Farm to Floodplain: For over 80 years, farmland at Emiquon in Illinois has been manipulated to remain dry. In 2007, the Nature Conservancy shut down pumps turning 7100 acres into a wetland that attracts thousands of waterfowl and Bald Eagles.

Read more about this project in Jason’s Journal (Jason is the Deputy Director of the Illinois River Program)

Boone County Illinois conserves new land: The Boone County Conservation District recently acquired 80 acres of new land from two separate adjoining land owners. The site will be called the Piscasaw Fen Conservation Area. The site is along a riparian corridor and contains both woodland and wetland habitats. The acquisition was funded by grants from the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation, the Grand Victoria Foundation and Chum’s Foundation.

Organization of the year: The Nature Conservancy in Illinois has been named Organization of the Year at the 2008 Illinois Outdoor Hall of Fame Banquet for 50 years of extraordinary contributions.

While it may not be as fascinating (or necessary on Monday morning) as the World’s Largest Coffee Pot, here is one of the biggest American Robins we’ve ever found.

Photos taken with the Wingscapes Birdcam. Date removed because it was set wrong.

We asked Dakota a few questions about bird conservation as we discussed birding on a warm late summer afternoon. This is also our Skywatch Friday post for this week.

Why do you like birds?

Because they are cool to watch and it is so cool to study them. I love their songs and each bird has a different sound. My favorite birds are Northern Gannets, warblers, and definitely raptors.

Do you feel birds are in trouble?

Yes. People are taking over their habitat, cutting down trees and polluting waterways.

What would happen if bird species started disappearing?

It would be sad and there would be too many bugs. Less plants would be spread by seeds and it would be less fun since there would be less to watch.

What are you doing to help bird conservation?

Participating in Christmas Bird Counts and learning to band birds. I use birds in school projects to help show other kids that birds are great. It is hard to talk to my friends about birds because they don’t understand how fun it is. Some of them do not seem to enjoy being outside as much.

How do you define bird conservation?

Helping birds by donating money to protect them. Volunteering at birding events helps too. Also, protecting them to keep them from declining and especially going extinct.

If you haven’t entered our weekly photo meme, Bird Photography Weekly, you still have time! A new one comes out next Monday.

Lost Scenes of Winged Migration: The Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Macaulay Library will be archiving some of the 200 hours of film from the spectacular documentary of Winged Migration. Winged Migration helps viewers fall in love with birds, spurring the will to conserve them.

New Flickr photo group for eBird - If you have seen any birds outside their normal range or seasonal occurrence, or exceedingly large numbers of birds you can not only post them on e-bird, but you can now add any photos to the photo-sharing site flickr.

Wintering site for Bicknell’s Thrush - In the Sierra De Bahoruco National Park in southwestern Dominican Republic there is a significant population of wintering Bicknell’s Thrushes. The American Bird Conservancy is working with Grupo Jaragua to strengthen the protection of the park which is also home to the endanged Bay-breasted Cuckoo found no where else in the world.

Our main goal at Birdfreak.com is to promote bird conservation and the joy of birding. We have no affiliations because we feel that all organizations that are geared towards promoting birding and bird conservation are on our side.

Thus, we strive to promote all sorts of nature organizations and do so on our own dime. In the process, we have been called upon to help out several bird-related organizations including our local bird club, NCIOS. Besides creating websites, we try to fulfill all sorts of marketing objectives for these organizations to help improve their standing in their niche.

NCIOS Screenshot

We decided to offer up a new avenue to improve nature organizations the world over. We are highly skilled in a wide-range of internet, blogging, and traditional marketing methods. Where we lack in experience, we make up for in utter devotion.

Since we have been serving up our marketing skills already free of charge, the rest of the month of September is yours to ask us any questions about conservation marketing. Keep it pithy and we’ll come up with ways to improve your own blog, bird club, or national organization. (We’ve been providing all sorts of information for Cornell’s Lab of Ornithology on their website redesign blog.)

We’ll be sharing information about various things we’ve learned in the year and 8 months we’ve been doing internet marketing, but we want to hear from you!

Use the form below to ask a question now:

cforms contact form by delicious:days

Disclaimer: We reserve the right to post full questions and answers but are not responsible for any results from following or not following our advise. The beauty of free advice

While young birders may be a small amount of the general birding population (especially noticeable if you are a young birder), they are nonetheless out there and their enthusiasm to birding and conservation is inspiring.

Here we feature a wonderful 13-yr old birder who’s self-proclaimed nickname is Empid (as you’ll see why below).

1. What age were you when you started birding? What is your current age?

Well… I have pictures of myself with field guides at age two, and have heard stories that I would throw a fit if I couldn’t see the bird feeders from the dinner table. I have checklists from age 6, so anywhere in that range. Now I am 13.

2. How did you get started in birding?

I have always (at least that I can remember) had an interest in birds, but going to Cape May with a local ornithologist really got me excited.

3. What is your favorite bird?

Tough… I really like Empidonax Flycatchers, especially Alders.

4. How often do you go birding?

Everyday! Even during school I’ll be listening for warblers through the open windows.

5. Who do you go birding with?

I often go birding with may mom and dad.

6. Is there a bird club in your area and are you a member?

Yes there is a bird club, Lehigh Valley Audubon Society and I am a member.

7. Do you have a life list and if so, how many are on it?

Yep, its a little over 410.

8. Do your family or friends also enjoy birding?

My family does, but many of my friends from school have a stereotypical image of a birder being an old lady with binoculars, so they don’t have any interest in birds at all. They don’t know what they’re missing.

9. Is the environmental field (including birding) part of your future career goal?

Definitely.

10. How would you get other young people interested in birding?

I try to get kids interested in birding by inviting them to come on the bird walks I lead. I write book reviews about books that involve birds and articles about birding experiences and identification. I have also taught some nest box information to a local Boy Scout group. I am the Youth Coordinator for the Lehigh Valley Audubon Society.

Thanks to Empid for answering our interview questions. We (Jennie and Eddie) of the Birdfreak Team started birding at a young age as our parents took us to various natural areas to explore. It is crucial to convince other young kids to not just be interested in birds but to pursue an active outdoor lifestyle that includes being conservationists.

Look for future young birder interviews as well as more features from young birders, including Dakota.