A Television Experience

      A few weeks ago I received an inquiry from Johnny Mazza, a producer at the local CTV station, about doing a spot on television to feature birding and to promote an interest in nature.

     Always anxious to foster a love of nature and enlist people onto the environmental bandwagon, I was happy to oblige.

     The Mill Race in St. Jacobs was selected as the location for the shoot and I enlisted several of my friends to take part in this adventure.

     Johnny proved to be a joy to work with, professional, personable, and competent; everyone felt at ease with him.

     Even the chipmunks!

     We had told Johnny of the fascinating activity of hand-feeding a bird and it was not long before a few inquisitive chickadees showed up.

     Our group meandered along, all the time trying to remember to point out aspects of our stroll that, while being obvious to us, might not have been familiar to Johnny. Francine held out her hand and was successful in  attracting a chickadee right in front of Johnny's nose.

     We had only binoculars to carry, except for Adrienne who wielded her camera, but Johnny was weighted down with equipment.

     Even frogs and toads can cause great excitement for naturalists.

     Some of us had walked ahead a little way and noticed a doe with her fawn. Adrienne, as only Adrienne can, captured a wonderful image.

     Unfortunately, Johnny caught up to us mere moments after the deer blended into the bushes and disappeared from view.
     In many instances families of Mallard ducklings are almost as big as their parents.

     Not much escaped our attention.

     Most of the birds were very active and difficult for Johnny to capture; by the time he could train his lens on them they were gone.

     I was a little more stationary for an interview.

     Heather was happy to share a moment too.

     And Francine was no less willing.

     Johnny made everyone feel at ease as they explained their love of nature.

     Here he looks quite pensive, no doubt weighing his next move.

     Walter was in great form as he did his first television interview ever.

     Adrienne, as always, was the professional in our midst.

     By now, you are doubtless wondering how it all turned out. Here is the link to the segment that was shown on the 6 pm news a couple of days ago. 

https://kitchener.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=2477582&binId=1.1147261&playlistPageNum=1

     Don't bother looking for my good side - I don't have one!