[BCNnet] Pyramid event: Great birds and free T-shirt! No sightings

[bobolnk at ix.netcom.com]

You're invited to an IBA dedication ceremony and field trip at Pyramid State Park - one of our state’s largest and most productive grassland bird habitats.  Tour leader Joe Merkelbach (of burrowing owl fame) will show us the site’s waterfowl, and search for breeding grassland birds.  New IDNR Acting Director Sam Flood will make remarks, as will local politicians, a representative of the field trial association and of SIU’s Cooperative Wildlife Research Lab, David Thomas of the INHS, and our featured speaker Jeff Walk, an expert on the bird life at the site.  

 It’s worth the trip just to see this outstanding site – population estimates are over 500 Henslow’s sparrows and 2000 dickcissels, along with some of the state’s largest populations of Bell’s Vireo, Grasshopper Sparrow, Loggerhead Shrike, Northern Harrier and Willow Flycatcher, and many migratory waterfowl and wintering Short-eared Owls.  The many recreational uses of the site have so far been compatible with the birds’ needs.  This is a chance to show your support for a truly important habitat – and have a great time doing it.  And, if that’s not enough, all participants will receive a free IBA T-shirt  (graced by a short-eared owl) compliments of the IDNR!

This Friday, April 21, 2:30 pm.   

For directions and more information, visit http://www.habitatproject.org/Birds/PyramidInvite.pdf