[BCNnet] Fw: Re: IBET any 30 somethings birders?

[birdperson@juno.com]

Hi BCNnet,

I'm forwarding this recent exchange on IBET (Illinois Birders Exchanging Thoughts) which also seems appropriate for this listserv.  Rebecca Blazer is a local birder and conservation volunteer with some interesting and positive thoughts on getting more birders, particularly younger people, involved in habitat restoration and conservation activities. 

Please respond directly to Rebecca, at rblazer@audubon.org, especially if you are a steward or community organizer with other possible volunteer opportunities for this group. 

Leslie Borns
birdperson@juno.com
Chicago/Cook
____


---------- Forwarded Message ----------

For Anni (and any other 30 something birders),

I think getting a group of younger birders together is a great idea! Please send me an email if you're thinking about going out sometime. (I'm turning 30 in September. Does that qualify me?) 

It's great to hear that there other people my age thinking about these things. Some friends and I have been talking recently about how many of us younger nature lovers are sort of isolated from each other or don't know how to get involved. 

So to see if we could draw some folks out of the woodwork, we decided this spring to try putting together some 20s/30s restoration work parties. Steve Packard gave us a spot in a back corner of Somme Prairie Grove to work on and we've been cutting buckthorn off of a patch of remnant prairie. 

It's not pure birding, but while we work we see great birds (there's a regular Cooper's hawk who visits us, tons of cedar waxwings, occasionally a woodcock, wrens, and tons more) and we're learning about the habitats they need in order to thrive. So I hope folks don't mind me mentioning it here. 

We've had three great work parties so far (at one of them we had 25 people!) and everyone who's joined us - both seasoned nature lovers and new folks with hardly any experience with nature - seems to really enjoy immersing themselves for a few hours out in the savanna. We're finding that cutting buckthorn really hooks people. It's vigorous, fun work and you feel like you're really making a difference. And it's pretty great to lay back against a log afterwards, survey your work, watch the sun go down, and eat brats roasted over the brushpile bonfire. 

Anni, if you or any other 20s/30s type folks want to join us some Saturday afternoon, let me know and we'll add you to our email list. We're hoping to do this once a month this fall (but don't have a set schedule yet). 

To all the non-20s/30s folks: we still want to hang out with all of you too! We just think the younger generation needs a little extra attention right now. Thanks for the coaching and inspiration that you continually provide. We hope we'll do justice to your passion for birds as we try to get more young people excited about nature. 

Thanks,
Rebecca Blazer
Chicago



-----Original Message-----

From: Gossmann [mailto:agossm720@yahoo.com]
Sent: Thursday, August 26, 2004 4:47 PM
To: ILbirds
Subject: IBET any 30 somethings birders?


I love hearing about the unusual sightings in IL,
please keep it up!  I hope to see that swallow-tailed
kite this weekend!
I'm a 30 something and in the Lincolnshire area and
was wondering if any people in my age frame would like
to go birding with others of approximately their age. 
Usually when I go with groups, they tend to be more
towards my mom's age and I'd like to share birding and
maybe increase the interest in birds with people
closer to my age.  I don't know if this is acceptable
on this IL list, sorry if it isn't.

Anni Gossmann
Lincolnshire area

=====
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