[BCNnet] Invitation to regional conference

[bobolnk at ix.netcom.com]

Birds, People & their Future Together . . . plan now to attend!
* No Bird Left Behind: Oct. 13, 2006
* Upper Midwest Audubon Conference: Oct. 14-15, 2006
Ho-Chunk Conference Center, Wisconsin Dells/Baraboo, WI
  For more information visit:  www.madisonaudubon.org 

=============== MESSAGE FOLLOWS ===============

You are invited to join us in the Wisconsin Dells for two exciting conferences focused on birds, people, and their future together! 
 
Please forward this information widely to others who might want to attend.  
 
Oct. 13 - "No Bird Left Behind"- Bird interactions with tall structures and how to reduce the risk.  Noel Cutright, Wisconsin Society for Ornithology, will keynote the conference. Experts on bird collisions and tall structures will present information and participants will have an opportunity to discuss and propose solutions. 
     Speakers include: Daniel Klem, Professor, Muhlenberg College, PA, expert on bird collisions with glass, John Laabs, president, Wisconsin Broadcasters Assn., and Al Manville, Senior Wildlife Biologist, US Fish & Wildlife Service, Washington, DC, an expert on just about anything that stands in the way of migrating birds. The full list of presenters is included with the conference agenda, below. 
 
Oct. 14-15 - Upper Midwest Audubon Conference - Making Time for Birds and Nature. Open to all, the conference is organized by Wisconsin Audubon Council for Audubon chapters and members in Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin.  
    Featured speakers include: John Flicker, President, National Audubon Society, New York, NY, Jim Fitzpatrick, Executive Director, St. Croix Valley Nature Center, Hastings, MN – dinner speaker on his experiences seeking the Ivory-billed Woodpecker, and Greg Butcher, Director of Bird Conservation, National Audubon Society, Washington, DC. Field trips and more than 20 breakout sessions are planned.
 
Schedules for both events are pasted at the end of this email. Details, including a registration form, can be found on the Madison Audubon website at:  http://www.madisonaudubon.org/audubon/umac/

Location:  Ho-Chunk Convention Center, Baraboo/Wis. Dells, WI. 
Lodging is $65, single or double, plus tax per night. Thanks to support from numerous sources, the registration fees are: Friday conference only, $40; dinner on Friday, additional $20; Saturday-Sunday conference, $80. Fees include scheduled meals, breaks and materials. There is a modest additional charge for some field trips on Saturday afternoon.  

Thank you for your support!
Marsha Cannon
Past President, Madison (WI) Audubon Society
1st V.P. - Wisconsin Audubon Council
<marsha.audubon at charter.net> 
(608) 327.0129


Birds, people, and their future together two conferences plan now to attend!
  
C O N F E R E N C E    S C H E D U L E S
 
No Bird Left Behind 
Bird interactions with tall structures and how to reduce the risk
Friday, October 13, 2006
 
Purpose:
* Create awareness and increase knowledge of the problems migratory birds face from tall structures such as buildings, broadcast communication towers, wind energy generators, and power lines 
 * Gain understanding of the restrictions on owners/operators of these structures
 * Bring interested parties together to discuss the problems
 * Open lines of communication and foster cooperation to help alleviate the problems
 
Who should attend: Industry representatives: building managers, owners; architects, broadcasting station owners, staff (engineers); wind energy equipment owners and operators; government decision makers and technical staff involved in regulating tall structures, environmentalists and bird lovers.
 
Hosted by: Wisconsin Audubon Council, with 14 independent Audubon chapters, 2 National Audubon entities, and more than 10,000 Audubon chapter members. Co-sponsors: Wisconsin Bird Conservation Initiative (WBCI), Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Bird Conservation Minnesota.
 
