2008 IOU Fall Meeting
Iowa Falls
12 - 14 September 2008
The Iowa Ornithologists’ Union Fall Meeting will be held September
12-14, 2008 in Iowa Falls. Please note that there are THREE
locations in Iowa Falls where activities will take place.
Directions
 Scenic Empress Boat Club-1113 Union Street. From
the intersection of Old US-20 (IA941 or Washington Ave.) proceed
north five blocks on US 65 to Union Street, turn left (west) and go
6 blocks. The boat house is across the street from Riverbend Middle
school.
Calkins Nature Center-18335 135th Street. From the
intersection of Old US-20 (IA941 or Washington Ave.) proceed west on
Washington Avenue, at the west city limits, turn south at the
National Guard Armory onto Georgetown Road. Follow the signs on
135th Street to the nature area (approximately 3 miles).
Calkins Nature Center and Natural History Museum
will be open extended hours from 1:00-9:00PM. A museum guide will be
on hand. There is a large bird blind, extensive historic bird and
egg collection, unique Native American and fossil exhibits and more
plus hiking trails and live bird and animal section. Be sure to find
time this weekend to take the bird quizzes in the museum - quite a
challenge! Both the Nature Center and the Museum are a MUST for the
weekend.
Gentle Student Center-1200 Main Street. From the
intersection of Old US-20 (IA941 or Washington Ave.) proceed north
five blocks on US 65 to Union Street, turn left (west) and go TWO
blocks to Main Street, turn right (north) and go 4 blocks just
before Elm street. The Center is on the west side of the street.
Schedule
FRIDAY, Sept. 12th--Scenic Empress Boat Club
5:00-9:00 P.M. Registration
Social time with snacks
Field trip sign-up --5:00-9:00PM
***Optional river cruise on the Empress 6:00-7:30 P.M.
Cost: $9.63-tax included per person--Beer and wine permitted--BYOB
***Please contact Tom Schilke directly if you wish to do the river
cruise (please contact him also if you change your mind).
Email: <tsschilke AT hotmail DOT com>
Snail mail: Tom Schilke
1432 Liberty
Waterloo, IA 50702-3434
Phone: 319-232-8199
We need a committed minimum of 20 people by August 29, 2008 (max.
50). Pay and get your ticket Friday night at Scenic Empress Boat
Club.
SATURDAY, Sept. 13th--Calkins Nature Center
6:00 A.M. Breakfast
7:00 A.M. Field trips depart (Lunch in the field--sack lunch if you
purchased one)
1:00 P.M. Field trips return to Calkins
1:15-2:00 P.M. Thomas H. Kent--”Bird Records of Early Iowa
Ornithologists.”
2:00-2:30 P.M. Carl Kurtz--St. Anthony, IA --Slideshow
2:45-4:00 P.M. IOU General Business Meeting
Update on the Iowa Breeding Bird Atlas project.
4:00-4:10 P.M. Introduction of new IOU members
4:15-5:15 P.M. IOU Board Meeting in Calkins Library
Move to--Gentle Student Center at Ellsworth Community College for
banquet
6:30-7:30 P.M. Saturday Evening Banquet
7:30-8:30 P.M. Keynote: Bill Thompson III--Editor of “Bird Watcher’s
Digest” from Whipple, OH. Title--"No Child Left Inside: Using Birds
to Fight Nature Deficit Disorder"
SUNDAY, Sept. 14th--Calkins Nature Center
6:00 A.M. Breakfast
7:00 A.M. Field trips depart
12:00 P.M. Field trips return
Lunch
Final compilation
Lunch will be in the field Saturday allowing field trip groups to
stay out somewhat longer than usual. We plan to be back for the
afternoon program which will begin around 1:15P.M.
Field trips possibilities
Big Marsh - BBA 238 and 239 in Butler Co.
Maynes Grove and Mallory Park - BBA 133 in Franklin Co.
Pine Lake State Park
Sac and Fox Overlook and Sand Springs
Eagle City Park centered in BBA 296 and 297
Buckeye Marsh, Alden and Calkins
Create your own from over 60 other under-birded county owned areas
(maps provided)
Keynote Speaker:
Bill Thompson III, Birder and Author
Bill preparing for some photographic adventures in North Dakota.
