[BCNnet] Iowa bird conservation conference

[Judy Pollock]

For more information about this conference, contact
Ric Zarwell 
Audubon Iowa 
563-538-4991 
zarxzar@salamander.com 


Fall Conference Near Boone, Iowa, Sept. 13-15, 2002

Theme: “Bringing People to Nature Through Birding, 
Moving More Birders to Conservation Action”

Enjoy the Following Highlights with Friendly, Like-Minded Bird Enthusiasts:

Ø   2 Outstanding, Nationally Known Speakers + 4 Presentations by Iowa
Leaders 
Kenn Kaufman is a legend among birders, and the youngest person ever to win
their highest honor, the American Birding Association’s Ludlow Griscom
Award in
1992. He is an artist, a columnist for many magazines, and author of such
well-known books as A Field Guide to Advanced Birding, Lives of North American
Birds, the Focus Guide to Birds of North America, and Kingbird Highway. Kenn
will give a 1-hour talk and join field trips. T-shirts from art Kenn created
for this event will be on sale.

Paul Baicich, former editor of the American Birding Association (ABA) magazine
Birding, and co-author of A Guide to the Nests, Eggs, and Nestlings of North
American Birds, is now Director of Conservation and Public Policy for ABA.
Paul
has led numerous birding workshops, and will make two 1-hour presentations at
the conference. Paul will take part on field trips.

Naturalist, Mike Havlik will give programs with live hawks and an owl, and
lead
us in songs. Short discussions will be led by Dr. Jim Dinsmore, Iowa’s leading
authority on birdlife, and recently retired Iowa State University Professor;
Doug Harr, Wildlife Diversity Program Coordinator, Iowa DNR; and Ric Zarwell,
Audubon Iowa Important Bird Area (IBA) Coordinator. 
Ø   Two ½ Day Field Trips to Excellent Birding Locations 
Saturday and Sunday morning field trips will be led by some of Iowa’s best
field birders, will seek maximum fall migration bird sightings, and will take
advantage of local water conditions. Trips will include Ledges State Park,
Saylorville Lake, Polk City Wildlife Refuge, possibly Harrier Marsh, and other
fine habitats. Have fun with Kenn Kaufman and Paul Baicich. Build your lists. 
Ø   Demonstrations of the Latest Binoculars and Spotting Scopes, and a
Workshop
on  
Digiscoping  the Exciting and Easy-to-Learn New Way to Take Great Nature
Photos
Eagle Optics, largest mail-order optical outfitter in the U.S. and Corporate
Sponsor of Iowa’s IBA Program, will have two experts in birding and butterfly
optics on-site along with a wide variety of new binoculars and scopes for you
to try. Eagle Optics will also conduct a workshop on digiscoping and answer
questions and give pointers throughout the weekend. Bring your digital camera
with you to try on a scope from Eagle Optics, or just enjoy and benefit by the
workshop, and test the latest in optics. 
Ø   Conference Concludes Sunday Afternoon at the 3rd Annual Pelican Festival 
This fun-filled and well-attended festival offers interesting and entertaining
talks, exhibits and displays, a kid’s tent, and viewing of pelicans,
shorebirds
and other wildlife. It takes place in Jester Park at Saylorville Lake,
north of
Des Moines. Conference attendees will receive parking stickers to park
adjacent
to the activities  while others will have to ride a tram to the festival site.
This habitat will likely be a Globally Important Area for White Pelicans
due to
the concentrations found here in fall migration. 
This Conference is Organized and Hosted by Audubon Iowa’s Important Bird Area
(IBA) Program, and it is the Iowa Ornithologists’ Union’s (IOU) Fall
Conference. You do not have to be a member of IOU to attend. All birders
and all
persons interested in birds are invited to participate. You will learn more
about birds and enjoy field trips to interesting habitats.

Conference headquarters is the newly refurbished Des Moines YMCA Camp  located
5 miles north of Boone, IA. 
Check-in begins at 3 P.M. on Friday, Sept. 13. Meals are at 7 A.M., Noon and
5:30 P.M. We will be staying in a number of small, comfortable cabins. PLEASE
BRING YOUR OWN BEDDING. DIRECTIONS TO CONFERENCE: “Traveling to Boone on
Highway
30 (the major east-west highway), at the only 4-way stop sign on the south
edge
of town, turn north onto Story Street. Follow this street through Boone until
you reach a T- intersection at 22nd Street (County E-26). Turn left (west) and
at approximately 1/2 mile follow the sweeping curve to the right (north) onto
County R-21. Drive 2.5 miles north on R-21 to a brown Y Camp sign with
arrowhead design near a Dragoon Trail sign, on the right side ofthe
highway. At
this point,turn left (west) on 166th Drive. Take this gravel road 2.5 miles to
the Y Camp. Check-in is at camp headquarters, which will be on your left as
you
go down a steep hill.”