Who is that little feathered friend?

By Mary-Justine Lanyon
Editor

It’s happened to all of us – we are out on a walk and spy a bird we’ve never seen before. How can we identify it?

The answer has been supplied by the Heaps Peak Arboretum, which unveiled a new poster of birds of the San Bernardino Mountains at a ceremony on Oct. 20.

Photographer and bird expert Jim Stone thanked the arboretum – which he described as a gem – for their support in producing the poster. 

“This poster has no stock images on it,” Stone explained. “Every photo was taken by someone who lives on the mountain or in the surrounding communities.”

Three of the photographers – Jim Stone, George Ray and Rich Warren – were at the unveiling and available to sign posters.

Ten photographers contributed to the poster: Elisa Cook, Robin Eliason, Trisha Dale Green, Christy Miller, Ezra Murray, Owen Phairis, George Ray, Robin Roberts, Jeanne Romano and Rich Warren.

Stone, Ray and Warren were available to sign posters purchased by many of those in attendance at the unveiling. 

For those interested in learning more about local birds, Stone and Ken Wells give guided bird walks from May through September at the arboretum. Wells, said Rita Spiegel, who emceed the event, leads the walks on the first Saturdays of those months, focusing on the birds’ sounds. Stone leads the walks on third Saturdays, focusing more on the birds’ behavior.

For more information on the arboretum, which is located on Highway 18 in Skyforest, visit www.hparboretum.com.