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Space Coast Birding & Wildlife Festival November 13 - 17, 2002 -- Brevard County, Florida A celebration of birds and wildlife. |
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Space Coast Birding & Wildlife Festival November 13 - 17, 2002 -- Brevard County, Florida A celebration of birds and wildlife. |
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TOP.Digiscoping
Presenter: Mike McDowell
Interested in bird photography? Digiscoping is the latest rage. Learn techniques and advantages of capturing bird images by connecting a digital camera to your spotting scope. Digiscoping offers an extremely effective way for obtaining high quality results at comparitively lower costs versus expensive fast telephoto lenses. The first hour of the workshop will be an introduction to digiscoping, covering the basics of what you need to get started and how the equipment works. Capturing images out in the field will be the focus of the next two hours. Additionally, Mike will cover tips on how to enhance your pictures digitally with image processing software. Finally, a slide show presentation consisting of Mike’s digiscoped bird images will be shown.
This free workshop is sponsored by Eagle Optics www.eagleoptics.com.
The outdoor portion of the workshop will be a car pool trip, and is limited to 18 registrants.
Nov 13, 9:00am-1:00pm: BCC Gymnatorium Stage; FREE
Nov 15, 8:00am-12:00pm: BCC Gymnatorium Classroom 4121; FREEShorebird Identification
Presenter: Lee Snyder
Wildlife Photographer, Lee Snyder, will present a photographic survey of the likely shorebirds found on Florida’s coasts. Birds of the beaches, bays and marshes can be very difficult to identify and this program will help birdwatchers of all levels to better identify this often frustrating group of birds. Learn to differentiate between Willets and Dowitchers, Long-billed Curlews and Whimbrels and especially Sanderlings and sandpipers. Following his presentation, Lee will lead a trip around the Black Point Wildlife Drive, one of the refuge’s premier areas for shorebird observation. If security measures restrict access to Merritt Island NWR, the group will visit another site TBD.
To view some of Lee’s photography, visit www.digiklik.com
Nov 14, 7:30am-8:30am: BCC Gymnatorium Stage; $3.00
Field trip follows, 8:30am-12:30pm: Limited to 21 registrants; $25.00/personBeginning Birding
Presenter: Carroll Holland
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. Birdwatching inevitably leads to a discovery of turtles, butterflies, wildflowers and all the interconnections of nature. In this informative talk, Carroll will cover 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.
A free car-pool field trip to Black Point Wildlife Drive on Merritt Island NWR will follow the workshop so you can get right out in the field and put your new knowledge to work. In the event that security measures restrict access to Merritt Island NWR, the group will visit the City of Titusville’s Blue Heron Water Treatment Facility created wetlands.
Nov 14, 8:30am-9:30am: BCC Gymnatorium Stage; Free. Field trip: Limited to 21 registrants;, 9:30am-12:30pm
Nov 16, 8:30am-9:30am: BCC Classroom 4121; Free. Field trip: Limited to 21 registrants; 9:30am-12:30pmClose-up Nature Photography Seminar/Workshop
Presenter: 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).
To see some of Milton’s photography, visit www.miltonheiberg.com and click on "Macrophotography."
Nov 14, 11:15am-12:30pm: BCC Gymnatorium Stage; $3.00
Field workshop follows; 1:00pm-3:00pm; Meet in the Lobby of the Gymnatorium.Raptors of Florida Part I: Accipiters, Kites and Falcons
Presenter: 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 Cooper’s Hawks and others, including Swallow-tailed Kite, White-tailed Kite, Snail Kite, Mississippi Kite, Northern Harrier, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper’s Hawk, Northern Goshawk, American Kestrel, Merlin and Peregrine Falcon.
Nov 14, 1:00pm-3:00pm: BCC Gymnatorium Stage; $3.00Optics
Presenter: Mike McDowell
Start your birding festival experience on the right track with the right optical equipment for you. Binoculars are the mainstays of birdwatching, yet the vast array of choices can make it difficult to choose the ones that are best for you. How do binoculars and scopes work? What are the best binoculars and spotting scopes? How can I adjust binoculars so I can see best? What are the pros and cons of the different types of optics? How do I care for my equipment? All of these questions will be answered. There will be an opportunity to get hands on experience with a wide variety of types and manufactures of birding optics.
This free workshop is sponsored by Eagle Optics, www.eagleoptics.com.
Nov 14, 4:00pm-5:00pm: BCC Gymnatorium Classroom 4121; Free
Nov 16, 11:00am-12:00pm: BCC Gymnatorium Classroom 4121; FreeThe Best in Computer Birding Software
Presenter: Mike Hannisian
Long time Naturalist and now Executive Director of the Valley Land Fund of the Lower Rio Grande Valley in deep, south Texas, Mike Hannisian, will demonstrate and discuss the best ABA area nature oriented computer software and videos. These include instructional and listing programs. Mike will be with us for the entire festival, and will be happy to discuss these programs whenever circumstances permit. Mike also writes for various magazines and newspapers, including Wildbird, Birding, Bird Watcher’s Digest, Texas Birds, The Rio Grande Valley Nature Magazine and The Valley Morning Star.
Nov 14, 3:30pm-5:00pm: BCC Gymnatorium Stage; $3.00Photography Field Shoot/Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge
Trip Leader: Joanne Williams
Join Joanne Williams, an accomplished professional photographer whose work may be seen in numerous national and international publications, for an afternoon of photography instruction at Merritt Island NWR. Work with a professional in the field. Practice composition, appropriate equipment settings and learn the methods and techniques Joanne uses while capturing her beautiful images. You must have a working knowledge of your own camera equipment. Beginners and non-photographers are welcome too. In the event that security measures restrict access to Merritt Island NWR, the group will visit the City of Titusville’s Blue Heron Water Treatment Facility ponds.
