Schedule:

Friday, February 12th
Registration: Registration begins at 4 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. at the Meadowlands Community Center
Catered Dinner: 6:00 p.m. Menu is: Pasties and gravy and cole slaw with fruit bars for dessert plus coffee and cider. There will be a vegetable lasagna for vegetarians.
Program Begins at 7:00 p.m.
Speaker: Kim Risen
Presentation: Mexico: Bird Wonderland
Mexico is a scenic and varied wonder with amazing diversity in habitats and birdlife. Many birders have their first taste of the tropics on their first journey to Mexico. In fact, Mexico is the international birding destination most often visited by U.S. birders. Its proximity to the United States, the presence of modern airports and inexpensive airfares to many parts of the country and an avifauna that is high in both total species (more than 1,050) and endemics (more than 100) are a tantalizing combination. Many birders are surprised to find that, in the New World, Mexico is second only to Brazil in the number of endemic bird species that are found within their borders. It is these endemic bird species that attract birders from around the world—if you want to see these rare birds, Mexico is the ONLY place in the world to find them.

Each corner of Mexico has its unique flavor in food, culture and birdlife. When the birding becomes slow you can explore Mayan temples in the Yucatan, Aztec ruins in the central volcanic belt, Zapotec & Mixtec tombs in Oaxaca, colonial churches just about everywhere all while enjoying each region’s unique cuisine. There is something for everyone to enjoy when visiting Mexico!

We’ll take a visual tour around Mexico, sharing with you the great birds and birding that are found there. A bit of history, interesting ‘tid-bits’ and a brief background of the natural history will illustrate why Mexico is among the most rewarding birding experiences anywhere!

Saturday, February 13th
Field Trips: All Day
Registration: Registration begins at 4 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. at the Meadowlands Community Center
Catered Dinner: 6:00 p.m. Menu is: Porketta, Creamed chicken breast, Baby buttered potatoes, Green beans, Carrots, Cole slaw, Relish Tray, Homemade rolls or buns, coffee and punch.
Program Begins at 7:00 p.m.
Speaker: Al Batt

Sunday, February 14th
Field Trips: All Day

The Speakers
Kim Risen Kim started birding along the Mississippi River flyway more than 35 years ago at the age of ten. Experiences with his camera and binoculars along the ‘Big River’ and in the woodlands and prairies of the Midwest cemented birds, photography and natural history as major focuses of his life.

Kim began leading birding trips around the Midwest while still in high school. As his experiences grew, so did his tour-leading schedule. As a result, for the last 25 years Kim has led birding tours throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, Central and South America and Southern Africa. For the past 18 years, he has specialized in Latin America, where he has studied bird vocalizations, status and distribution and field identification.

In 2004, Kim broke the record for most species recorded in one year for Mexico by 60 when he ended his Mexican ‘Big Year’ with a total of 876 species seen. Mexico remains his most visited international destination (having led more than 90 trips throughout the country) and a frequent subject of his photography. He lists Oaxaca as his favorite birding state in Mexico and he’ll lead his 24th Oaxaca tour in November 2009.

His tour leading travels have taken him to five continents, all the states of Mexico and into more bogs than most people have ever seen. He counts the woodlands and plains of Minnesota, North Dakota and Manitoba, the awesome diversity of Mexico, Alaska’s stark beauty (plus ever-present vagrant fever!), South Africa’s unsurpassed combination of birds/flowers/mammals and the peerless Andes Mountains among his favorite locations.

Being a tour leader allows him the ultimate birding high—seeing old, familiar birds for the first time over and over again through the eyes and ears of others—something in which he takes great pleasure. He and his wife, Cindy, are youth mentors in Minnesota. Working with beginners and children, introducing them to birds and the natural world, is one of the most rewarding experiences of his life.

He was the founder and publisher of NatureScape News, a tabloid news magazine emphasizing the FUN of birding, butterflying and the wonders of nature. NatureScape News was the perfect outlet for Kim and Cindy, both longtime freelance photographers and writers. While their photography has appeared in newspapers, books and magazines across the country, sharing the wonders of the Midwest with the readers of NatureScape News was a real treat. They were the primary photographers and authors of a 92 page, full color book celebrating the nature of their home county, Aitkin County Naturally! (ACN!). Their photography and design talents were recognized in 2008 when ACN! was the recipient of a National Media Award from the National Association for Interpretation. Released in Fall 2006, Aitkin County - Naturally! showcases the natural wonders of Aitkin County and Mille Lacs Lake and introduces readers to the best places to view nature's beauty. Their next book, “Orchids of the Northwoods” is to be released by Kollath-Stensaas in Fall 2009.

Al Batt of rural Hartland, Minnesota is a writer, speaker, storyteller and humorist. Al writes five weekly humor and nature columns for many newspapers, and does a show three times per week about nature on a number of radio stations. He writes a number of popular cartoon strips that are syndicated nationally and has written jokes for a former President of the United States. He has written for a number of magazines and books, including the Chicken Soup For the Soul series, a contributing author to the book, Minnesota Bird Watching and is a columnist for Naturescape News. He does thoughtful, clean and humorour talks that allow those in the audience to laugh and learn.

Al appears each week on “Memories and Musings by Al Batt” on KSMQ-TV. He has written for the movies, speaks at various festivals, conferences, and conventions all over the United States. He has been named Birder of the Year by WildBird Magazine. Al has also received the Ed Franey Conservation Media Award from the Izaak Walton League.

Al leads tours to such places as Alaska and Ecuador, disappears into the woods whenever he is able, usually on the pretext that he is “taking the dog for a walk,” and speaks to anyone who will listen.

Best of all Al's mother thinks he is special.