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Selecting Optics for Birding
Presenter: Jeff Bouton
Leica Sport Optics
Selecting the "perfect" birding optics is a very personal affair that is different for each individual user. Manufacturers provide a near endless variety of options to fit every consumer's individual needs, making the selection process that much more complex. Join us as we unravel some of the mystery behind what all of those manufacturer's specs really mean to you, the consumer; review advantages and disadvantages of varying options; and learn how each affects actual field performance. By the end of the session, you should be able to sort through the field of optics that are out there and find the one that is best suited for you and your individual needs!
www.leica-camera.us/nature_observation
Jan 27, 1:00pm-2:00pm: BCC Gym Class 121; Free
Choosing the Right Optics for You
Presenter: Jim Danzenbaker
Brunton
Everyone needs optics to pursue our passion of birding and nature observation, but there's a lot to learn about optics before buying. This workshop will cover the details, including questions to ask about your optics usage, explanation of key features and how to test optics. We'll explore all these areas in a simple and easy-to-understand format. Bring your binoculars and your notepad! Following the presentation, Jim will take a variety of optical pieces outdoors for you to try..
www.brunton.com
Jan 27, 9:00am-11:00am: BCC Gym Class 121; Free
And Were Afraid to Ask: Optics
Presenter: Stephen Ingraham,
Carl Zeiss Sports Optics
Start the festival off right with all of your questions about optics answered! Steve Ingraham, former editor of the ABA's "Tools of the Trade" and founder of Better View Desired and betterviewdesired.com with more than 20 years of optics testing behind him, will give candid (or at least inventive) answers to any and all of your optics questions. Steve is currently the Birding and Naturalist Product Specialist for Carl Zeiss Sports Optics and was directly involved in the design of the successful new FL line of binoculars. So from "how to choose" to "how to use" binoculars, and from chromatic aberration to the psycho-physical effects of the roof prism design, just ask.
www.zeiss.com/sports
Jan 26 11:00am-12:00pm: BCC Gym Class 121; Free
Introduction to Birding Optics
Presenter: Ben Lizdas
Eagle Optics
Optics are one of the fundamental tools to help ensure a successful and enjoyable birding experience. For the beginner, it can be an overwhelming task to sort through the myriad of choices available to today's birder or naturalist. Ben will take a look at these options and talk about considerations to make when looking for the binoculars or spotting scope that will suit your needs and budget best. An avid birder and sales representative for Eagle Optics, Ben brings with him years of product knowledge and experience behind the glass to present a clearer understanding of today's optics. The seminar will be followed by a question and answer session.
www.eagleoptics.com
Jan 25, 1:00pm-2:00pm: BCC Gym Class 119; Free
Raptors of Florida, Part I: Accipiters, Kites and Falcons
Presenter: Jeff Bouton
Leica Sports Optics
Jeff 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, Northern Goshawk, American Kestrel, Merlin and Peregrine Falcon. Jeff Bouton is the Leica Sports Optics Product Specialist for Birding/Naturalist Markets.
www.leica-camera.us/nature_observation/
Jan 24, 1:00pm-2:45pm: BCC Auditorium; $5.00
Raptors of Florida, Part II: Buteos, Vultures, Eagles and More
Presenter: Jeff Bouton
Leica Sports Optics
Jeff will discuss some of the confusing soaring raptors, covering 11 species with special emphasis on age classes of the two eagles and tips on how to separate them. Full coverage will be given to the various ranges of plumages in the buteos. Red-tailed Hawk has at least five different, named subspecies, can be either light or dark morph in many of these and then can be either immature or adult, leaving the average person spinning. He will point out 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 Caracara. Jeff Bouton is the Leica Sports Optics Product Specialist for Birding/Naturalist Markets.
www.leica-camera.us/nature_observation/
Jan 25, 1:00pm-2:45pm: BCC Auditorium; $5.00
Beginning Birding
Presenters: Nancy Corona and Cary Salter
Birding 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. Birding inevitably leads to a discovery of turtles, butterflies, wildflowers and all the interconnections of nature. In this informative talk, Nancy will cover field guides and other literature. She 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. Cary will give an overview of optical equipment and how to properly use it. A free car-pool field trip to Black Point Wildlife Drive will follow the classroom session so you can get right out in the field and put your new knowledge to work. Nancy Corona is the Merritt Island NWR Public Programming and Education Coordinator. Cary Salter is an outstanding Refuge volunteer. He and his wife, Betty, lead free Refuge birding trips twice a week throughout birding season. They have introduced countless people to the wonders of the wildlife of Merritt Island NWR.
