Islandwood is a 225 acre outdoor learning center located on Bainbridge Island.  They will be hosting a Spring Bird Festival from May 31st through June 1st.  This is a great way to get to know Islandwood as well as a fun introduction to birds and birding.

Detailed Event Program | May 30–June 1, 2008

Reception & Keynote Presentation

Friday, May 30th 7–9 p.m.

In the Company of Crows and Ravens

John M. Marzluff, University of  Washington

What do Van Gogh, Shakespeare, the Hopi and Kayukon People,

Mark Twain, and the rock band The Counting Crows have in

common? They all draw inspiration from some of our most

common, but least understood birds: the crow and the raven. In

my lecture I investigate fully the inspiration of crows and ravens

on people and our affects on these adaptable birds. I investigate

the taxonomy, morphology, natural history, population ecology,

and behavioral ecology of crows and ravens; human interactions

with these birds as irritating and competitive pests, targets,

creators, symbols, diviners, and inspirations; amazing examples

of tool use by crows; complex communication among ravens;

the adjustments of crows to life with people; the potential

influences of West Nile virus on crows; the role of crows and

ravens as nest predators; and the conservation needs of the

endangered crows of Hawaii and the Mariana Islands. Big, bold,

and boisterous, crows and ravens are hard to miss and my talk

is intended to answer the many questions they conjure up in all

who have watched them (and that is almost everyone).

 

John Marzluff is Professor of Wildlife Science at the University

of Washington. He also holds the Denman Chair in Sustainable

Resource Sciences. His graduate (Northern Arizona University) and

initial post-doctoral (University of  Vermont) research focused on

the social behavior and ecology of jays and ravens.

 

He was especially interested in communication, social

organization, and foraging behavior (e.g., The Pinyon Jay, 1992,

Academic Press). His current research brings this behavioral

approach to pressing conservation issues including raptor

management, management of pest species, and assessment

of nest predation. His recent book, In the Company of Crows

and Ravens (with Tony Angell, 2005 Yale U. Press) blends biology,

conservation, and anthropology to suggest that human and

crow cultures have co-evolved.

 

This book won the 2006 Washington State Book Award for

general nonfiction. He has led studies on the effects of military

training on falcons and eagles in southwestern Idaho, the

effects of timber harvest, recreation, and forest fragmentation

on goshawks and marbled murrelets in western Washington

and Oregon, conservation strategies for Pacific Island crows,

and the effects of urbanization on songbirds in the Seattle

area. Dr. Marzluff has authored over 100 scientific papers on

various aspects of bird behavior and wildlife management.

He is a member of the board of editors for Bird Behavior, Acta

Ornithologica, Landscape Ecology and Ecological Applications. He

has edited Avian Conservation: Research and Management that

includes 40 chapters detailing research approaches to conserve

avian biodiversity throughout the world (1998, Island Press), Avian

Conservation and Ecology in an Urbanizing World (2001, Kluwer

Academic Publishers), and Radiotelemetry and Animal Populations

(2001, Academic Press). He is currently leader of the U.S. Fish and

Wildlife Service’s Recovery Team for the critically endangered

Mariana Crow, a member of the Washington Biodiversity Council,

and a Fellow of the American Ornithologist’s Union.

 

 

Early Bird Morning Walks

Saturday, May 31st & Sunday, June 1st 8–9:30 a.m.

Explore the birds of IslandWood as you walk to the estuary,

Mac’s Pond, or to the cattail marsh, and Charlie’s Bog. Bring your

binoculars, field guides, and journals for a relaxing morning as

IslandWood naturalists lead these exploratory walks. Walks are

easy to medium in level.

 

 

 

Owl Prowl

Saturday, May 31st 3:30–5 p.m.

Visit with West Sound Wildlife Shelter’s education ambassador,

Orion, a great horned owl. Mike Pratt, Director of Wildlife

Services, will address the importance of conservation and

share stories about wildlife rehab. Afterwards, join naturalists

for a more in-depth look at our local owls, and an expedition

to learn more about radio telemetry and our research here at

IslandWood. (Mike Pratt, West Sound Wildlife Shelter; Christina

Doherty, Naturalist; Karen Salsbury, IslandWood Naturalist)

 

Workshops

Saturday, May 31st 10:00 a.m.–12 p.m.

 

Workshop 1A Backyard Habitat Project:

Participants will learn the basics of creating a backyard

wildlife habitat and be ready to take the “next step” to

successful certification with the National Wildlife Federation’s

certification process. Participants will also be introduced

to the Bainnbridge Island Backyard Wildlife Habitat Project.

(Bobbie Morgan, Natural Landscape Project)

 

Workshop 2A Birdsongs for Beginners & Beyond:

Learn simple and powerful techniques to identify bird

species by their songs and better appreciate the ecology and

behaviors of songbirds. (Ken Wilson).

Also offered Saturday, May 31st from 1–3p.m.

 

Workshop 3A Bird Banding:

Don Norman, ornithologist and licensed bander, will

demonstrate bird banding, weather permitting.

(Don Norman, Ornithologist & Karen Salsbury,

IslandWood Naturalist)

 

Workshop 4A Sakai Birders:

Sakai students will lead families on birding walks around

IslandWood’s cattail marsh.

(Sakai Intermediate School students)

Also offered on Sunday, June 1st from 10 a.m.–12 p.m.

 

 

 

Workshops

Saturday, May 31st 1:00 p.m.–3 p.m.

 

 

 

Workshop 1B Up From the Grave: Saving the

Endangered Maleo Bird of Indonesia:

The endangered maleo bird of Sulawesi, Indonesia has a

remarkable story, both biologically and culturally. Hear how

a partnership of U.S. and local Indonesian communities has

reversed the decline of this wonderful bird through good

science, people-to-people outreach, and art for conservation.

(Marcy Summers, The Alliance for Tompotika Conservation)

 

Workshop 2B Birdsongs for Beginners & Beyond:

See description above

 

Workshop 3B Bird Brains 101:

Being a bird brain is a good thing! But first you need to be

prepared for the field. Learn binocular tips and gain practice

birding in field with an island naturalist. On our walk through

forest and marsh we will observe different species and

distinguish the different behaviors of feeding, breeding and

aggression communication between birds. Learn about on-site

research and use radio telemetry to locate barred owls and

take bearings. Which field guides are the best and what’s the

best time of day to go birding? Join us for a couple of hours

of fun and educational tips to inspire and prepare you for this

fascinating hobby! (Christina Doherty, Naturalist)

Also offered Sunday, June 1st from 10 a.m.–12 p.m.

 

Workshop 4B Sp-EGG-tacular Art & Story Time:

This unique workshop is designed for younger participants

ages 4-8. Learn the “secret language” of the birds around you,

let your imagination take flight during our story, design your

own bird nest in our Arts Studio, and much more. Parents are

welcome to attend with child. (IslandWood Staff)

Also offered Sunday, June 1st from 10 a.m.–12 p.m.

 

 

 

Workshops

Sunday, June 1st 10:00 a.m.–12 p.m.

 

Workshop 1C Sp-EGG-tacular Art & Story Time:

See description above

 

Workshop 2C Bird Photography in the Digital Era:

A basic lesson in digital photography and how that applies

to photographing and identifying birds, including the use

of Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom. It will also include the

principles of art photography in capturing bird portraits and

activities. (David Gluckman, Gluckman Photography)

 

Workshop 3C Bird Brains 101:

See description above

 

Workshop 4C Sakai Birders:

See description above

4450 Blakely Avenue NE

 

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