Schedule:  
FRIDAY, October 13
  8:00 a.m.       Registration
  9:00               Light continental breakfast provided
  9:30               WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION 
                        Master of Ceremonies:  Peter Cannon, Madison Audubon Society and regional director, National Audubon Society 
                        Keynote speaker:  Noel Cutright, Wisconsin Society for Ornithology
10:15               PLENARY PANELS
                        Birds and Buildings - Daniel Klem, Muhlenberg College, PA, expert on bird collisions with glass; Rick Voelker, Viracon, manufacturer of glass coatings, Wausau, WI, and Scott Diehl, Wisconsin Humane Society and WiNGS, Wisconsin Night Guardians for Songbirds, Milwaukee. Q&A.
11:30               Broadcast Communication Towers - John Laabs, President, Wisconsin Broadcasters Assn., Madison, and Joelle Gehring, Michigan Natural Features Inventory, Lansing. Q&A.
12:30 p.m.       Lunch provided 
  1:30               Wind Energy and Electric Transmission/Distribution Lines - Leakhena Au, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Green Bay, WI; and Rich Carleton, Electric Power Research Institute, Palo Alto, CA. A wind energy representative will be announced. Q&A.
  3:00               Break
  3:20               FINDING COMMON GROUND
                        Participants interact in facilitated discussion groups to identify priority issues and action that can be taken.
  4:35               WRAP-UP
                        Report out from discussion groups, dialogue; commitments for the future
  5:00               Adjourn for dinner
  5:15               Cash bar 
  5:45               Dinner (heavy hors doeuvres) provided
  6:30               SPEAKER
                        Migration & Technology - Albert Manville, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Washington, DC 
  7:30               Adjourn for the day

 
Upper Midwest Audubon Conference
Making time for birds and nature
Saturday, October 14 & Sunday, October 15, 2006
 
Purpose: Strengthen Audubon Chapters in Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin to make a greater environmental impact and social presence in our communities through successful conservation and advocacy programs.
 
Who should attend: Audubon members, volunteers, leaders, and staff from Upper Midwest chapters, state councils, state offices and centers, and National Audubon Society. Bring your family, bring your friends!  
 
Hosted by: Wisconsin Audubon Council, with collaborative funding from National Audubon Society and support from co-sponsors and their members. Co-sponsors: Audubon Council of Illinois, Audubon Minnesota, Bird Conservation Minnesota, and Iowa Audubon (invited). 
 
Breakout topics at this date include chapter leadership strategies, bluebird production, wildlife field trips for parents and children, statewide bird conservation initiatives, Important Bird Areas, birdscaping to attract birds to your backyard, how to be an effective advocate for your issues, monitoring avian migrants in Milwaukee, and National Audubon campaigns focused on the Mississippi River and the Great Lakes.
 
Schedule:
SATURDAY, October 14
  7:00 a.m.   Registration; continental breakfast provided
  8:00           WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION
                    CONFERENCE KEKYNOTE SPEAKER 
                    John Flicker, President, National Audubon Society
  9:00           BREAKOUTS, Part 1:  Citizen Science, Birds & Birding, Habitat, Chapter Know-How, Other
10:00           BREAKOUTS, Part 2: Topic tracks continued. 
11:00           BREAKOUTS, Part 3:  Topic tracks continued.
12:00           Lunch provided, networking  
 1:30 p.m.    FIELD TRIPS Destinations include: International Crane Foundation, Leopold Shack, Necedah Wildlife Refuge, Muir Park / Observatory Hill, Upper Dells Boat Trip, Parfrey’s Glen. See field trip information sheet for details.
 5:30            Cash bar social hour
 6:30            Dinner provided
 7:30            SPEAKER 
                    In Search of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker - Jim Fitzpatrick, St. Croix Valley Nature Center, Hastings, MN
 
SUNDAY, October 15
  7:00 a.m.   Breakfast buffet provided
  8:00           SPEAKER
                    Birds at Risk: Conservation Strategies for Midwestern Birds - Greg Butcher, National Audubon Society, 
                    Washington, DC
  9:15           BREAKOUTS, Part 4:  Topic tracks continued
10:15           BREAKOUTS, Part 5: Topic tracks continued 
11:15           Wrap-up, Evaluation, Plans for Next Year
12 noon        Adjourn Lunch on your own


Judy Pollock
jpollock at audubon.org
Evanston (Cook) IL