Severson Dells Earth Day Program – California Condor Reintroduction
April 12, 2012
Article in: Bird Conservation
The Severson Dells Nature Center located in Rockford, Illinois is hosting a presentation on California Condor reintroduction to celebrate Earth Day. Time TBA at Rock Valley College in Rockford.
Earth Day Celebration
Saturday, April 21 (time to be announced 11:00-3:00pm Rock Valley College)
California Condor Reintroduction; An Avian Study on the N.W. Coast
Presented by Dan Varland
Sponsored by The David and Neva Burdick Memorial Fund of Severson Dells Nature Center and The Varland Family Trust
Dan Varland of Coastal Raptors will discuss sampling techniques used to monitor Bald Eagles, Common Ravens, and Turkey Vultures in coastal Oregon and Washington. With positive results from these tests, reintroductions of California Condor to this area may follow. As of November 2011, there were 391 California Condors in existence, 209 in the wild and 182 in captivity. Dan will talk about the natural history of the California Condor and the monumental effort to recover the species to the point of removal from the Endangered Species list.
Dan was born and raised in Rockford. He is now the Executive Director of Coastal Raptors, a non-profit organization focusing on research, education and conservation programs for raptors in coastal environments (www.coastalraptors.org). Dan’s research on Peregrine Falcons, Bald Eagles and other raptors along Washington’s coast dates to 1995. A leading expert on the application of visual markers to identify raptors, Dan is senior author of Marking Techniques, a chapter in the 2007 book, Raptor Research and Management Techniques. Working in cooperation with environmental organizations and agencies, in 2011 Dan initiated a new, multi-year study to examine avian health and disease on the Pacific Northwest coast.
Free to attend.
Severson Dells Program – Monitoring Raptors on the Washington Coast
March 29, 2012
Article in: Bird Conservation
The Severson Dells Nature Center located in Rockford, Illinois is hosting a presentation on Washington coast raptors. If you are going to be in the area we encourage you to attend! The program is FREE but you must make a reservation.
From Severson Dells Nature Center:
Monitoring Raptors on the Washington Coast
Friday, April 20, 7:00 p.m.
Presented by Dan Varland
Severson Dells Nature Center
Sponsored by The David and Neva Burdick Memorial Fund and The Varland Family Trust
Washington’s coastal beaches host a diversity of raptors during migration and winter, including Bald Eagles, Peregrine Falcons, Merlins, Northern Harriers and Gyrfalcons. Since 1995, Dan has been surveying raptor abundance and distribution on three coastal beaches in southwest Washington. Surveys involve the capture and banding of falcons, with a focus on the Peregrine Falcon. In this presentation, Dan will report on the relative abundance and diversity of the raptors of the coastal beaches and describe survey methods and marking techniques. He will share his findings from more than 15 years of research on Peregrine Falcons on the Washington coast.
Dan was born and raised in Rockford. He is now the Executive Director of Coastal Raptors, a non-profit organization focusing on research, education and conservation programs for raptors in coastal environments (www.coastalraptors.org). Dan’s research on Peregrine Falcons, Bald Eagles and other raptors along Washington’s coast dates to 1995. A leading expert on the application of visual markers to identify raptors, Dan is senior author of Marking Techniques, a chapter in the 2007 book, Raptor Research and Management Techniques. Working in cooperation with environmental organizations and agencies, in 2011 Dan initiated a new, multi-year study to examine avian health and disease on the Pacific Northwest coast.
Free but, please call 1-815-335-2915 for reservations.
Local Birding Events at Severson Dells Forest Preserve
April 15, 2009
Article in: Birding
Winnebago County has some of the best birding (and natural history) opportunities in northern Illinois. We try to frequent as many of the top locations as possible but there are so many, it is often hard to do. Severson Dells Forest Preserve is one of the best and provides numerous educational opportunities, especially for younger naturalists.
Two fine programs coming up in April are as follows:
Birding Through Time: A History of Bird Study in the Chicago Region, Tues., April 21, 6:30 pm
Program sponsored by Severson Dells Nature Center and Sinnissippi Audubon Society. Free program. When the first Europeans arrived in this area in the 1670s, they discovered a place with a great diversity of landscapes teaming with an abundance of life. The earliest descriptions pre-date scientific ornithology but they do provide a hint of what was here. It wasn’t until the 1840s, however, with the arrival of Dr. Philo Hoy in Racine, WI did a scientifically inclined observer begin recording local birds. With photos and through the words of those who were witnesses, this program takes us on a field trip through time as we look at the changing birdlife and, equally important, the changing attitudes people held towards birds and nature.
Joel Greenberg has been interested in birds and natural history as long as he can remember. He has published numerous articles and three books: A Birder’s Guide to the Chicago Region (w/ L. Carpenter, 1999), A Natural History of the Chicago Region (2002), and Of Prairie, Woods, and Water: Two Centuries of Chicago Nature Writing (2008).
Flights of Fancy, Saturday, April 25, 7:00 am-2:00 pm
For beginner and intermediate. Leader: Keith Blackmore
Enjoy a birding outing during the onset of spring songbird migration and learn more about where birds have been and where they are going. Opportunities will be provided to sharpen the skills useful in field recognition of our feathered friends. What behaviors do birds exhibit which help to identify them? What calls are especially helpful? How can one quickly locate birds in a bird book? We’ll spend about 4 1/2 hours outdoors and 2 1/2 hours indoors. Bring a sack lunch, binoculars, and bird book.
Limit 16. Fee: $10 [NOTICE: if you mention Birdfreak.com it is 1/2 price!!]
Easy trail walking. Payment of fee saves your spot.
Contact Severson Dells
Phone: 815-335-2915
Fax: 815-335-2471
Address: Severson Dells Nature Center, 8786 Montague Rd., Rockford, IL, USA, 61102
Hours: Monday-Saturday, 8:00am-4:30pm; Sunday 1:00-4:30pm
