: Exploring for Salamanders with Paul Smiths College Professor Celia Evans

11 AM: NYSDEC Wildlife Technician Ben Tabor will talk about Adirondack Black Bears.

12 NOON: Music and Stories from Roy Hurd

1 PM: Native American stories from David Fadden of The Six Nations Indian Museum in Onchiota

2 PM: More music and stories from Roy Hurd

VIC Staff and Volunteers will offer interpretive habitat and tracking walks; The butterfly house will be open; Arts and crafts activities will happen throughout the day; There will be a treasure hunt; The VIC Juried Art Show “LIFE on the LAKES will be available for viewing.

4 PM: Mark Manske will offer a Kestral Demonstration

5:30 to 6:30 Visitors are welcome to join us for a Bird on Hand Reception in the VIC Great Room in honor of our key note speaker Dr. Jim Paruk.

6:30 PM “Loon Conservation in North America: from North to South and West to East” by Dr. Jim Paruk, The Director of Biodiversity Research Institute’s International Center for Loon Conservation and Research.

Dr. Paruk will provide an overview of current loon conservation and research efforts in North America, exploring issues affecting all five species of North American loons, from yellow-billed loons in Alaska’s North Slope to common loons breeding in New York’s Adirondack Park. He will also discuss exciting new findings about loon migration and other research conducted by Biodiversity Research Institute and its collaborators, in the Adirondacks and beyond. More information can be found online.