See: Seven-fold Path to Better Birding
www.fws.gov/merrittisland
Jan 25, Seminar, 8:30am-9:30am: Merritt Island NWR Visitor Center; Free
Car pool to Black Point Wildlife Drive, 9:30am-12:30pm; Free
Jan 27, Seminar, 1:00pm-2:00pm: Merritt Island NWR Visitor Center; Free
Car pool to Black Point Wildlife Drive, 2:00pm-5:00pm; Free
Birding by Ear and Habitat
Presenter: Paddy Cunningham Pascatore
Birding Adventures
Birding by ear and habitat is a great way to increase your ability to identify birds. Advanced
birders use birding by ear for 70% of identifications. It is an essential advanced birding skill and necessary to speed up ID and how to locate the bird. Birding by habitat helps you to determine what birds you are likely to see in an area and what can be eliminated for identification. Using a variety of techniques in the field, you will find out how to recognize various species of birds by call and alarm notes and why they make them. The field trip will begin before daylight in an oak hammock searching for warblers and owls as birds awaken and begin singing. We will travel to various habitats including scrub, pinelands, open field, shoreline, open water, wetlands and roadsides to see the role of habitat in identification. A short classroom session, using a variety of media at the Merritt Island NWR Visitor Center, will provide you with numerous handouts and additional information and techniques to improve your skills. Two short stops for shorebirds at beach habitats will end the session. Due to the numerous habitats visited during this workshop in the past, 80-plus species have been observed with a high of 96 species for both days. Paddy Cunningham Pascatore has been a naturalist in South Florida for more than 20 years, teaching Tools For and Advanced Tools for Better Birding for 16 years. Her motto is "You learn the ID," and she specializes in assisting birders in a non-intimidating field experience. Her business, Birding Adventures, takes birders to search for birds anywhere they can be found throughout Florida, specializing in Everglades, Big Cypress, Corkscrew and the Florida Keys.
birdpaddy@yahoo.com, 954-926-5458
You will drive your own car on this trip. Meet at the parking lot for the Oak Hammock Trail, 1/2mile east of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center at 6:00am.
Jan 27 - FILLED --
Jan 28, 6:00am-12:00pm: Limited to 16 registrants; $20.00/person
Seven-fold Path to Better Birding
Presenter: Stephen Ingraham
Carl Zeiss Sports Optics
What do good birders know that you don't (yet)? Here are seven simple disciplines that will make any birder a better birder and increase your enjoyment of the time you spend in the field. Great for beginners and any birder who wants to improve! Steve Ingraham is the Birding and Naturalist Product Specialist for Carl Zeiss Optics. He is well known from his years as the editor of the "Tools of the Trade" section in Birding magazine, his frequent articles in Wildbird, Birder's World and Birdwatch (UK) magazines, his appearances at ABA conventions and birding events around the country...and as the founder and editor of Better View Desired and betterviewdesired.com on the worldwide web.
This is an ideal class to take before attending the Beginning Birding sessions at Merritt Island NWR.
www.zeiss.com/sports
Jan 24, 1:00pm-2:00pm: BCC Gym Class 119; Free
Jan 27, 11:30am-12:30pm: BCC Gym Class 119; Free
Flycatcher ID
Presenter: Alvaro Jaramillo
Field Guides Inc.
Flycatchers produce a love-hate relationship with many birders. Many species are dull-colored and extremely similar (heck, sometimes practically identical) to other species. On the other hand, other species like the kingbirds are bold and bright, easy to spot and hold a special place in birders' hearts due to their gutsy attitude. Yet both expert and beginner still want to know how to simplify identification of some of these challenging birds. This workshop will be a classroom session to review basics such as the different flycatcher groups and the marks that are important in separating species. Al will also introduce how voice can be used in field identification. Photos of the common species occurring in this part of Florida in winter will be shown as well as examples from other parts of the continent. Whether you are intimidated or invigorated by the challenge of flycatcher identification, this class promises to be informative. Alvaro (Al) Jaramillo is a guide for Field Guides Inc.
www.fieldguides.com
Jan 25, 3:15pm-5:00pm: BCC Auditorium; $5.00
Gull and Tern ID
Presenter: Alvaro Jaramillo
Field Guides Inc.
