MORNING FIELD TRIPS:

We offer shorter, educational birding walks for the beginner and longer, in-depth birding trips for the more intermediate to advanced birders. Choose the level of birding experience you would like. All beginners will learn how to ID a variety of birds, bird by ear, use binoculars and a field guide.

7:00 – 8:30am
        Option A:      Backwater Birding Trips by Boat
                               Guides: to be announced
        Option B:      Goose Island County Park
                               (This 7 AM Trip has been Cancelled)

9:30 – 11:00am
        Option A:      Backwater Birding Trips by Boat
                               Guides: to be announced
        Option B:      Goose Island County Park
                               Guides: Tim Fox and Steve Houdek

(Concurrently)

7:00 – 11:00am     Birding the Backwaters by Canoe & Kayak:
                               Guides: Pat Caffrey, Dave Skoloda
                               and Kurt Brownell

7:00 – 11:00am     Intermediate / Advanced Birding Walks
        Option A:      Rush Creek State Natural Area
                               Guides: Craig Thompson and Dave Matheys
        Option B:      Beaver Creek Valley State Park
                               Guides: Dan Jackson and Anita Doering
        Option C:      Root River Bottoms
                               Guides: Tim Collins and Matt Paulson

 

LUNCH – On your own at local restaurants.

 

AFTERNOON SEMINARS:

Join us at the OmniCenter - Festival Headquarters for exciting educational speakers and seminars on a variety of topics:

1:00 – 2:00  “Digiscoping” – Dan Jackson,
                      Coulee Audubon Society
                      2:15 – 3:15  “Specialty Feeders” – Gaylord & Karen Perry,
                      Wild Birds Unlimited
                      3:30 – 4:30  “Protecting Blufflands for Birds” – Marlene Ehresman,
                      Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation

 

BIRDER’S SOCIAL

5:00 – 7:00p.m.
Friday Night Birder’s Social aboard the Julia Belle Swain, an authentic Mississippi River paddle wheel boat: Including a special Audubon dedication ceremony for the newly designated Upper Mississippi River Important Bird Area, along with cash bar & complimentary hors d’hourves and music.