Photo courtesy of Snowflake Festival

Normally the Festival is held the first Sunday in February but with the Super Bowl this Sunday the event was moved up one day. The event offers events for all ages and also brings to mind, Roger Tory Peterson. Peterson was best known for his book, A Field Guide to the Birds. Peterson’s studies of birds and nature are world renown.

Roger Tory Peterson

Roger Tory Peterson’s life wok with nature and bird watching has affected people worldwide. Best known for A Field Guide to the Birds, his efforts led to 52 other field guides and a life rich in teaching, art and instilling a love of nature that hopefully would be passed from generation to generation.

Peterson was born in Jamestown, N.Y. on aug.28, 1908. He always had a passion for nature, insects and birds. His mother noticed and encouraged is interest.

In 1920, at the age of 11, one of his teachers, Blanche Hornbeck, enrolled her class at the Junior Audubon Club. During school she would take them into the nearby forest where she taught them about art, science and writing. She also taught them about birds. Peterson’s interest was further piqued and he began drawing birds.

In the next few years he became interested in birds, moths and photography. He continued with photography and drawing throughout high school. He graduated form Jamestown High School in 1925 at the age of 16 with a degree in design and mechanical drawing.

In 1926 he left Jamestown to attend the Art Students League and then the National Academy of Design 1929. In 1931 Peterson began teaching art and natures studies in Boston. While in Boston he met Frances H. Allen, an editor at Houghton Mifflin Company. Peterson showed him the book he was working on, A Field Guide to the Birds. Allen felt the book was a one of a kind field guide and offered to produce the manuscript. Two thousand copies were made and within two weeks they were all sold out.

The Audubon Center & Sanctuary offers many nature activities, including birding throughout the year and the Snowflake Festival is a great way to experience what the center can offer to the entire family.

Below are a few of the many activities offered during the day.

1.  Build a Bluebird Nestbox with our Audubon Crew of Volunteers ($5)
2.  Children’s Crafts – featuring valentines from recycled materials (no charge)
3.  Horse-drawn Sleigh (or Wagon) Rides with Dennis Wright ($5/adult, $2/school-aged children)
4.  New Hope Assistance Program – a not-for-profit organization based in Warren PA that provides therapy dogs to people with disabilities.
5.  Tails of the Tundra Siberian husky rescue – including scooter and kick-sled demonstrations

The center is located between Jamestown, N.Y. and Warren. P.A. just off of RT 62 at 1600 Riverside Road. For more information check out the Website: Snowflake Festival 2010 .