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Young Birders | |
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Birding Camps and EventsNew birds, new friends, new experiences Each year American Birding Association and its partners offer some fantastic events for young birders, enabling them to get out, learn more about birds, and go birding with others in their age group. Attending workshops, conferences, camps, and conventions gives these young people a unique opportunity to experience birding, learn about bird ecology and identification, and just have some fun with their peers. ABA's 2008 Young Birders' Conference – Minot, North Dakota Registration for this event now open! More info > 17-22 June 2008 The fifth bi-annual Young Birders’ Conference takes place in Minot, North Dakota. This conference will give you the opportunity to spend time connecting with other young birders from across the continent, while at the same time birding and learning from some of the finest leaders anywhere. Sweeping prairies vistas, rugged badlands, forests of Ponderosa Pines, aspen and oak, and marshes – North Dakota has the habitat to support quite a species diversity! The fifth Young Birders’ Conference will find us exploring the various refuges, forests, reservoirs, prairie surrounding the Minot area. As we traverse these diverse ecosystems, we may be treated to breeding Piping Plover, Lazuli Bunting, grouse, and a plethora of sparrows including Savannah, LeConte’s, Bairds, and longspurs too. Multitudes of waterbirds, gulls, rails, and terns populate the prairie wetlands along with Upland Sandpiper, Sprague’s Pipit, and Nelson’s Sharp-tailed Sparrow; while American Redstart, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Veery, and vireos can be found in the mature woodlands. Our fantastic field trips will be punctuated by some terrific educational workshops taught by our knowledgeable leaders. In addition, we will have special guest speakers including scientists working in the field and rangers at the refuges we will be visiting. This event is generously sponsored by Leica Sport Optics and WINGS Birding Tours. Camp Yosemite Jul. 26 - Aug. 7, 2008 with Barry Lyon & Victor Emanuel A unique youth-oriented summertime program based in majestic Yosemite National Park in central California's Sierra Nevada Mountains. Camp Yosemite, co-sponsored by the American Birding Association and Leica Sport Optics, offers young birders between the ages of 14 and 18 the unique opportunity to experience nature and the outdoors with their peers. Based out of three locations in the incomparable Yosemite National Park, the camp provides a comprehensive survey of the flora, fauna, and geology of central California's Sierra Nevada. Though the focus is on birdlife, campers will be exposed to all forms of nature. Daily activities will be based around thorough exploration of each of the distinct regions we visit within Yosemite National Park. Campers will be educated on ecology, habitats, and ecosystems. Several lengthy hikes, birding field trips, and discussions will complement free time during which campers will have the luxury of exploring and discovering their natural surroundings on their own or in small groups. Campers should expect to witness some of the finest mountain scenery in the world, in addition to many of the special birds of the riparian woodland, chaparral, and mountains of central California. A sampling of the many bird possibilities includes California and Mountain quail, Great Gray Owl, Black Swift, Red-breasted Sapsucker, Yellow-billed Magpie, California Thrasher, and Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch. Other outstanding highlights include visits to at least two groves of Giant Sequoia, an 8-mile traipse into the heart of the Yosemite Valley, camping in the high country at Tuolumne Meadows, a trip across Saddlebag Lake into the Hoover Wilderness, and a grand finale excursion to the shores of Mono Lake. Long activity-filled, learning-filled days emphasizing the birdlife and mountain habitats of Yosemite; lots of hiking and camping; elevations range from a few hundred to 11,500 feet; cool to cold mornings and warm days with afternoon thunderstorms. Camp Chiricahua July 6-17, 2008 with Rob Day & David Jasper A unique youth-oriented summertime program centered on the wildlife-rich ecosystems of southeastern Arizona's Chiricahua Mountains. Camp Chiricahua presents young birders with an extraordinary opportunity to share a mutual love of birds and nature in one of the greatest natural history locations in North America. The camp, co-sponsored by the American Birding Association, is designed for boys and girls between the ages of 14 and 19 to become familiar with the flora and fauna of southeast Arizona. The primary focus of the camp is on the rich birdlife of the region, but we will also explore all aspects of nature, and spend time learning about habitats and ecosystems. Campers do not need to be expert birders, but should possess an interest in birds and nature. Campers should expect to see most of the special birds of southeast Arizona, including such sought-after species as Elegant Trogon, a good variety of hummingbirds, Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher, and Red-faced Warbler. Evening night drives will provide additional opportunities for mammals, reptiles, and insects. Through the years, Camp Chiricahua has endured as a testament to VENT's dedication to employing nature as a vehicle for learning, and positively influencing the lives of young people. Many campers have gone on to successful careers in a variety of fields, and many of them cite their time spent at Camp Chiricahua as a defining event in their lives. Expect long, learning-filled days emphasizing the region's birdlife and varied habitats; lots of hiking and camping; cool mornings and warm to hot days with afternoon thunderstorms. Cascades Banding Camp August 11-15, 2008 Cascades Banding Camp for teens is a partnership between Puget Sound Bird Observatory and Seattle Audubon and is in its fifth summer. From a base camp set in Wenatchee National Forest, this five-day camping trip will feature riparian and mountain birding and banding at several locations with opportunities to see and possibly handle great Northwest birds like Williamson's Sapsucker, Townsend's Warbler, and American Three-toed Woodpecker. Cascades Banding Camp trains high school students from around the country in bird-banding techniques while documenting how birds use moist high-elevation meadows in the Cascade Mountains to replace their feathers and prepare for southward migration. The camp will focus on the basics of net placement, extraction and handling, aging, and sexing, with special emphasis on the use of molt to age birds. Banding will occur on four mornings, with four nights of camping at primitive campgrounds. -------------------------------------- ABA Scholarships are available to help young birders attend the camps and events listed above, plus workshops (including the ABA/IFO), training programs, conventions and other bird-related activities. ABA Scholarships are supported by donations from generous ABA members, ABA Sales, Brunton, Bushnell Sports Optics, Leica Sport Optics, Pentax, and Swarovski Optik N.A. In 2007, ABA awarded eleven scholarships to students who showed that they would benefit from the experience of attending a summer camp. ABA favors students who contribute to birds and birding in their communities and who show initiative in raising the balance of the camp fees themselves from their own activities. If you would like more information, go to our ABA Scholarships page.
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