Other News on Nature
Governor Jon Huntsman has appointed Bill Fenimore, owner of the Wild Bird Center to the Great Salt Lake Advisory Council. The purpose of the Advisory Council is to review the Utah's management and protection role of Great Salt Lake. Additionally, the Advisory Council will review state and federal agencies, public interests, uses and pressures on the natural resource. Ultimately, the Advisory Council will make recommendations to the Governor for the future vision and management of Great Salt Lake to protect and conserve this vital natural resource.Bill Fenimore, owner of the "Wild Bird Center of Layton, Utah", was selected as the International Franchise Association's (IFA) "Franchisee of the Year" and honored at a special IFA event held September 15, 2008 in Washington, D.C. The award is presented to franchise owners singled out for exceptional performance.
"Bill Fenimore was a natural to recommend for this outstanding industry title," said Henrik Lehmann Weng, CEO, Wild Bird Centers of America. "Bill enthusiastically adopted our business development program to grow his business and is now one of the top three, high-growth stores in our franchise."
Fenimore, along with his partner and son, Billy Fenimore, updated and remodeled their store, hired new staff and turned the store into a model Wild Bird Center franchise. His business acumen drove an unprecedented press, radio and television effort and his passion for the natural world positioned him as a community, regional and national leader. This year, Mr. Fenimore won two prestigious national awards; the "Roger Tory Peterson Nature Education Achievement Award" from the Roger Tory Peterson Institute and the "Ludlow Griscom Award for Outstanding Contributions to Regional Ornithology" from the American Birding Association. Mr. Fenimore also became a nationally-recognized author in 2008 with publication of his "Backyard Bird Guides" series, providing a specific guide to backyard birds for each of the 50 states. He recently was appointed by the Governor of Utah to serve on the newly established Great Salt Lake Advisory Council.
"I am much honored to receive this recognition from the Wild Bird Centers of America and award from the IFA," said Fenimore, who attended the 9th Annual Franchise Appreciation Day Convention, held in Washington, DC. "I have an excellent staff and partner who are critical to the store's success and I appreciate all the support received from Wild Bird Centers of America."
Bill has owned and operated the Wild Bird Center of Layton, Utah since 2001. He serves on the Boards of numerous nature organizations in Utah and conducts seminars and workshops that educate the public about wild birds and their critical habitat needs. He also leads birding field trips for clients from around the globe.
The Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History, Jamestown, New York, in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the birth of Roger Tory Peterson, has awarded its prestigious “Roger Tory Peterson Nature Education Achievement Award” to Bill Fenimore of Layton, Utah. This national award spotlights individuals and their communities to stimulate others to improve and expand the quality of nature education programs across North America.
Fenimore is an author, educator, naturalist and avid birder. He owns and operates the Wild Bird Center® of Layton, Utah, a franchise of the Wild Bird Centers of America® (www.wildbird.com). He is author of the popular “Backyard Birds Guide series” which identify the “Top 25 Backyard Birds” in each of the 50 U.S. States plus providing important advice to enhance the backyard wild bird watching and bird feeding experience.
In June, 2008, the American Birding Association honored Fenimore with the “Ludlow Griscom Award for outstanding contributions to Regional Ornithology programs”.
Fenimore conducts seminars and workshops which focus on the birds of Utah and landscaping for wildlife. He also leads frequent field trips on nature with a birding focus through his Wild Bird Center® franchise store.
Fenimore is the Utah Audubon Council Policy Advocate and Vice-Chair of the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) Northern Regional Advisory Council. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the Utah Wildlife & Conservation Foundation and is a volunteer Naturalist for
The American Birding Association (ABA) announced that its 2008 national Ludlow Griscom Award, the ABA’s prestigious and highest honor for Outstanding Contributions in Regional Ornithology will be presented to Wild Bird Center owner, Bill Fenimore at its national convention.
ABA states this “award is given to individuals who have dramatically advanced the state of ornithological knowledge for a particular region. This may be through their long-time contributions in monitoring avian status and distribution, facilitating the publication of state bird books, breeding bird atlases and significant papers on the regional natural history of birds. This may also be through the force of their personality, teaching and inspiration.”
Bill joins many important contributors to American ornithology, including the first recipient of the award, Roger Tory Peterson, in 1980.
The ABA Ludlow Griscom Award is sponsored by Leupold Optics who will present Bill with a plaque and a pair of Leupold binoculars at the ABA 2008 convention being held in Utah at Snowbird Lodge, June 24, 2008. Leupold will give a $1,000 contribution to the ABA Education Fund in recognition of Bill’s contributions in regional ornithology.
Backyard Birds Guide Series
Bill Fenimore is proud to announce that his book series, "Backyard Birds" is being released by Gibbs Smith Publisher, April 1, 2008. The series includes a "Backyard Birds" Guide for each state. The "Backyard Birds of Utah", Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania and California are being released April 1. This summer the Backyard Birds Guide for Florida, Virginia, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Indiana will be released.
The remaining states Backyard Birds Guides are currently in production, with Bill writing them, as we post this nature news bulletin. The Backyard Birds of Utah and the companion guides are specifically targeted at the backyard birder who would like to learn how to identify the birds visiting their backyard bird sanctuary. It includes the top 25 birds for that specific state with tips on how to attract those birds into your yard.
The book retails at a very affordable $9.95. It is designed to by used by bird lovers of all ages. It is an ideal nature book for a family with children.
