Jon Dunn finished a very successful Second Spring tour Friday night–then, rather than hop on the plane for some well-deserved rest, got up early Saturday to meet a group of young Arizona birders in upper Madera Canyon.

Jon’s companions, boys, girls, and young adults, were all eager and enthusiastic birders, all of them poised to take maximum advantage of a relaxed morning afield with one of the continent’s–the world’s–most knowledgeable birders.

WINGS feels strongly that our commitment to the birding community doesn’t end when the tour comes to a close. Jon and other WINGS leaders regularly volunteer their time to local and regional birding groups, offering them the opportunity not just to rub shoulders with well-known birders but also, more importantly, to talk, to ask, to learn. And isn’t that what it’s all about?

Part of Saturday's group, with Jon Dunn and Rob Payne. Photo: Rick Wright.

If you know a young birder, why not encourage her or him to get in touch with the nearest Youth Birding Program? Here in southeast Arizona, Rob Payne (Jon’s co-leader Saturday morning) and Scott Olmstead are leading a group of young birders up Mount Lemmon on July 24.