So…what’s going on MAY 3 – May 12, 2013?
YES – The Biggest Week in American Birding!
Registration is now open! Some of the workshops and field trips are filling up fast so it is definitely not too early to reserve your place for a bird-filled week of fun!
The entire week (10 days!) is only 30 dollars for adults, and 10 dollars for students! There are fees for some of the trips and presentations but many are free, including a a talk by Kim Kaufman on shade-grown coffee and guided tours on the Magee Marsh Boardwalk!
During the festival you can register, pick up your name badge and registration packet between the hours of 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. at the Maumee Bay Lodge & Convention Center.
What’s going on at his big incredible week of birding? Well the main attraction of course would be THE MIGRATING BIRDS. Check out the links below if you would like a preview of what you likely will find while you are here:
*Kenn Kaufman’s Birding Predictions
*Birds to Expect
In addition to the great birding there are presentations, field trips, book signings, banding demonstrations, and even a bird tattoo contest! You can view the complete schedule of events HERE.
Here a few of the MANY things we are looking forward to:
Young birder Kristina Polk (author of the Wild at Heart blog) will be presenting And Then I Met a Gray Catbird: How One Bird Changed My Whole Life May 3rd at the Maumee Bay Lodge and Conference Center at 7:30 p.m.
We have heard Kristina speak before and her words have passion and power. She is definitely an advocate for our birds and a great speaker.
Punk Rock Big Year: Paul Riss knocked birding stereotypes out when he decided to do a big year of birding AND tattoo the Latin name of every new bird he saw during that time. In addition to his cool presentation May 4th at 7:30 p.m. he will be judging a bird tattoo contest at 5 p.m. (both will be at the Maumee Bay Lodge and Conference Center).
Paul Riss (right) took a moment at the Ohio Young Birder Conference in 2011 to pose with Dakota
Whether you are a photographer, new birder or ornithologist – guided walks every day (free with your name badge) are one of the BEST ways to see every bird and connect with other birders. Bird guide author and amazing birder Kenn Kaufman will be guiding these walks at 8am and 11am on the boardwalk.
Birders on the Boardwalk, 2010
There will be a Bird-Friendly Coffee Bar at the Maumee Lodge & Conference Center and Birds and Beans coffee will also be served at the Black Swamp Bird Observatory. In addition to being one of the best coffees around, it is by far the best coffee for the birds!
Kim Kaufman will be speaking all about the awesomeness of shade-grown coffee on Sunday May 5th at 3 p.m. at the Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge. She and Kenn spent some time at a bird-friendly coffee farm and it is amazing how just buying coffee can impact our birds in a wonderful way!
Okay, I could go on and on but the Biggest Week has a wonderful website so go check them out! They have information on all the events, maps, places to stay and contact and registration info.
If you have not attended before – it is really worth it! And if you have, then you know it’s true!
GOOD BIRDING AND HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!
