MEDIA ADVISORY

Naturalist/Photographer to Discuss the Polar Bears of Hudson Bay

FALMOUTH, March 2, 2005

From 7-8:30 p.m. on Friday, March 18 at Gilsland Farm Audubon Center in Falmouth, naturalist and photographer Bob Bittenbender will discuss and show slides of the polar bears of Hudson Bay.

Windham resident Bittenbender, who visited Churchill, Manitoba to see polar bears in 2003, will talk about the natural history of the stark, subarctic landscape where the world's largest terrestrial carnivores live and show close-range slides of the bears as well as the town of Churchill and the tundra buggies from which the animals can be watched.

EDITORS: If you'd like to use one of Bittenbender's polar bear images for publication, call (207) 781-2330, ext. 241.

Every fall more than 1,000 polar bears gather along the west shore of Hudson Bay to wait for the sea ice to form and give them access to the seal on which they feed. During the few weeks from mid October to early November these normally solitary bears are easily observed and photographed at close range from the safety of a tundra buggy.

Bittenbender's talk is in anticipation of a Maine Audubon public tour to see the polar bears of Churchill, which he will co-lead in November.

" Maine Audubon's polar bear tour is one of the best wildlife-viewing opportunities available anywhere," said Margi Huber, who coordinates public trips and tours for Maine Audubon's and will co-lead November's tour with Bittenbender. Huber, too, visited Churchill in 2003.

In addition to the bears, visitors to Churchill often see other wildlife such as arctic hare and fox, ptarmigan, snowy owl, and gyrfalcon.

" If the weather cooperates, the northern lights put on a magnificent show," added Huber.Every year Maine Audubon offers three to five tours to ecologically important international locales. Each tour supports wildlife conservation and local culture.

The program is free. To make reservations, call (207) 781-2330, ext. 217, or e-mail info@maineaudubon.org.

MAINE AUDUBON works to conserve Maine’s wildlife and wildlife habitat by engaging people of all ages in education, conservation and action.

With a 160-year history of connecting people with nature, Maine Audubon today is affiliated with Audubon’s national organization and has seven local chapters in the state. Support for Maine Audubon comes from 11,000 members and supporters, including individuals, foundations and corporations. Its headquarters are in Falmouth, Maine, five minutes from Portland.

Maine Audubon offers hands-on environmental education programs and activities that reach people of all ages throughout Maine. Through its two environmental centers and 11 sanctuaries statewide, Maine Audubon provides a diverse range of learning activities, classes, seminars, walks and trips designed to build lasting relationships between people and nature.

For more information or to become a member of Maine Audubon, call (207) 781-2330 or visit www.maineaudubon.org.

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