By RICK MILLER
Olean Star
RED HOUSE — More than 700 nature enthusiasts are expected to attend this weekend’s 66th annual Allegany Nature Pilgrimage in Allegany State Park.
It is sponsored each year by the Audubon Community Nature Center of Jamestown, Buffalo Audubon Society, Presque Isle Audubon of Erie, Pa., and Burroughs Audubon Nature Club of Rochester.
Lon Myers of Port Chester, Pa., near Philadelphia, is in his fourth year as director of the Allegany Nature Pilgrimage. He previously served as pilgrimage director in 1984 and has personally attended 59 or 60 of them.
Myers’ father was Pilgrimage chairman for 15 years, he said. His son, Christopher is also a program leader and his eight-month-old granddaughter. Myers’ wife Becky was a longtime registrar.
Myers said he plans a night walk with fluorescent minerals, owl calling, and astronomy. He conducts splash hikes with kids in creeks and leads an adult-themed walk focusing on plants and animals of the park.
Roseann Woodard, the field trip chairman, was responsible for contacting program leaders and making out the schedule and guidebook which are on the group’s website.
In the nearly 50 years he’s been leading nature walks, Myers estimates that 6,000 people have participated in his hikes.
There is literally something for everyone’s taste in nature.
The list of programs and nature walks is on the group’s website at alleganynaturepilgrimage.com.
This weekend, there are 120 programs and 60 program leaders, Myers said. Registration starts at 10 a.m. Friday at Camp Allegany in the Red House area of the state park not far from Red House Lake.
“We strive to make this an immersive experience,” Myers said in an interview Wednesday at the cabin he and his wife have rented in the Bova Cabins, just up the road from Camp Allegany.
Myers, a self-taught naturalist, and other long-time pilgrimage attendees have observed the effects of climate change over the time they have been coming to the park each year.
The first weekend in June was initially chosen by early Natural Pilgrimage leaders because it coincided with bird migrations and the blooming of wildflowers, Myders pointed out.
“Now, the birds are nesting, not migrating and flowers are at the end of their blooms,” he said.
Program leaders keep in touch via walkie-talkies because there are few places in the state park with clear cell phone signals, Myers said.
Why does he do it?
“I love nature,” Myers replied. “I love Allegany State Park. I’m very passionate about it. In retirement, it gives me an outlet. I love to participate at this level.”
The Allegany Nature Pilgrimage got through two years of COVID-19 with remote presentations over Zoom and has gone back to the state park for the past two years. This year’s pilgrimage includes off-site walks including Hanging Bog in Allegany County and The New York State Fish Hatchery at Randolph, Myers pointed out.
Myers said he’s hoping to take in a few nature walks, including the popular salamander walk and a mushroom walk with Garett Taylor.
“We’ve got a great lineup this year,” Myers said. Registration can be done online at the Allegany Nature Pilgrimage website or in person at the classroom building at Camp Allegany.
Early Saturday and Sunday mornings, many participants gather to birdwatch. Birds are snagged in mist nets and brought to be examined and banded.
Keynote speakers are scheduled at 8 o’clock on Friday and Saturday nights in the Big Tent at Camp Allegany.
From noon to 1:30 p.m. Saturday, the Frewsburg Kiwanis Club will host a hot dog lunch and Saturday night there will be a chicken barbecue.
Myers said about 40% of those attending recent Nature Pilgrimages were either attending for the first time or had not attended in several years.
“We want people to come back year after year,” Myers said. “My goal is the survival of the pilgrimage.”
He thanked committee volunteers, nature walk leaders, and others for their hard work in preparing for this year’s pilgrimage.
