A "Big Natural Year" in Wild America | Andy and Ellen Stepniewski | March 2023 | YVAS Program
General ·YVAS Chapter Meeting March 2023 - A "Big Natural Year" in Wild AmericaRoger Tory Peterson invited his British colleague James Fisher on a 3-month natural history tour of North America in 1953. They recounted this journey in Wild America, which takes the reader on a wonderful armchair excursion of our continent’s natural venues. Though not a stated goal, theirs was an early “Big Year” in the parlance of birders. They amassed a list of over 580 species of birds. Since this book was published 65 years ago, it has inspired countless naturalists and birders into learning about and visiting the stupendous natural areas Peterson and Fisher visited. Too, a sequel Return to Wild America: a yearlong search for the Continent’s Natural Soul by Scott Weidensaul) 40 years later focuses on the monumental ecologic changes that have occurred in the sites originally visited. Andy and Ellen undertook a visit to many of the areas Peterson and Fisher chronicled on their trip in 2022. In this presentation, they will share their travels to a good number of these areas and their flora and fauna, and especially the birds they observed around this vast continent. Though Peterson and Fisher’s circuit of North America was limited to three months, Andy and Ellen took a year and so were able to take their time to more thoroughly visit and explore North America’s varied environments during their “prime time.” During their year, they tallied more than 700 species of birds, a testament to a vastly improved road system and knowledge of “where the birds are” as compared to 70 years ago. Andy and Ellen Stepniewski are life-long naturalists with a love for travel, natural environments, and birds. Both have a long involvement in the Yakima Valley Audubon Society, holding various leadership roles.
Posted by Yakima Valley Audubon Society on Friday, March 24, 2023
YVAS Chapter Meeting March 2023 - A "Big Natural Year" in Wild AmericaRoger Tory Peterson invited his British colleague James Fisher on a 3-month natural history tour of North America in 1953. They recounted this journey in Wild America, which takes the reader on a wonderful armchair excursion of our continent’s natural venues. Though not a stated goal, theirs was an early “Big Year” in the parlance of birders. They amassed a list of over 580 species of birds. Since this book was published 65 years ago, it has inspired countless naturalists and birders into learning about and visiting the stupendous natural areas Peterson and Fisher visited. Too, a sequel Return to Wild America: a yearlong search for the Continent’s Natural Soul by Scott Weidensaul) 40 years later focuses on the monumental ecologic changes that have occurred in the sites originally visited. Andy and Ellen undertook a visit to many of the areas Peterson and Fisher chronicled on their trip in 2022. In this presentation, they will share their travels to a good number of these areas and their flora and fauna, and especially the birds they observed around this vast continent. Though Peterson and Fisher’s circuit of North America was limited to three months, Andy and Ellen took a year and so were able to take their time to more thoroughly visit and explore North America’s varied environments during their “prime time.” During their year, they tallied more than 700 species of birds, a testament to a vastly improved road system and knowledge of “where the birds are” as compared to 70 years ago. Andy and Ellen Stepniewski are life-long naturalists with a love for travel, natural environments, and birds. Both have a long involvement in the Yakima Valley Audubon Society, holding various leadership roles.
Posted by Yakima Valley Audubon Society on Friday, March 24, 2023