Workshops
Comparative Owl Anatomy Dissection
Long-eared Owl external ear
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Each participant will be able to dissect their own owl specimen under the guidance of an instructor. The group will compare ear anatomy, eyes, feet, feathers, facial discs and more, while exploring the differences between owl genera and species.
Species likely to be available for dissection include: Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus) Great Gray Owl (Strix nebulosa) Barred Owl (Strix varia) Eastern Screech-Owl (Megascops asio) Long-eared Owl (Asio otis) Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus) Northern Saw-whet Owl (Aegolius acadicus) Ferruginous Pygmy Owl (Glaucidium brasilianum) and whatever else we are able to salvage prior to the conference. Date: Monday, October 23, 2023 Time: Leave Stoney Creek at 8:30 AM, return at 12:00 PM Location: University of Wisconsin-La Crosse campus. Transportation: Provided from Stoney Creek Hotel to UWL campus and back again by university van Fee: $50 Limit: 12 participants Led by: Arnold van den Burg and Kas Koenraads of the Zoological Museum Netherlands |
Owl Vocal Monitoring and Analysis
American Barn Owl call
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Sound analysis is a valuable tool for biologists and ecologists, providing a non-invasive, cost-effective, and unbiased method for studying wildlife. It is used worldwide to aid in animal behavior studies, population and habitat health assessment, regulatory compliance, resource management, and to document the effects of climate change.
In this two-part hands-on workshop, learn to use two bioacoustics tools to study owls: a Song Meter Mini acoustic recorder and Kaleidoscope Pro sound analysis software. In Part 1, practice preparing a Song Meter Mini for deployment. Learn how to adjust audio settings and recording schedules and review key features and functionality. In Part 2, practice using Kaleidoscope Pro software to look for owl vocalizations within sample audio files (provided).* Explore how to set up for general survey and presence/absence determination and how to optimize settings to find and isolate rare target species. Basic cluster analysis and tuning for specific owls will be described in detail. You’ll come away from this workshop with practical knowledge of two bioacoustics tools, what they can help you to achieve, and how to hit the ground running. Whether you’re just starting out with bioacoustics or have been at it a while, you’re sure to learn something. *A temporary Kaleidoscope Pro license will be provided. Please bring your laptop if you’d like to “play along”! Date: Monday, October 23, 2023 Time: 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM Location: Stoney Creek Inn Fee: $20 Led by: Dave Roberts, Wildlife Acoustics |
Field Trips - October 27
more details yet to come
Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge/Elmaro Vineyard (Trempealeau, Wisconsin)
US Fish and Wildlife Refuge staff and area birders will guide you through this refuge along the Mississippi River. There will be an emphasis on waterfowl, but you will also experience prairie habitat. Then get an hour-long tour of Elmaro Vineyard, next to the refuge. Wine tasting is included in the cost, and you will have the option to purchase wine to take home. Box lunch and all transportation included. Click here for an eBird list of species documented on this site in October.
Time: 8:30 - 3:30ish
Fee: $60
Limit: 50 participants
International Owl Center (Houston, Minnesota)
Visit the International Owl Center's 2,400 square foot (223 square meter) storefront facility. See 3-5 live owls, mounted specimens of 18 different North American species, skulls, wings, tails, heads and feet, and find all kinds of fun souvenirs in the all-owl gift shop. You can stay for a special program at 11:00 AM by Jennifer Ackerman, author of the new book "What an Owl Knows", based on her extensive interviews and out-in-the-field visits with owl researchers around the world. Or venture out on foot around Houston to check out the Houston Nature Center, Root River Trail (some bikes will be available to borrow), Parade of Owls art tour around town, a used bookstore, or hang out at Barista's Coffee House or JT's Bar and Grill. Transportation and lunch of sub sandwiches and salad will be provided.
Time: 8:30 - 1:30(?)
Fee: $45
Limit: 50 participants
Luther College hawk banding station/Hoslett Museum of Natural History (Decorah, Iowa)
The group will split in two, with half spending the morning at the Raptor Resource Project's hawk banding station and the other half touring the Hoslett Museum of Natural History at Luther College. Although a small museum, it features mounted Passenger Pigeons, a substantial egg collection from around the world and much more. After lunch (included), the groups will switch. Transportation provided.
Time: 8:30 - 3:30(?)
Fee: $90
Limit: 24 participants
US Fish and Wildlife Refuge staff and area birders will guide you through this refuge along the Mississippi River. There will be an emphasis on waterfowl, but you will also experience prairie habitat. Then get an hour-long tour of Elmaro Vineyard, next to the refuge. Wine tasting is included in the cost, and you will have the option to purchase wine to take home. Box lunch and all transportation included. Click here for an eBird list of species documented on this site in October.
Time: 8:30 - 3:30ish
Fee: $60
Limit: 50 participants
International Owl Center (Houston, Minnesota)
Visit the International Owl Center's 2,400 square foot (223 square meter) storefront facility. See 3-5 live owls, mounted specimens of 18 different North American species, skulls, wings, tails, heads and feet, and find all kinds of fun souvenirs in the all-owl gift shop. You can stay for a special program at 11:00 AM by Jennifer Ackerman, author of the new book "What an Owl Knows", based on her extensive interviews and out-in-the-field visits with owl researchers around the world. Or venture out on foot around Houston to check out the Houston Nature Center, Root River Trail (some bikes will be available to borrow), Parade of Owls art tour around town, a used bookstore, or hang out at Barista's Coffee House or JT's Bar and Grill. Transportation and lunch of sub sandwiches and salad will be provided.
Time: 8:30 - 1:30(?)
Fee: $45
Limit: 50 participants
Luther College hawk banding station/Hoslett Museum of Natural History (Decorah, Iowa)
The group will split in two, with half spending the morning at the Raptor Resource Project's hawk banding station and the other half touring the Hoslett Museum of Natural History at Luther College. Although a small museum, it features mounted Passenger Pigeons, a substantial egg collection from around the world and much more. After lunch (included), the groups will switch. Transportation provided.
Time: 8:30 - 3:30(?)
Fee: $90
Limit: 24 participants
