[mou] BIG STONE SHOREBIRD WORKSHOP-August 4 and 5, 2006

[Lisa Gelvin-Innvaer]

Note: This is being posted on behalf of Alice Hanley, Refuge Manager of =
Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge.  All response or queries should be =
directed to BSNWR--Lisa Gelvin-Innvaer

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                                                     BIG STONE SHOREBIRD =
WORKSHOP
                                                                           =
    Ortonville, MN
                                                                         =
August 4 and 5, 2006

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Friends of the Morris Wetland =
Management District will be hosting a Shorebird Workshop, Friday, August 4 =
and Saturday, August 5, 2006 in Ortonville, MN.  Activities include =
classroom instruction in shorebird identification techniques, shorebird =
ecology and migration strategies, and the shorebird research program being =
conducted in the area.  The workshop will focus on classroom instruction =
as well as field trips to the best shorebird locations on the Refuge and =
surrounding area. =20

Registration fee is $30.00 which will include all presentations, materials,=
 a Friday evening social hour, and a one-year membership to the "Friends =
of the Morris Wetland Management District" organization.  Field trip costs =
have been offset by a grant from the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union.  To =
register, please out the form on the last page and return it and your $30 =
payment to Big Stone NWR

All activities will begin and end at the Matador Restaurant, Ortonville, =
MN.  The workshop is limited to 40 participants so please register early.  =
For more information, please contact Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge at =
320-273-2191.

INSTRUCTORS

=B7Jerry Bonkoski * Past President of MOU and expert birder.  Jerry has =
served as a guide and instructor at previous Shorebird Workshops.

=B7Doug Buri * Doug has studied birds and shorebirds in particular for =
over 40 years on five continents.  Doug is an expert birder and has =
organized and presented at previous Shorebird Workshops.

=B7Diane Granfors * Wildlife Biologist, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, =
Habitat and Population Evaluation Team, Fergus Falls, MN * Diane specialize=
s in landscape models and strategic planning for shorebirds, marshbirds =
and other grassland birds.

=B7Bob Janssen * Bob was the editor of The Loon, the MOU journal for over =
35 years.  He has authored three books and is a past president of the MOU, =
past member of the records committee and coordinator of the Minnesota =
Breeding Bird Survey.  Bob has also been an instructor and guide at =
previous Shorebird Workshops.

=B7Bob Russell * Wildlife Biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife =
Service's Migratory Birds Office, Fort Snelling, MN * Bob specializes in =
shorebirds and marshbirds and is an active birdwatcher.

=B7Curt Vacek * Assistant Area Wildlife Manager, Minnesota Department of =
Natural Resources, Appleton, MN.  Curt has studied shorebirds on their =
arctic nesting grounds and is an active birdwatcher.

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             =20
SHOREBIRD WEEKEND DRAFT AGENDA
 Matador Restaurant, Ortonville, MN.
Friday August 4

1:00 pm * 2:00 pm	Registration=20

2:00 pm * 2:30 pm   Welcome and orientation=20

2:30 pm - 3:15pm	Beginning shorebird identification, distribution =
and occurrence in Minnesota,  Bob Janssen.

3:15 pm  - 3:45 pm	"Separating Out the Tough Ones", Doug Buri

4:00 pm * 6:00 pm    Field trip to Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge and =
surrounding area.   =20

6:00 pm - 7:00 pm	Social hour at Matador Restaurant    =20
	                Marbled godwit update, Bob Russell                 =
         	=20

Saturday August 5rd
7:00am * 11:30 am   Field trip to reinforce identification tips learned in =
the classroom, led by the instructors. (Some refreshments will be =
provided)

11:30am - 1:00pm	Lunch on your own

 1:00 pm * 1:45pm    National Wildlife Refuge Updates

1:45pm * 2:30 pm  	"Shorebird Research Activities in the Prairie =
Pothole Region", Diane Granfors
                               =09
2:30 pm * 3:15 pm 	"A Day in the Life of snow geese, shorebirds and =
Researchers at La Perouse Bay", Curt Vacek=20

3:15 pm * 4:00 pm 	Wrap Up and Questions
 =09

The registration fee for the Shorebird Weekend is $30.00 and reservations =
will be limited to 40 participants, so please register early. To register, =
please out the form on the next page and return it and your $30 payment to =
Big Stone NWR   Information packets for the Ortonville Area will be mailed =
out to all registered participants.    Registration begins at 1:00 pm on =
Friday at the Matador Restaurant, located on U.S. Hwy 75 just north of the =
Hwy 12 intersection in Ortonville, MN.  Beginners to professional birders =
and biologists will gain from this workshop.  Join us! August 4 and 5, =
2006.  Some snacks and refreshments will be provided for the field trips. =
There will be space on the buses for scopes, etc. and we encourage you to =
bring them.  =20

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                                      Big Stone Shorebird Workshop
                                               Registration Form




Name:	 _____________________________________



Address:	___________________________________________________________=
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               ____________________________________________________________=
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Phone:	_____________________________

Email address: _________________________


Please send completed registration forms and checks, made payable to the =
"Friends of the Morris Wetland Management District" to:

Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge
44843 County Road 19
Odessa, MN  56276
320-273-2191