File:2013 SDGC Bird Tour (brochure page 2) (8713843055).jpg

Join us ~ June 14–15, 2013 for the South Dakota Grassland Coalition’s 7th Annual "Birds. At Home, on the Range." Bird Watching Tour at the Rosemont Valley Farm, near Montrose, SD.

 Watch, photograph and record bird species  Learn photography techniques  Hear presentations from land owners and conservation experts  Learn the connections between birds and livestock  Enjoy two days out on the prairie

Cost is $20 per person; students are free. Meals are included in the registration fee. Please bring a digital camera, binoculars, and clothing / footwear for the appropriate weather conditions. Complete the attached form and mail your registration fee to the South Dakota Grassland Coalition by Saturday, June 8, 2013. For more information, contact Judge Jessop: (605) 280-0127 or jjessop@sdconservation.org.

AGENDA Friday, June 14: 3:25 – 4:00 pm Gather at the Rosemont Valley Farm (see driving directions) 4:00 – 4:15 Welcome 4:15 – 4:30 Introduction to the South Dakota Grassland Coalition 4:30 – 4:45 Rosemont Valley Farm history - Bill & Connie Smith 4:45 – 5:30 Bird identification - KC Jensen, SDSU Associate Professor, Ecology & Management of Birds 5:00 – 6:00 Kids’ activities - Nancy Drilling, Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory 5:30 – 6:45 BBQ and refreshments at the Rosemont Valley Farm 6:45 – 7:30 Habitat presentation: Grassland Birds - Kristel Bakker, Dakota State University 7:30 – 8:15 Rainfall simulator - Stan Boltz, NRCS State Range Specialist 8:15 – 8:45 Bird walk on the farm (optional) Saturday, June 15th: 5:30 am Arrive at the Rosemont Valley Farm 5:30 – 6:00 Sunrise coffee and rolls 6:05 – 10:15 Bird watch/record species with group; Groups rotate to different stations: 1. Invertebrate Station - Jonathon Nixon, North American Agronomic Improvement Specialist, Dow AgroSciences 2. Nest Dragging - Kristel Bakker and Christi Koehler, Dakota State University 3. Plant Identification - Alexander "Sandy" Smart, Ph.D., SDSU Professor and Undergraduate Range Science Program Leader 4. The How & Why of Bird Banding - KC Jensen, SDSU 10:15 – 10:30 Break/discuss bird group highlights 10:30 – 11:30 Kids’ activities - Nancy Drilling 10:30 – 11:30 Bird photography - Terry Sohl, sdakotabirds.com Noon Lunch and slide show of participants’ photos 12:45 – 1:30 Birds and Cows: Putting Them Together - Kristel Bakker, DSU 1:30 – 2:00 Grass manager’s view - Bill & Connie Smith