joint meeting for WSO and WBCI - September 29 - Oct 1

In late September, the Wisconsin Society for Ornithology, the Wisconsin Bird Conservation Initiative, The Western Great Lakes Bird and Bat Observatory, and the Cofrin Center for Biodiversity at UW-Green Bay will host a joint meeting in Green Bay. Register soon so you can have a place at this important event!

Here's the agenda:

Wisconsin Bird Conservation Initiative
2011 Statewide Meeting
DRAFT Agenda

Green Bay, Wisconsin
Thursday, Sept 29 – Saturday Oct 1

Co-hosted by WBCI, Wisconsin Society for Ornithology, Western Great Lakes Bird and Bat Observatory, and University of Wisconsin – Green Bay Cofrin Center for Biodiversity.

Location Details:

Thursday – Friday:  Comfort Suites in Green Bay (http://www.comfortsuitesgb.com/)
Saturday:  UW-Green Bay campus

THURSDAY, Sept. 29

Comfort Suites
Science in the Service of Management
9:00 AM – Registration.
10:00 AM – Evaluating Our Work:  Moving beyond surveillance monitoring

• Introduction:  Closing the loop on adaptive management – moving from surveillance to monitoring in service of management (R. Brady)
• Example 1: Grassland Evaluation Plan (WBCI Grassland Science Team)
• Example 2: Leopold IBA monitoring (S. Swenson, Y. Steele, M. Mossman)
• Discussion: How do we make this work at multiple scales?  What is WBCI’s role?  How do we build the capacity to handle priority monitoring needs?  How do we generate questions that need to be tested?

12:30 PM – Lunch (catered).
1:30 PM – Moving Forward:  How do we build quality programs? This session will explore what it takes to build and implement this type of evaluative monitoring program.

• 10 Steps to an Effective Monitoring Program (K. Koch)
• Incorporating Estimates of Detectability (TBA)
• Nicolet National Forest Bird Survey – (B. Howe)
• We’ll use the NNFBS as a model, assessing it against the 10 steps and discussing implementation in a real-world setting.
• Monitoring World Café – Engage with discussion leaders across the ten steps discussed above and start developing a monitoring program that will work for your situation.

4:30 PM – Adjourn.
Dinner – on your own.
Evening Social (time TBD) – WSO will host a special get-together (location TBD) following dinner that will explore the future of the Society as well as the future for ornithology and bird conservation in Wisconsin.  Everyone will have opportunity to share their views and help shape the future for birds and birding in the state.

FRIDAY, Sept. 30

Comfort Suites
Ornithological Symposium: What’s up with bird science in WI?
8:00 AM – Registration.
9:00 – 4:00 PM:  Schedule will consist of a series of talks highlighting interesting research on birds in and around Wisconsin. Each talk will be 20-25 minutes with time for discussion/questions.  Confirmed topics include:

• Marshbird Monitoring (R. Brady)
• Migratory and Resident Bird Use of Oak Savannas and Woodlands (E. Wood) .
• Spruce Grouse Ecology in Wisconsin (N. Anich).
• Great Lakes Offshore Waterbird Surveys (W. Mueller).
• Old-growth Forest Birds Study (M. Worland).
• Update on the Midwest Coordinated Bird Monitoring Partnership (K. Koch).
• New Results from the Nicolet National Forest Bird Survey (B. Howe).
• Impacts of Climate Change on Birds (B. Zuckerberg).
• The Latest in Common Loon Research – From Wisconsin to the Gulf and Back Again (M. Meyer).
• Golden-winged Warbler Demographics (H. Streby).

*Includes two breaks and a 12-1pm catered lunch.
4:00 – 5:00 PM: R. Brady will be available to meet with current and potential volunteers for WBCI’s various bird monitoring programs.
Dinner – catered on-site.
Evening (time TBD) – Western Great Lakes Bird & Bat Observatory will host two fun and educational events at the Comfort Suites following dinner.  Details are still being worked out but it could develop into somewhat of a raucous affair!

SATURDAY, Oct. 1

UW-Green Bay campus
Birding Workshops: Becoming a better birder and citizen scientist
8:00 AM – Introduction/welcome/thanks (R. Brady).
8:15 – 10:15 AM:  Concurrent 1-hour hands-on workshops back-to-back

1. Birder Certification and Online Training Tools (B. Howe).
2. eBird: Updates – How to use – Advanced skills – Documenting your sightings – Open Q & A (WI eBird team).

Break
10:30 – 12:30 PM:  Large Group Session: Advancing Fall Birding Skills

• Identification of Hawks in Flight (V. Berardi).
• Identification of Great Lakes Waterbirds (T. Prestby).

Lunch – on your own.
Optional:  Afternoon Birding Field Trip to Lake Michigan (T. Prestby, A. Paulios).

Find the registration form at this link:  http://www.wisconsinbirds.org/annualmeeting-registration.htm