Jeff Bouton, Adam Kent and Andy Wraithmell will join Al for the outdoor session.
Gulls and terns can be a dizzying group to separate (some individuals even baffle experts). Their propensity to wander great distances makes them a favorite of veteran birders everywhere. However, they are also a perfect group for beginners as they are easy to approach and sit in plain view for extended periods. This allows for detailed study! This workshop will begin with a classroom session to review basics such as: "parts" of a gull and a basic understanding of age, molt and seasonal variations in plumages. Photos of some of the many plumages shown by commonly occurring Florida species will be featured. A trip to Jetty Park at Port Canaveral will take place the following day. This area is consistently productive for many gull and tern species. Whether you are a beginner just learning these skills or a veteran refreshing them, this class promises to be a fun and interactive experience. Alvaro (Al) Jaramillo is a guide for Field Guides Inc.
www.fieldguides.com
Jan 27, 3:00pm-4:30pm: BCC Community Dining Room; $5.00
The outdoor session is at Jetty Park at Port Canaveral.
Directions: Take U.S. 1 or I-95 south to SR 528. Go east on SR 528 to Port Canaveral. Get off at the exit for the South Dock. Go under the overpass and then turn right at the first traffic light onto George King Blvd. Follow the signs to Jetty Park. Entrance fee is $5.00/car for locals and $10.00/car for out-of-towners. Drive time from Titusville is just under 30 minutes.
Jan 28, 8:00am-12:00pm: Limited to 30 registrants; $15.00
Shorebirds by Impression
Presenter: Kevin T. Karlson
Jaeger Tours
Murray Gardler will join Kevin for the outdoor sessions.
The indoor session will concentrate on removing present confusion that exists with field identification of shorebirds as Kevin reveals an exciting and simpler method of bird identification. Formerly considered a very difficult task reserved for experts, shorebird ID will become easier for all levels of birders if a relatively simple approach is taken. Starting with basic principles of size, structure and behavior as well as other important non-changeable characters such as bill length and shape, a simple and accurate first impression is formed. By concentrating on the "basics" and an overall comparative view of each shorebird before applying the classic "field mark" system of identification, much of the confusion created by seasonal plumage variability of shorebirds is removed. This workshop, due to its short length, will not cover every shorebird species seen in North America, but will concentrate on the process of analysis that will help each person to confidently continue this method in the field.
The outdoor session on the following morning will be an interactive experience concentrating on the use of the simplified techniques. By concentrating on non-plumage field characters such as size, shape and behavior, participants will be able to practice their general impression approach, share observations and ask questions. This workshop is especially helpful when shorebirds are in non-breeding plumage since the criteria for identification relies on non-changeable field characters. This year, Houghton-Mifflin published The Shorebird Guide, which Kevin co-wrote with authors Richard Crossley and Michael O'Brien. This comprehensive field guide contains almost 700 photos and outlines a simpler method of bird identification for beginners and experts.
www.jaegertours.net, www.shorebirdworld.org
Jan 24, 3:30pm-5:00pm: BCC Gym Class 123; $5.00
Jan 27, 1:00pm-3:30pm: BCC Community Dining Room; $5.00
The outdoor session is a car pool trip. Meet in front of the Marine Patrol Station on the east end of the Titusville Causeway at 8:00am.
Jan 25 - FILLED
Jan 28: 8:00am-12:00pm, Limited to 25 registrants; $15.00/person
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Birding by Impression: A Simpler Approach to Field Identification
Presenter: Kevin T. Karlson
Jaeger Tours
Murray Gardler will join Kevin for the outdoor session.