Born in Pella, Iowa, Bill encountered his spark bird there at the
age of 8, when a snowy owl flew into the Thompson family's front
yard. Bill later identified the bird using an ancient Chester A.
Reed field guide his parents had. Intrigued by the other birds
depicted in the guide, Bill began searching the nearby woods for
cardinals, blue jays, and woodpeckers. His favorite bird is the
red-headed woodpecker.
Today Bill Thompson, III is the editor of Bird Watcher's Digest, the
magazine founded by his parents 30 years ago, in 1978. He is the
author of many books about birds and nature, including, most
recently The Young Birder's Guide to Birds of Eastern North America,
part of the Peterson Field Guide Series from Houghton Mifflin
Harcourt Publishing. Bill has lead birding trips all across North
America and has spoken or performed at more than 50 birding and
nature festivals.
In 2008 Bill was awarded a Service Citizen Award from the U.S Fish &
Wildlife Service for his contributions in making the National
Wildlife Refuge system more bird and birder-friendly. He was also
awarded the Robert Ridgley Award for Excellence in Ornithological
Publications from the American Birding Association.
He is a founding director of the Ohio Ornithological Society and a
longtime member of The American Birding Association. He has served
since 2006 as a member of the Birding Roundtable, which consults
with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service on making National Wildlife
Refuges more bird- and birder-friendly. He is also the founder of
The Whipple Bird Club.
He has trekked to many of the world’s great birding hotspots
including sites in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Central and
South America. But some of his favorite bird watching is done near
home, on the 80-acre farm in the rolling, wooded hills outside of
Whipple, Ohio, that he shares with his wife, artist/author Julie
Zickefoose, and their children, Phoebe and Liam.
When he is not playing with his children, or watching birds, Bill
likes to play guitar with his (locally) popular band, The Swinging
Orangutans, which includes his wife Julie.
Lodging
Motels--Register by August 29, 2008 for the IOU discount
Super 8 Motel - Iowa Falls is $60 for all rooms ($67.20 with tax).
641-648-4618 or the 1-800-800-8000 national number or
generalmanager4675@cdt.hotel.com
AmericInn of Iowa Falls--$69.94 +tax for a king and $74.90 + tax for
two queens. 641-648-4600 or toll free 1-866-436-6835
oriowafalls.ia@americinn.com
Both have an indoor pool and early breakfast - waffles, sausage
gravy, etc.
Both are located on Hwy 65 on the south edge of town.
Scenic City Motel - 11237 Highway 65; Iowa Falls, IA 50126
641-648-2553--Possibly a less expensive alternative BUT may be FULL
of construction workers.
Camping:
Circle C Private RV electric and water sites for $12-14.00 (no
restrooms or showers). (641) 648-9936 ; HWY 941; (Old HWY 20). On
old Hwy. 20 between Iowa Falls and Alden. It is privately run.
Both of these campgrounds are about 20 miles from Iowa Falls
Pine Lake State Park--22628 County Hwy. S-56; Eldora, IA
641-858-5832. Pine Lake State Park offers one of the largest
campsites in the state. There are 128 camping units available with
92 electrical hookups and modern shower and rest room facilities and
a trailer dump station. Camping permits are available by registering
at the campground.
Beeds Lake State Park outside of Hampton has modern camping
facilities. 1422 165th Street, Hampton, IA 50441 (641) 456-2047.
Eagle City Park
Primitive camping SE of Eagle Falls on 160th Street across the road
from Eagle City Winery.
Bessman-Kamp Park
Primitive camping NW edge of Alden.
Meals
Breakfasts will include egg casserole, fruit, juice, coffee, donuts
Sack Lunch (Sat.) -- Pasta salad, cold meat sandwich, fruit, cookie,
drink (pick it up BEFORE you leave on field trip.
Banquet meal -- chicken, pork loin, salads, vegetable, roll, dessert
- (veggie option- lasagna).
Lunch (Sun.) -- Two soups (vegetable and tomato basil) tossed salad
and a croissant sandwich.
Hosts for the weekend
Tom Schilke, Nancy Slife (Ellsworth Community College), and Wes
Weiss (Hardin County Conservation Board).
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