Tommy Siegel and Billy Libby of Extremely Accurate Bird Songs; Derek and Ryan Sallmann of Badgerland Birding. — Courtesy Visit Hot Springs
Two world-touring musicians, Tommy Siegel and Billy Libby, who have vowed to write a song about every living species of bird, and two brothers, Derek and Ryan Sallmann, dedicated to making birding accessible to every level of experience, have been added to the growing lineup of experts and entertainers who will enliven the inaugural Birding Festival of the South, presented by Oaklawn Hot Springs, in October.
Extremely Accurate Bird Songs (the two musician/songwriters) and Badgerland Birding (the two brothers) will be on hand Friday and Saturday, October 9 – 10, for a musical performance, songwriting workshop, a discussion of the changing world of birding, a field trip, and a bird walk on the Hot Springs Greenway.
The festival will open at 6:30 PM Thursday, October 8, with a free public concert by nationally acclaimed country singer Melissa Carper in the Bridge Street Entertainment District.
Held at the Hot Springs Convention Center, the Birding Festival is designed around the interests of beginner, novice, and serious birders alongside cultural arts events inspired by birding. The timing of the event will coincide with the annual Fall Migration, opening the exciting opportunity to see birds not native to Hot Springs.
Festival passholders who register by August 8 will receive a Birding Festival of the South field guide, tumbler, and tote bag, as well as access to keynote presentations, field trip opportunities, workshops, a vendor hall, and musical performances. Weekend passes are $35.
The full schedule and pass information are available at hotsprings.org/events/birding-festival-of-the-south/.
For more information, call Alexis Hampo at 501-321-2027.