This exciting new concept to field identification is changing the way that many people are enjoying and identifying birds in the field. Using impression-based physical characters rather than scientific plumage analysis as the initial approach to field identification, a simple, yet surprising accurate picture is quickly obtained. The beauty and effectiveness of this approach lies in its simplicity and doesn't require knowledge of complicated feather anatomy or prior experience with birds. Beginners and experts alike will share the benefits with common sense and a keen sense of observation the most important tools needed. This interactive program will start by examining Kevin's personal birding journey of 27 years and his recent "conversion" to this creative approach, followed by photographs and explanations that depict the basic concepts of impression-based birding. Audience members will be encouraged to share their thoughts and impressions of comparative photos, with questions and comments encouraged. Kevin and Dale Rosselet are co-writing a book called "Birding by Impression: A Simpler Approach to Field Identification."
The outdoor session on the following afternoon will be an interactive experience concentrating on the use of the simplified techniques. By concentrating on non-plumage field characters such as size, shape and behavior, participants will be able to practice their general impression approach, share observations and ask questions.
www.jaegertours.net
Jan 25, 3:30pm-5:00pm: BCC Gym Class 153; $5.00
The outdoor session is a car pool trip. Meet in front of the Marine Patrol Station on the east end of the Titusville Causeway at 1:00pm.
Jan 26, 1:00pm-5:00pm: Limited to 25 registrants; $15.00/person - FILLED
Beach Birds
Presenter: Adam Kent
Alvaro Jaramillo and Jeff Bouton will join Adam for the outdoor session.
You see them all of the time -- running from the surf, perched on pilings, soaring over the water and wading through wetlands. Wouldn't it be nice to know a little more about the birds you see at the beach? Have fun learning identification and natural history of different groups of birds commonly found on Florida's beaches. What's the difference between a tern and a gull or a sandpiper and a plover? Where does the Willet fit in? And what are all those little gray birds running around like crazy at the edge of the water? Learn what your fingers and a butter knife can teach you about the Black Skimmer (no, we aren't going to eat them). This is not an advanced shorebird or gull/tern workshop but an introduction to different groups of birds you may find on a trip to a Florida beach in the winter. A car-pool field trip to Volusia County's beautiful Smyrna Dunes Park will follow. Located on the south side of Ponce Inlet, this beachside park offers panoramic views of ocean, inlet and estuary via two miles of boardwalks, along which we may find wintering songbirds. At the oceanfront we're likely to encounter loafing gulls, terns and shorebirds and we'll scope the water for the possibility of loons and ducks.
fieldguides.com, http://www.leica-camera.us/nature_observation/
Jan 24, 7:30am-8:45am: BCC Gym Class 119; $5.00
The outdoor session is at Volusia County's Smyrna Dunes Park.
Directions: From BCC go north on U.S. 1 to New Smyrna Beach. Turn right on Canal St. (3 blocks north of U.S. 1 & Hwy A1A intersection) and go to the end. Turn left onto Riverside Drive and go two blocks. Turn right onto Flagler Ave, which is the causeway to the barrier island. Just after crossing the last bridge, turn left onto North Peninsula Dr. The park is two miles north, at the end of the road. Entrance fee is $5.00 per car. Drive time from BCC is about 45 minutes.
Jan 24, 10:00am-1:00pm: Limited to 30 registrants; $15.00
Sparrow Identification
Presenter: Adam Kent
This workshop introduces the basics of identification of inland sparrows found east of the Mississippi River. Even though most North American sparrows lack the bright colors of many warblers, sparrows' distinctive shapes, interesting behaviors and subtly beautiful patterns can allow us to identify them with often only a quick glance. Sure, sparrows and their often secretive behaviors can present identification challenges in Florida in the winter. The trick is being prepared. Once you understand the basics of the combination of shapes, behaviors and patterns, you, too, can do away with the term "Little Brown Job." You may even find yourself saying you are going "sparrowing" instead of birding this winter.