The book design includes beautiful detailed photographs of each bird with an easy to use size profile at the bottom of each page. This scaled profile lets you easily determine your birds size. The book is organized from the smallest bird at the front of the book to the largest bird in the back of the book. There is a description of each bird, with the birds photograph on the opposing page for quick and easy reference. A range map shows the distribution of that bird species and the time of year it occurs there. Bill has included some of his favorite attractor tips.
Be sure to stop in and have Bill sign a book for you.
The Wild Bird Centers of America, Inc. is pleased to announce that Bill Fenimore, owner of the Wild Bird Center of Layton, Utah, as its first franchisee honored with the company’s most prestigious "Hall of Fame" award. In just six years of operation, Bill has become Utah’s “Birding Ambassador” by donating his time and talents to numerous local, state and federal wildlife agencies, boards and organizations. He is featured often on local radio and TV programs and writes a weekly birding column for the Salt Lake City Tribune newspaper. He is also the author of a series of backyard birding guides to published in Spring, 2008. The Wild Bird Centers of America, Inc. is delighted to recognize Bill’s extraordinary achievements by conferring this Hall of Fame Award. Congratulations!
The Wild Bird Center is a tremendous community resource with extensive free outreach programs. Its Outreach Program has won 6 National awards recognizing the efforts of Bill Fenimore, owner of the Wild Bird Center. Utah Division of Wildlife Resources late Director, Kevin Conway and current Director Jim Karpowitz have each presented Fenimore with the Utah Wildlife Division Partnership Award.
The WBC expert staff makes free educational nature presentations to scouting groups, schools, senior centers, garden clubs, conservation groups and many other organizations throughout the top of Utah. Backyard habitat, landscaping for wildlife, enjoying wildlife and wild bird identification are just a few of the classes available. Currently, the Wild Bird Center hosts the Utah Rare Bird Alert and Fenimore writes a weekly Bird Sightings column for the Salt Lake Tribune.
Join the Wild Bird Center on a free Nature/Bird Walk Saturday. Birds are a wonderful pathway to introduce children of all ages to nature. Enjoying nature and wildlife, especially birds through observation, feeding, backyard habitat development, preservation and conservation are just a few of the areas that the Wild Bird Center staff can help those who would like to make a connection with nature
The Wild Bird Center is located in the Layton Market Center, 1860 North 1000 West, Layton, exit 332 Antelope Drive off I-15 (located across from Barnes & Noble). Call the Wild Bird Center at (801) 525-8400 or its web site at www.wildbird.com/layton for information.
The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR), Executive Director, Jim Karpowitz asked Bill Fenimore, Layton, Wild Bird Center owner to join the Board of Directors of the newly founded Utah Wildlife and Conservation Foundation. The Foundation is a vision that Director Karpowitz has for funding native wildlife research, projects and education. It is an offshoot of the Great Salt Lake Interpretive Trust that has been transformed into this Foundation. The Foundation will be a vehicle for Utah citizens, organizations, businesses and others to donate directly to the future of the state's diverse and often overlooked native wildlife. Bill is looking forward to working for native wildlife and growing this important Foundation.
Bill Fenimore, Wild Bird Center owner was presented with the 2006 Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR), Director's Partnership Award. The award was given to Bill for the Community Outreach Program of the Wild Bird Center, as well as the work that Bill has done for wildlife in 2005-2006, as the Utah Audubon Policy Advocate; his work on the DWR Northern Regional Advisory Council; the Utah Wildlife Legislative Coalition and the Rich County CRM.
Bill Fenimore has been asked to join the National US Fish & Wildlife Service Refuge System Birding Initiative. The group is tasked with improving communications between birders and refuges, as well as educating the public about the benefits to wildlife of the refuge system. The initiative is also seeking methods to improve the refuge systems birding access programs. Bill will represent the Inter-mountain West.
The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources has asked Bill Fenimore, Layton, Wild Bird Center owner to conduct surveys of American Bittern, Sora and Virgina Rails at Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area this spring.
The Wild Bird Center is an Air Force Association Community Partner. We wish to support the brave men and women who make it possible for us to enjoy freedom.
The Swaner Nature Preserve (SNP), Park City, has asked Bill Fenimore to join their board of directors. Bill has led birding trips at SNP and is impressed with their dedication to educating youth. Bill is looking forward to helping SNP with its latest project, construction of a visitor center.
The Wild Bird Center through its "Exploring Nature on Wing" is offering private custom bird tours in the field. This is an eco-tourism operation specializing in nature tours with a focus on birds. Bill Fenimore, is the local birding expert and guide. Birding tours will be throughout the United States, Central America and other world birding hot spots. Bill will focus on bird tours in northern Utah, particularly Deseret Ranch, the largest privately owned ranch in Utah at over 250,000 acres. Deseret Ranch offers all the Inter Mountain West habitats, from sub-Alpine, forest, sage steppe, and wetlands.
The Wild Bird Center has been asked by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) to monitor Greater Sage Grouse and Sharp-tailed Grouse leks in parts of Northern Utah. This frees up DWR biologists to do other field work. These partner volunteer efforts creates a win win for wildlife, DWR and all wildlife enthusiasts. The Wild Bird Center is proud to be a part of the efforts to improve habitat for wildlife.
Bill Fenimore, Owner of the Wild Bird Center is conducting a Breeding Bird Survey and monitoring waterfowl and migratory shorebirds at Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area for DWR. This volunteer partner effort helps DWR cover more territory when partners join forces with them. The information that Bill is gathering will help DWR monitor the habitat enhancements they are managing by seeing the survey results of the birds using Farmington Bay.