Bird enthusiasts flocked to The Plaza Hotel ballroom in New York City on the evening of Jan. 17 for The National Audubon Society Gala Dinner. Tom Brokaw (shown, left) served as master of ceremonies as the crowd gathered to celebrate and honor Louis Bacon (shown, below), philanthropist and founder of the Moore Charitable Foundation, and George Archibald, 
cofounder of the International Crane Foundation, for their outstanding advocacy efforts. Bacon was awarded the Audobon Medal, and Archibald was the first-time recipient of the Dan W. Lufkin Prize for Environmental Leadership. Bacon was introduced by his good friend, investor and philanthropist Paul Tudor Jones II. In his speech, Bacon talked of his southern upbringing by referencing the “Good Book”….. Gone with the Wind.” And he ended his speech with “Frankly you should give a damn.”
Uma Thurman and Arki Busson shared a table with Mayor Michael Bloomberg (shown, right, Thurman and Bloomberg); other guests included Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Maya Lin, Jane Alexander, Cynthia and Dan W. Lufkin, and Allison Rockefeller.
The highlight of the evening came towards the end when Bette Midler (shown, below)
preformed a medley of appropriately-themed songs: a “People” parody, “Skylark” and “When the Red Red Robin Comes Bob Bob, Bobbin’ Along.” She capped the night off with one of her signature songs, “Wind Beneath My Wings,” flapping her arms. At one point, it seemed as she might even take flight as the crowd rose to their feet.
