On October 6 - 8 the Eastern Shore Birding Festival celebrates its 8th year of showcasing the fall migration, and the activities are better than ever. The festival grounds will be greatly expanded to provide a fun-filled weekend for local families as well as visitors of all ages and interests. There will be music, a live bird exhibit, a saltwater aquarium touch tank, wildlife artists, a kids tent with family activities, a wide variety of exhibitors, interesting workshops and great food. No tours are scheduled between I 1 am and 1 pm so that everyone can enjoy the festivities. On Saturday during that time slot, music by Norfolk's Dramtreeo will be featured. The group has worked with the Kingston Trio and entertained listeners from Norfolk's Waterside to the Lincoln Center in New York.

New guided walks and activities include moth and bat watches, Wise Point hikes, birding at Oyster, butterfly walks, Heron Hill Farm hikes with George

Reiger, and kayak trips. Last year's response to our birding by boat opportunities left no doubt that this was an extremely popular activity. So, this year there are several additional trips of varying lengths and destinations including a Monday morning trip.

Don and Lillian Stokes, well-known as Mr. and Mrs. Birdwatching America, are the featured entertainers at the Friday night opening ceremony at 7 pm in the Sunset Beach Resort. As educators and prolific writers, they have introduced countless people to a deeper appreciation of birds. Their work comes out of great enjoyment and love of nature, and their passion is to preserve and restore wildlife habitat as an essential key to keeping birds in our lives, thus preserving the quality of our own world as well.

Don and Lillian host a weekly public television series, "Birding with Don and Lillian Stokes." Nationally known experts on birds and nature, they have written the Birdfeeder Book, Stokes Field Guide to Birds (Eastern and Western versions), Stokes Nature Guide series on bird behavior, and many other Stokes Backyard Nature books.

For additional information about the Eastern Shore Birding Festival, contact the Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce, P. 0. Box 460, Melfa, VA 23410 or call (757) 787-2460.