MIDDLEPORT — Jim Fry, a retired naturalist for the Columbus Metro Parks and a nature writer for the Columbus Dispatch for many years, will be in Middleport Tuesday, March 9 to share information on “Birds of Ohio.”

The free program will be presented at 7 p.m. at the Riverbend Arts Council, 290 N. Second Ave., Middleport. Not only will those attending hear all about our fine feathered friends, but they will be able to view paintings of birds and a display of bird feeders and bird houses, creations of local artisans.

Fry, an Ohio State University graduate, is the author of three books on birds, plants and animals, and wrote a column for the Dispatch for 29 years. He began his work with the Metro Parks system on his 18th birthday and retired in 1989 as a naturalist of Blendon Woods Metro Park.

In 1977, the naturalist was credited with setting a new state record for bird species seen in Ohio with 266. He then went on in 1978 to break that record with 283 species, the year he saw all eight species of Ohio owls. In later years he spotted some extremely rare birds in Ohio, including the brambling, native to Eurasia, and his treasure — a red-cockaded woodpecker. The only one previously seen in Ohio was more than 100 years before that, and there hasn't been a sighting since, according to the naturalist.

Fry’s interest in birds started when he was a child. He said he has always been interested in birds, and reflected on a visit to his aunt in Pomeroy when he was 7 or 8 years old and saw a bright red scarlet tanager near her home. He still has local ties to Meigs County and visits here often. His mother, June Amberger Fry, was born at Minersville and graduated from Pomeroy High School.

At Tuesday night’s program tickets will be sold for door prize drawings with the bird feeders and bird houses as the prizes. Refreshments will be served. While there is no admission charge, donations to the Riverbend Arts Council for programming are welcome.