Midwest Birding Symposium: Young Birders' Day

Birders come in all ages, but if the older generations of birders are going to be replaced, we all need to encourage newer, younger birders to join our ranks. The Ohio Young Birders Club was organized for just that reason.

"No-longer-technically-a-Young-Birder" (but still pretty young compared to some of us) and Young Birder Club founding member, Ethan Kistler

"Really-young-future-birder," my second cousin, Oliver. (note the book in front of him)
Public service announcement: If you are going to the Midwest Birding Symposium in Lakeside, Ohio this weekend, bring along a Young Birder. Here is program for Saturday, September 19, with activities designed for all ages:

The Ohio Young Birders Club presents:

KILLDEER KORNER

Activities for Young Birders!

Saturday September 19, 2009 is Young Birder’s Day at the Midwest Birding Symposium! Join us from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. at Wo-Ho-Mis (across the street from South Auditorium). Admission is free, but donations will be accepted. Our friends from the Ohio Young Birders Club and the Black Swamp Bird Observatory will offer the following activities:

Preschool:

The Binocular Laboratory—kids will make a pair of binoculars and learn how to use them

The Feeding Station—kids will build a bird feeder out of a variety of common recycled items

Fun with the Hooos!—kids will make an owl puppet or mask

Middle School:

Midwest Birding Symposium Junior Duck Stamp Contest—We’ll help participants paint a portrait of their favorite duck, goose, or swan! Lily Sprang, winner of this year’s National Junior Duck Stamp Contest, will be leading the activity along with her brother Eli, an Ohio Junior Duck Stamp winner and national runner-up!

We’ll also give all our artists materials introducing them (and their parents and teachers) to the Junior Duck Stamp Contest. When the portraits are finished, artists can choose to take their art home with them or enter it into the contest. We will award prizes for the top three contest entries.

For Teens:

Bird Walk—The Ohio Young Birders Club will lead a bird walk from 8:00 – 9:45 a.m. Saturday on the Lakeside grounds. We will meet at the front entrance to the Hotel Lakeside.

For details, contact BSBO at 419-898-4070.