Birders: With enormous numbers of birds, numerous and appreciative visitors, excellent local hospitality, and superb weather, the November 7-9, Rivers & Bluffs Fall Birding Festival has come and gone. My wife Betty and I want to extend a warm thank you to all who came to our friendly little river town of Lansing, Iowa for the 3-day weekend. Our 5 boat tours took people into the midst of the waterfowl on pool 9 of the Upper Mississippi River Wildlife and Fish Refuge, and our on land field trips focused on pool 8 in Minnesota, pool 9 in Iowa, and tributaries where we observed Golden Eagles and various other species. Here are some totals: Aerial Surveys by U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, on Nov. 7th: Pool 9 field trip area - Upper Mississippi River Wildlife & Fish Refuge - Swans 4,740; diving ducks 297,695; total ducks, geese & swans 314,140 Pool 8 field trip area - Upper Mississippi River Wildlife & Fish Refuge - Swans 5,120; diving ducks 77,025; total ducks, geese & swans 92,825 Highlights - 2nd Annual Rivers & Bluffs Falls Birding Festival: Registrations = 221 people, from 72 cities, in 10 states, and 2 nations. Birders came to see our local spectacle from CA, WA, MA, MD, MI, IA, IL, WI, MN, and Washington D.C. (called a state for simplicity), and Ontario, Canada. (Last year's festival attracted 175 people from 39 cities in 4 states.) Our 5 boat tours into the midst of the waterfowl on Pool 9 @ 20 people each, were well received, as participants enjoyed a unique "Oh Wow" experience. 86 total species were observed during the weekend, including: Several Golden Eagles each day, Snow Bunting, Pine Siskin, Carolina Wren, Horned Grebe, Pied-billed Grebe, Long-tailed Duck, Bonaparte's Gull, and of course, enormous numbers of Tundra Swans and other waterfowl in a truly wonderful spectacle. I believe we demonstrated that birders are not only capable, but are also willing to contribute substantial funds to local bird conservation projects. $1,750 was raised via our live auction with all proceeds going to support a 52-acre Pool Slough Habitat Restoration and Enhancement Project (total cost $400,000) which is the centerpiece of the new Pool Slough Wildlife Refuge, immediately east and northeast of New Albin, Iowa. We thank those who donated 21 auction items, and the auctioneer who donated his time. A big thank you to the 6 individuals who made excellent presentations during the festival; to the 10 enthusiastic and people-oriented field trip leaders; to Captain Jack Libby, Mississippi River Explorer Cruises; to Jon Stravers and the Big Blue Sky Band; and to the numerous volunteers who made this event a huge success. Thanks are also extended to the 10 co-sponsors of the birding festival, and the various merchants in Lansing who donated many items for our silent auction, as well as numerous door prizes. Income beyond expenses from the festival itself, will support future bird education and bird conservation activities. Please note the following in your planners and on your calendars: 3rd Annual Rivers & Bluffs Fall Birding Festival - - Nov. 12-14, 2004. Ric Ric Zarwell Important Bird Areas (IBA) Coordinator Audubon Iowa P.O. Box 299 Lansing, Iowa 52151 563-538-4991 [email protected] Iowa IBA Website: www.iowabirds.org/IBA Mission: "To bring MORE people to nature through birding; and especially, to move MORE birders to effective conservation action." SHOW UP.... SPEAK UP.... ANTE UP.... For Birds and Habitats
forward by Jim Williams, at Ric's request
