Midwest Birding Symposium field trippers enjoy birding in the Mississippi River bottomlands. - USFWS photo

The Midwest Birding Symposium has been held every other year in Midwestern states to inform the public and highlight important birding areas.  This year the MBS was held in Davenport, Iowa, Oct. 13, 14, and 15.  Highlights of this year’s program included a presentation by Bobby Harrison, one of the ivory-billed woodpecker re-discoverers, and a luncheon keynote address by Iowa’s Deputy Director Liz Christiansen.  The field trips were very well attended and over 100 species identified.  Service refuges were a main focal point of the field trips including Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife Refuge and Lost Mound Refuge. 

Many divisions of the Service participated in making MBS a success.  Ecological Services, Rock Island Field Office sponsored Jody Millar, Assistant Supervisor, as co-chairman of the MBS.  Jody has been active in all aspects of planning the program and has eagerly sought the assistance of other Service biologists.  Migratory Birds has been a long-time sponsor of this event and again this year provided funding toward success of the effort.  In addition, John Christian has gave his Whooping Crane presentation in full display! Refuges sponsored the efforts of Pam Steinhaus, outreach coordinator at the Upper Mississippi River Refuge.  Pam developed a children’s program, set up various Service displays, and help lead a youth bird walk on Saturday morning.   Don Hultman, Mississippi River Refuge Chief, gave a presentation on the Upper Mississippi Refuge.  Private Lands, Washington Office  sponsored Leopoldo Mirdanda who gave a presentation on his work with shade tree coffee in Puerto Rico and its benefits to neotropical migrants.  

The Midwest Birding Symposium is scheduled to take place in the Quad City area for one more event in 2007 before moving on to a new Midwestern location.