2001 WORKSHOPS

Seabird Identification Workshop
Debra Shearwater
Learning how to identify seabirds while on a moving vessel, as they fly past the observer, is not always an easy task. Debra Shearwater, field ornithologist, and founder of Shearwater Journeys, a tour company that has specialized in pelagic birding trips off the central California coast for the past 26 years, will use videotape and study skins to give you the opportunity to learn seabirds as they are actually encountered from a boat. This workshop will introduce the beginning seabirder to our common seabirds and a few marine mammals.
Nov 8, 4:00pm-5:00pm; BCC Auditorium; $3.00
Nov 9, 2:30pm-3:30pm; BCC Auditorium; $3.00

Behavior Watching Workshop
Dr. Jim Davis
With lecture, slides, and participant activities, we will explore the following topics: (1) identifying and interpreting behavior in the field, (2) using behavior to help identify species, (3) recording observations on your lifelist, and (4) resources for amateur behavior watchers. We will also examine one or more behavioral topics (e.g. antipredator behavior, creching, vocalizations) in detail using an interpretive perspective.
Nov 10, 2:30pm-4:30pm -- BCC Gymnatorium Classroom; $3.00

Close-up Photography
Milton Heiberg
Milton Heiberg, author of The Essentials of Nature Photography, will give a talk on Close-up Photography. Learn how to capture the beauty of nature close-up on film through techniques taught by a thirty-year veteran. The slide lecture/seminar portion will cover photography of wildflowers, insects, butterflies, and other small creatures. For the workshop portion, we will take a walk out back to one of the fallow areas of the campus, and get down into it. Come with or without your camera and close-up lenses. You will look at small nature subjects from a whole new perspective, and visually study their beauty (in a brand new light - both literally and figuratively).
Nov. 8, 2:45pm-5:00pm - BCC Gymnatorium Classroom; $3.00

Bird Photography
Milton Heiberg
Milton Heiberg, author of The Essentials of Nature Photography, will teach you how to capture the beauty of birds on film, how to approach birds with telephoto tenses, and how to photograph birds in night using techniques taught by this thirty-year veteran of nature photography. If you are planning to attend Milton's Saturday field trip to Orlando Wetland Park, you should seriously consider this seminar. To see some of Milton's photography, visit www.miltonheiberg.com.
Nov. 9, 4:00pm-5:00pm - BCC Gymnatorium Classroom; $3.00

Orlando Wetlands Photoshoot
Milton Heiberg

Ed King

Visit this unique and most beautiful wetland in Central Florida with Milton Heiberg-a thirty year veteran of nature photography--teacher of the subject for twenty years at the NYC Audubon Society, and now at The Crealde School of Art in Orlando. He is the author of seven books on photography. Many of his students have become well published and noted nature photographers (which includes Florida's own Arthur Morris). You will receive a gratis copy of Milton's latest book: The Essentials of Nature Photography. We will catch a sunrise over the still waters of the marsh, walk and stalk the abundant bird life along the berm roads. Bring tripod, ISO 200 or 400 film and a 300+mm lens. We will walk one mile (plus or minus) so wear comfortable shoes.
Meet at 6:00 A.M. in the parking lot of Jungle Adventures - see map for directions.
For more information and to see some of Milton's work, visit: www.miltonheiberg.com
Saturday, November 10, 6:00am -10:00am
Strictly limited to 12 registrants; $45/person

Sparrow Identification Workshop
Bruce Anderson
Have you ever seen a Grasshopper Sparrow or a Lincoln's Sparrow up close? Many New World sparrows do not have bold plumage patterns but instead are a mosaic of gray, black and brown tones that are really quite handsome and distinctive among the different species. Bruce Anderson leads this workshop that introduces you to central Florida sparrow identification. You will be able to study museum specimens from the University of Central Florida and see the actual colors and patterns that help you to identify species that you find when out for a day of birding. Bring a field guide.
Nov. 9, 1:00pm-2:00pm - BCC Gymnatorium Classroom; $3.00

Optics Workshop
Paul Nees
Paul Nees from Eagle Optics will help you start your birding festival experience on the right track with the right optical equipment for you. Binoculars are the mainstays of bird watching, yet the vast array of choices can make it difficult to choose the ones that are best for you - either as a beginner or as an advanced birdwatcher. This workshop will address the terminology and help unveil the "mystery" associated with binoculars and spotting scopes. There will be an opportunity to get hands on experience with a wide variety of types and manufactures of birding optics.
Nov. 10, 1:00pm-2:00pm -- BCC Gymnatorium Classroom; Free