Jan 24, 3:00pm-5:00pm: BCC Auditorium; $5.00
Jan 27, 1:00pm-3:00pm: BCC Gym Class 119; $5.00
Warber ID
Presenters: Michael O'Brien and Louise Zemaitis
WINGS Birding Tours
The wood warblers are among the most popular groups of birds in North America. Their sheer abundance and diversity, brilliant plumages and spectacular migrations make them a favorite of nearly every birder. Identifying these birds can be a challenge, particularly in fall and winter when many species are disguised in shades of green, yellow and brown. Learn all about wingbars, eyerings, tail-wagging and hover-gleaning as we take the challenge and sort out these splendid birds. Our program will cover all eastern species with an emphasis on the 25-plus species that winter in Florida.
www.wingsbirds.com
Jan 26, 3:30pm-5:00pm: BCC Gym Class 153; $5.00
Jan 27, 3:30pm-5:00pm: BCC Gym Class 119; $5.00
Waterfowl 101: Ducks are FUN!
Kim Risen
NatureScape News
Murray Gardler will join Kim on Jan 24, 26 & 27.
Larry Manfredi will join Kim on Jan 28.
In this field workshop session, we will visit Black Point Drive at Merritt Island NWR to learn first-hand, in the field, tips on the identification, behavior and life of the waterfowl that spend their winter here. Large concentrations of water birds have made this area famous, and Kim will do his best to shed new light on these fascinating birds. Dress warmly and bring your binoculars and scopes and your spirit of adventure. We are going to have FUN! If you don't have optics, don't worry -- Kim will have a few loaners. Kim is the founder and publisher of NatureScape News, a tabloid news magazine emphasizing the FUN of birding, butterflying and the wonders of nature.
www.naturescapenews.com, www.southfloridabirding.com
This is a car-pool field trip. Meet in front of the Marine Patrol Station at the east end of the Titusville Causeway at 8:00am.
Jan 24, 26, 27 & 28, 8:00am-12:00pm; Limited to 25 registrants; $15.00
Dissection of Barn Owl Pellets or "What's For Dinner?"
Presenters: Richard Raid & Jason Martin
University of Florida Barn Owl Project Coordinators
This workshop is nature's version of CSI! Have you ever wondered what sort of prey raptors capture and feed on? Due to the alkaline nature of a Barn Owl's stomach, many of the bones, fur and chitinous parts of a Barn Owl's prey are left undigested. Such remains are routinely regurgitated through the mouth in the form of a compact pellet. By collecting and dissecting these pellets, researchers can find out exactly what these marvelous raptors have been eating. Discover for yourself why Barn Owls have frequently been termed the most beneficial bird on the planet. This workshop will enable each adventurous participant to dissect your very own owl pellet(s), discovering what lies inside. Then, by comparing skeletal remains utilizing bone charts, you will be able to figure out exactly what a Barn Owl eats. With a bit of collaborative sleuthing, participants may even discover what type of ecosystem the owls that spit up these pellets inhabit. Think picking through owl regurgitation is disgusting? Think again! Believe it or not, pellet dissection is a favorite lesson at many schools throughout the nation. Adults, but especially kids of all ages, will find this workshop highly entertaining and informative. Sterilized owl pellets, dissecting tools and bone charts will be furnished to all participants free of charge.
erec.ifas.ufl.edu/barnowl/owlindex.htm
Requires pre-registration
Jan 27, 8:30am-10:00am: BCC Outside Gazebo; Free
House of Dreams: If You Build It, They Will Come!
Presenters: Richard Raid & Jason Martin
University of Florida Barn Owl Project Coordinators
Barn Owls, as can be deciphered from their very name, love man-made structures. Referred to as "cavity nesters," Barn Owls take readily to nesting boxes. This workshop will display and discuss a number of Barn Owl nesting box designs constructed of assorted materials. Additionally, tips on nesting box placement will be provided to enhance the likelihood of colonization. Nesting box display models and schematics for a number of other owl species, namely Eastern Screech-Owls, Barred Owls and Burrowing Owls, will be available for those whose land may be better suited for those particular species. The workshop will also provide participants interested in assisting these wonderful raptors with an opportunity to get personally involved. Volunteers will construct nesting boxes on site for future placement throughout the state. Tools and construction materials will be supplied by the University of Florida's Barn Owl Project. Adults take note: This workshop represents an ideal opportunity for kids who love to work with tools. Help them acquire the "sense of contribution" that you gain in knowing that you have donated time and effort for a worthy cause.
erec.ifas.ufl.edu/barnowl/owlindex.htm
Requires pre-registration
Jan 27, 11:00am-12:30pm: BCC Outside Gazebo; Free
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