Young Birder Day 2012

NOTE: As of noon, Thursday August 30th, we have a large number of young birders already registered.  If you are interested in learning whether space is still available,  send an email right away to carl@iowayoungbirders.org or call Carl at 319-333-9667.

Join Iowa Young Birders on September 1 for this special day for young birders in Iowa City.  This is a unique opportunity to advance your birding skills and knowledge, meet other young birders, and have fun!

Our Field Trip and Workshop co-leader will be President of the American Birding Association, Jeffrey Gordon.  This is an amazing chance for young birders from across Iowa to spend the day with a nationally recognized tour leader, speaker, author and workshop presenter.  Our co-leader is Carl Bendorf, Executive Director of Iowa Young Birders.

Young Birder Day 2012 is sponsored in collaboration with the University of Iowa Museum of Natural History on the University of Iowa Campus.  For more information on this great destination, click here.

Young Birder Day 2012 is also made possible, in part, by generous support from Dick and Gerry Tetrault, Tom Kent, and Jim & Karole Fuller.

NOTE: There are two separate parts to Young Birder Day 2012: a field trip in morning and a workshop in the afternoon. Young birders can sign up for either part separately or both morning and afternoon together.

Part One:  Young Birder Field Trip to Hickory Hill Park in Iowa City

9:00 a.m. to approximately 11:30 a.m.

This field trip is open to any young birder ages 8-18.  Parents are encouraged to attend.  Birders age 11 and under must be accompanied by a parent/guardian.  There is no cost for the field trip but advance registration is required.   After you register, we’ll send directions to our meeting spot and other details.

Hickory Hill Park is designated an Important Bird Area by Iowa Audubon Society.  We will walk several trails on the park to search for migrating warblers, sparrows, and other land birds. Wear walking shoes and dress for the weather.

Our leaders will be Jeffrey Gordon, current President of the American Birding Association and Carl Bendorf,  Executive Director of Iowa Young Birders.

If you have any questions, please contact us!

LUNCH:  If you are participating in both the morning field trip and the afternoon workshop, bring your own sack lunch to eat in the park after the field trip or visit one of Iowa City’s many restaurants.  The Hy-Vee at 1201 N. Dodge (across from the Dodge St. park entrance) has a very convenient deli and casual dining area.

Part Two:  Young Birder Workshop

12:30 p.m. to approximately 4:00 p.m.

Our workshop will be held in MacBride Hall on the main University of Iowa campus in downtown Iowa City.

Our workshop leader is Jeffrey Gordon, current president of the American Birding Association.    For more on Jeff’s extensive birding activitites, see here.

Our workshop co-leader will be Carl Bendorf, executive Director of Iowa Young Birders.  Carl is past president of the Iowa Ornithologists’ Union and current board member of the American Birding Association.

The workshop cost is $25 per young birder ($20 if member of Iowa Young Birders.)  No additional cost for parent/guardian accompanying registered young birder. Workshop is open to any young birder age 8-18.  Under age 12 must be accompanied by parent; all parents are encouraged to attend.  Detailed directions and parking information will be sent to registered participants.

If you have any questions, please contact us!

WORKSHOP AGENDA (subject to change):

12:30 p.m. SESSION ONE
  • Digital Bird Photography:  young birders should bring their cameras; we’ll discuss the techniques and strategies unique to capturing images of birds including camera settings, getting closer to birds, and sharing photos effectively with others.
  • Birding by Ear: most birders identify bird more frequently by sound than by sight.  We’ll share tips on how to learn all the different bird songs and calls and use that knowledge in the field.
2:00 p.m. SESSION TWO – LIVE RAPTOR PRESENTATION
  • Program with live hawks and owls presented by Macbride Raptor Center
3:00 p.m. SESSION THREE
  • Bird-finding Strategies: we will talk about why different birds are found at different times and places and how to find and see more birds.
  • Ask the Expert:  This is a chance to ask Jeffrey Gordon to talk about any birding topic of interest and also to share your own experiences with birds.
 4:00 p.m. WORKSHOP CONCLUDES (approximate)