Wildlife Photograph

Crane champion Archibald, author Cokinos visit

Saturday March 03, 2007
Special guests welcomed at nature center

We recently had a special week at the nature center.

On Saturday, January 20, Dr. George Archibald, co-founder of the International Crane Foundation stopped by to visit and discuss our proposed crane project. Archibald has dedicated his life to crane conservation and is known for his efforts on behalf of all fifteen species found around the world. Thirteen of the species are either threatened or endangered and the tireless Archibald works to restore proper habitat, establish refuges and captive breeding programs both here and abroad. His visit to Ijams was impromptu; a quick stopover on his way to South Carolina and, later, crane meetings in Louisiana. Archibald is featured in the book, The Birds of Heaven by Peter Matthiessen.

Five days before Archibald’s visit, Christopher Cokinos, author of Hope is the Thing with Feathers, was at Ijams for a talk and book signing. Originally published in 2000, “Hope” is the story of extinct species of birds from North America. His visit, arranged to complement our new “Lost Species” exhibit, was sponsored by Nancy Tanner, the widow of ivory-billed woodpecker expert James Tanner, and WUOT 91.9 FM.

As part of a continuing effort to bring writers to the nature center, Cokinos is the seventh author to speak recently. In addition to local favorites Sam Venable and Doris Gove; Jack Carman, author of Wildflowers of Tennessee; Margie Hunter, author of Gardening with the Native Plants of Tennessee; Phillip Hoose, author of The Race to Save the Lord God Bird and Bill Lishman, author of Father Goose, have visited Ijams in the past two years.

Back To News Releases