Annual Hummingbird Festival

The Breathe Inn Lodge, located 25 miles north of Silver City, NM in the Gila National Forest, will host the annual Gila Hummingbird Festival, July 24 and 25, 2010. The festival, instituted by Joan Day martin, has been an annual event in the Gila Forest/Lake Roberts area for seven years, drawing bird lovers from surrounding states, as well as from several foreign countries.

Planned activities include hummingbird banding under the supervision of Joan Day Martin, Master Bander and noted hummingbird expert, seminars presenting how-to tips of hummingbird photography, and presentations by wildlife researchers and guides.

Jack Byrne, owner of the breathe Inn, said the programs will be of interest to the most serious hummingbird student, as well as the novice who is attracted to the colorful antics of the little birds. In addition to the hummingbird activities,

a number of arts and crafts vendors will be on hand displaying their wares. Food and beverages will be available for purchase on the premises.

Activities will kick off each morning at 7:00 am with banding of the birds to enhance bird lovers' knowledge of the life and migratory patterns of the colorful creatures. Following banding activities, various talks and seminars of interest to birders and nature lovers in general will be presented throughout the day.

The event is open to the public free of charge.

For further information contact Jack Byrne by email breatheinn@gilanet.com, or call 575-536-3206.