Shorebirds Workshop
Lee Snyder

Lee Snyder

Lee Snyder will present a photographic survey of the likely "sandpipers" found in and around Brevard County with some pointers on how to tell all the "little brown birds" apart. More than 25 species of shorebirds can be found on Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge.
Following the seminar, Lee will lead a Shorebird Identification Field Trip around the Black Point Wildlife Drive, one of the refuge's premier areas for shorebird observation.
Limited to 25 registrants.
Nov 8, 8:00am-9:00am - BCC Gymnatorium Stage; Field trip follows at 9:00am; $30.00
Nov. 10, 8:00am-9:00am - BCC Gymnatorium Stage; Field trip follows at 9:00am; $30.00

Beginning Birding Workshop and Field Trip
Carroll Holland

Lee Snyder

Birdwatching is far more than a hobby. It is an open door to the world of nature, a touch point that connects people to the outdoors. Bird watching inevitably leads to a discovery of turtles, butterflies, wildflowers, and all the interconnections of nature. Join Carroll Holland for an informative talk covering the range from optics to field guides and other literature. He will provide helpful hints for beginners on where to find birds and how to identify them, pointing out interesting behaviors, typical silhouettes and identification tricks of the birding trade. Birdwatching is one of the fastest growing activities in the world. Don't miss out on this fun chance to learn the basics from one of the Space Coast's most experienced birders.
A free car pool trip to the Black Point Wildlife Drive will follow the workshop so that you can get right out in the field and put your new knowledge to work.
Nov. 8, 8:00am-9:00am - Merritt Island NWR Visitor's Center; Field trip follows at 9:00am; Free
Nov. 10, 9:30am-10:30am - Merritt Island NWR Visitor's Center; Field trip follows at 10:30am; Free

Beginning Wildlife Photography
Ed King
Wildlife Photographer Ed King will present an informative talk aimed at the beginning photographer on how to take pictures of animals. In his talk, Ed will cover the use of simple cameras and equipment, how to find the animals, and how to use existing light to your best advantage. He will also cover where, and how to have your pictures developed. Ed owns and operates his own gallery in Mt Carroll, Illinois. It is his passion to show not only the beauty of the animals around us, but to teach about their fragility as well. You can view some of his work at www.mtcarrollartgallery.com.
Saturday, Nov 10, 11:30am - 12:30pm, BCC Auditorium
A car pool photography field trip to the Black Point Wildlife Drive will follow from 1:00pm-4:30pm.
Meet in front of the Gymnatorium at 1:00pm.
Limited to 12 people; $25.00.

Raptors of Florida, Part One: Accipiters, Kites and Falcons
Jeff Bouton
We will explore the finer points of raptor identification looking at the subtleties beyond the obvious (e.g. square tail, round tail) including wing flap differences, typical flight profiles in soaring and gliding birds, age and sex characteristics and how these can be beneficial in identification. Eleven species will be covered with special emphasis on similar species such as Sharp-shinned and Copper's Hawks, and others. (Swallow-tailed Kite, Whitetailed Kite, Snail Kite, Mississippi Kite, Northern Harrier, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper's Hawk, Northern Goshawk, American Kestrel, Merlin, and Peregrine Falcon. Nov. 8, 1:00pm - 2:30pm BCC Gymnatorium Classroom; $3.00

Raptors of Florida Part Two: Buteos, Eagles, Vultures and More
Jeff Bouton
We will discuss some of the confusing "soaring species," covering 11 species with special emphasis on age classes of the two Eagle species and tips on how to separate them. Full coverage will be given to the various ranges of plumages in the Buteos. The Red-tailed Hawk has at least five different named sub-species, can be either light or dark morph in many of these, and then can be immature or adult leaving the average person spinning. We will shed light on the differences between Swainson's, Red-tailed, Ferruginous, and Rough-legged in their varying plumages, and will cover Broad-winged, Short-tailed and red-shouldered as well. (Osprey, Bald Eagle, Ferruginous Hawk, Rough-legged Hawk, Golden Eagle, and Crested Caracara.) Nov. 9, 2:15pm -3:45pm, BCC Gymnatorium Classroom; $3.00

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