We are fortunate to have Jim Hailey as the March speaker for the San Saba Bird and Nature Club on Tuesday March 15, 2011, 7PM at the San Saba Civic Center. His topic will be An Alaskan Adventure. Mr. Hailey considers Alaska his personal favorite place to go birding and has led a number of field trips there.

Jim began birding seriously in 1990 and currently leads trips for the Texas Ornithological Society where he also serves as Vice President and field trip chairman. In addition, he facilitated the establishment of two Audubon groups—the Monte Mucho Audubon Society in Laredo and the Williamson Audubon Group in Georgetown. He served for 7 years as president of the Monte Mucho Audubon and is on the Board of the Williamson group. His other interests include nature photography, travel and working with the Good Water Master Naturalist chapter in Williamson County. Jim Hailey is currently retired from business after serving as CEO of a truck parts business with 5 locations and 100 plus employees. Last spring he retired from his post business career position as a Professor of History for Texas A&M University-Kingsville where he taught for 10 years. He is married to Ermine Hailey, has five daughters and one son, twelve grandchildren and one great grandson. Jim & Ermine live in Georgetown, Texas where they moved following the sale of a large portion of their ranch in southern Duval County.

In his own words, "This is truly an amazing place—a land of majestic vistas, grizzles, reindeer, musk oxen, and beautiful birds dressed in their Sunday best. The first weeks in June are the height of the northward migration period and the beginning of the summer nesting season; a very special time to be in Alaska if you are a birder. The Texas Ornithological Society Alaska Field trip targets breeding and migrating species and the opportunity to find a few vagrants that drop in on the area sporadically. Last year it was a Black-tailed Gull in Nome and a breeding plumage Ruff in Anchorage! We bird Anchorage, Seward (pelagic), Nome, Barrow and the Denali Highway."

If you have an interest in nature travel and seeing some beautiful photos from one who knows and appreciates our natural world, come join us. Everyone is invited. For more information call 325-372-3107.