To view some of Joanne’s photography, visit www.joannewilliamsphoto.com.
Nov 15, 6:00am-10:00am: Limited to 12 registrants; $45.00/person
Meet at Marine Patrol Station on east side of Titusville Causeway at 6:00am.Bird Photography Seminar
Presenter: Milton Heiberg
Milton Heiberg, author of The Essentials of Nature Photography, will give a seminar on Bird Photography. Learn how to capture the beauty of birds on film, how to approach birds with telephoto lenses, and how to photograph birds in flight 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 15, 4:00pm-5:00pm: BCC Gymnatorium Classroom 4123; $3.00Introduction to Interpretive Birding - Part I
RESCHEDULED FOR 2003 FESTIVAL
Presenter: Dr. Jim Davis
In this two hour workshop, Dr. Jim Davis explores different ways to integrate behavior watching into your birding activities. To begin with, there is the joy of discovering and identifying previously unseen behaviors. The next step is interpreting the actions of individual birds that you encounter in the field. To help you get started, Jim covers tricks of taking efficient and useful notes, how to recognize specific types of behaviors, and how to use behavior to identify species. He will also examine one or more behavioral topics (e.g., play, counter-singing, nest building, foraging) using an interpretive perspective.
To learn more about Interpretive Birding, visit www.ibirding.com.Sparrow Identification
Presenter: Bruce Anderson
Have you ever seen a Grasshopper Sparrow or a Lincoln’s Sparrow up close? Many new world sparrows do not have the 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 will introduce you to Central Florida sparrow identification. You will be able to study museum specimens from the University of Central Florida to see the actual colors and patterns that will help you to identify species you might find when out for a day of birding. Please bring a field guide!
Nov 15, 3:30pm-5:00pm: BCC Gymnatorium Stage; $3.00Interpretive Birding in the Field - Part II
RESCHEDULED FOR 2003 FESTIVAL
Trip Leader: Dr. Jim Davis
This workshop gives you an opportunity to practice what you learned in the introductory workshop (Part I). While in the field, Jim will demonstrate several ways to watch and interpret behavior. You will learn how to recognize contextual clues that are critical for formulating interpretations of avian behavior. Various activities are scheduled. Foremost, however, is the opportunity to practice an interpretive approach with other birders who share the same perspective and goals. The introductory workshop is a prerequisite for attendance; otherwise, this experience is appropriate for all levels of birders from beginner to advanced. Bring a chair or comfortable cushion, binoculars, and a thermos of your favorite drink. Jim guarantees that you will witness new behaviors that you can add to your life list. Further details regarding times and locations will be announced in Part I.
To learn more, visit www.ibirding.com.Photography Field Shoot/Orlando Wetlands Park
Milton Heiberg
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.
For more information and to see some of Milton’s work, visit: www.miltonheiberg.com.
Nov16, 6:00am-10:00am: Strictly limited to 12 registrants; $45/person
Meet at 6:00 A.M. in the parking lot of Jungle Adventures–see map for directions.Basic Bird Photography: An Armchair Travelogue
Presenter: Darlene Harris
This informal show and tell will be given by Nature Photographer, Darlene Harris, who will give you tips to improve your wildlife and landscapes photos, incuding the best times and places to find bird subjects to photograph. Using sets of teaching prints, she will explain good elements of composition, such as framing, color and timing.
Nov 16, 11:00am-12:00pm: BCC Gymnatorium Classroom 4121; $3.00How to Improve That Photograph
Presenter: Joanne Williams
Joanne will give a short slide show presenting The "error of her ways" with some of her throw-in-the-trash images, then tell how she corrected certain situations to improve the outcome. There will also be a classroom participation period---bring in 4 or 5 (depending on the size of the class) of your own slides that you wish to share with the class and have reviewed by Joanne. She will share some of her experiences, techniques and "what-works-for-her" tips while photographing wildlife and nature.
To see some of Joanne’s photography, visit www.joannewilliamsphoto.com.
Nov 16, 12:45pm-2:15pm: BCC Gymnatorium Classroom 4123; $3.00Gulls and Terns for Beginners
Presenter: Mike Hannisian
Many newer birders, (and many not so new ones!) are intimidated by gulls and terns. If you are among this group, or simply want to become more familiar with gulls and terns, join Mike Hannisian for his Intro to Gulls and Terns Workshop. Mike, a long time Naturalist and now Executive Director of The Valley Land Fund of the lower Rio Grande Valley in deep, south Texas will present this workshop in the indoor/outdoor format he developed while at the Cape May Bird Observatory. The emphasis will be on learning to identify the typical gull and tern plumages so as to allow the participants to develop a frame of reference that will help them to later learn the more esoteric plumages in this admittedly complex group.
Mike will lead a field trip to Sebastion Inlet State Recreation Area and Port Canaveral’s Jetty Park on Nov 17 to focus on gulls and terns.
Nov 16, 1:00pm-2:30pm: BCC Gymnatorium Stage; $3.00Raptors of Florida Part II: Buteos, Vultures, Eagles and More
Presenter: 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 either immature or adult, leaving the average person spinning. We will shed light on the differences between Swainson’s, Red-tailed, Ferruginous, and Rough-legged Hawks in their various plumages and will cover Broad-winged, Short-tailed and Red-shouldered Hawks, as well as Osprey and Crested Cara Cara.
Nov 16, 3:00pm-5:00pm: BCC Gymnatorium Stage; $3.00
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