The early 1990's were also an important time for the development of bird conservation education programs. Susan Gilchrist of Wisconsin and the creator of "One Bird - Two Habitats" recalls some of those education programs.
Noel Cutright kept the Education Committee on the books in Wisconsin PIF. He is still a solid supporter of bird education for conservation. Wisconsin is further fortunate now that Andy Paulios, the PIF contact for the state, is a former teacher who really understands the value of education as a conservation tool. I remember Sumner Matteson, who works in the Bureau of Endangered Resources at the WI Dept of Natural Resources (DNR), standing up on something - a table, a chair or a stepladder maybe - something that raised him up above the crowds, and shouting into a bull horn to get people to stop and notice the peregrines that had taken up residence on the capitol dome. After helping plan the first couple of bird festivals in Madison, Bill Volkert, a Wildlife Educator in the WI DNR, stopped investing in Madison efforts and created a weeklong, very popular and successful celebration of birds at Horicon Marsh (an internationally acclaimed Important Bird Area)where he works: “Marsh Melodies”. This event still continues today with great success.
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