January 8 - Walt Zuurdeeg will report on the Milan Bottoms Bald Eagle Night Roost Survey Project.

February 12 - Carol Rogers will present a DVD entitled "Tallgrass Prairie Revival", about the Iowa Department of Transportation's roadside prairie planting program.

March 12 - Keith and Mary Blackmore of the Northwest Illinois Audubon Society will give a presentation on “Our role in Global Climate Change.” They will give an overview of climate change, then zero in on people using the book “Low Carbon Diet” by David Gershon. (the book is available from amazon.com for $10.36). To get the most from this program, each person or family should take to the meeting: a calculator, number of gallons of trash generated per week (not recycled materials), kilowatt hours of electricity used per year, quantity of fuel used for heating and/or cooking per year in whatever units used (therms, gallons, cords, etc.), miles driven per year and mpg of all vehicles, recorded separately, and miles traveled by air per year. If you or your family doesn’t have all of these figures, it will not preclude you from learning, it will only make it more meaningful if you have them.

April 9 - Linda and Robert Scarth from Cedar Rapids will give a program on East African birds as well as “The Big Five” (lion, elephant, rhinoceros, leopard, and cape buffalo) and other animals, scenery and people.

May 14 - Nicki Nagl from the Iowa Breeding Bird Atlas will return with an update on the atlas from last year. This five year project is collecting information on the current ranges of Iowa’s breeding birds. Numerous changes to Iowa’s landscape in the 18 years since the first atlas project was completed in 1990 (e.g., widespread wetland restorations and the CRP program) suggest that a second atlas project will reveal many changes. To be successful, this project will require many hours of volunteer help from birders statewide. Atlasing is a fun way to bird during summer and a great way to explore new areas, so we’re hoping Audubon members will lend their support to this important project! Answers to many of the questions asked about the Breedng Bird Atlas may be found in the Frequently Asked Questions page of the Iowa Breeding Bird Atlas site.

September 10 - Michael Hunter of Prophetstown will speak on falconry. A live bird will be part of the program.

October 8 - Doug Harr, Diversity Coordinator with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, will present a program entitled “Birding Panama”.

November 12 - David Steven Faldet, professor of English at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, will talk about his recently published book “Oneota Flow”, and the history of birds and people of the upper Iowa River. He will bring copies of his book to sell and sign.

December 10 - Brent Langley will present a program on his three week neo-tropical birding trip with the Sierra Club to Costa Rica. This is also our annual pie night, so bring a friend and an appetite.

January 10 - Stan Bousson will be giving a program on wildlife photography. He will explain how he goes about getting wildlife photos, and the locations and activities of the animals.

February 14 - The regular meeting this month has been moved to Monday, February 25. See below.

February 25, MONDAY at 6:30 - Karen Viste-Sparkman will present "Prelude to the Prairie Chicken: Ecological Restoration and Birds at Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge". She is the Refuge Biologist at Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge, 20 miles east of Des Moines. The refuge is a unique ecological restoration project, emulating tallgrass prairie and oak savanna ecosystems that once dominated the Iowa landscape. Ms. Viste-Sparkman will present information on the refuge goals, management challenges, and how restoration activities affect birds and other wildlife and their interrelationships. She will discuss birds and birding opportunities on the refuge and data from breeding season bird surveys that have been conducted on the refuge since 1994. Finally, she will discuss future plans for the refuge and the work that lies ahead.

March 13 - Larry Best will share with us some of the best of his photos and experiences in Alaska. Also, Nicki Nagl will present information on the Iowa Breeding Bird Atlas project.

April 10 - Mary Lou Petersen will present a program on the Illinois Spring Bird Count.

May 8 - Bob Bryant will present "Ferns of the Quad City Region". This program is a local version of his e-book (a work in progress), "An Interpreter's Guide to the Ferns of Iowa", covering the identification, distribution, uses, folklore, and photography of Iowa's ferns.

September 11 - Kelly McKay will give the first of a two part series on Bird Surveys. This presentation will focus on Port Louisa Bird Surveys.

October 9 - Kelly Mckay will give the second of a two part series on Bird Surveys and his work with the Corps of Engineers.

November 13 - Ecologist Cornelia Mutel, historian and archivist for Hydroscience and Engineering at the University of Iowa College of Engineering, will talk about her book "The Emerald Horizon - The History of Nature in Iowa" (available at University of Iowa Press). QCAS Officers and Board Members will be elected at this meeting. The Nominating Committee has submitted the following individuals for consideration; members may nominate other candidates for these offices at the meeting.

December 11 - Karen Rotschafer will give a presentation on her trip to Texas. This is our traditional pie and coffee night, so bring a friend and join QCAS for a fun evening.

January 11 - Mary Lou Petersen will present a bird identification class. This class will focus on the non-passerines (primarily water birds and birds of prey).

February 8 - Mary Lou Petersen will present a second bird identification class. This class will focus on the passerines (perching/song birds).

March 8 - Kelly McKay will provide information on the Milan Bottoms bald eagle survey and talk about his recent birding trip to Thailand.

April 12 - Taldi Walter, Alaska Field Coordinator for National Audubon Society, will be giving a program on Alaskan bird populations and the impacts of human activities. Ms. Walter is the state office director of Alaska.

May 10 - Members’ “Show and Tell” nature photography fest. Share your favorite slides, prints, or CD images of nature and wildlife.

September 13 - Steve Siegel will give a program on the Pacific National Wildlife Refuge, the most remote National Wildlife Refuge. Steve is an environmental lawyer presently working on high power transmission line issues in the western part of the United States.

October 11 - Linda Boardsen will present a program on her recent trip to Costa Rica.

November 8 - Sheri Coleman will present a program on a National Sierra Club Service trip in the Shawnee National Forest. Sheri is a Sierra Club National Outings leader.

December 13 - Join us for the annual pie and cake party. Brent Langley will make a presentation on birds of Maine and the Canadien Maritime Provinces.

March 9 - Robert Lipnick - Butterflies of Spain.

April 13 - George Schlenker - "How To" guide on bird photography.

May 11 - Members "Show and Tell" Nature Photography Fest.

September 14 - Jim Frink - Presentation on wildlife photography.

October 12 - Dr. Maury Brucker and Emiko Yang – Birding in East and South Africa.

November 9 - Brent Langley will give a presentation on “Wildlife Art—Then and Now.”

December 14 - Mary Lou Petersen will give a presentation on “Quad City Christmas Count - Changes in the Last Fifty Years.” This is “Pie Night,” join us for some good pie, coffee, and fellowship.

December and early January - Christmas Bird Counts are a census of area birds conducted during the 23 days surrounding Christmas. On the assigned date, organized field parties census the bird populations within a given count circle, a pre-defined area 15 miles in diameter. Volunteers can help by observing birds in the field or monitoring bird feeders. Contact Kelly McKay at (309) 235-4661 or (309) 755-6731 if you would like to participate. See our Get Involved page for further information about Christmas Bird Counts.

January 24, Saturday - Field trip along the Mississippi River, from I-280 to I-80. Meet at the Marquette Street Landing, Davenport at 8:00 a.m. for this half-day trip. *

February 22, Sunday - Field trip to Wildcat Den State Park. Meet at the Marquette Street Landing, Davenport, at 8:00 a.m. for this half-day trip. *

March 15, Sunday - Field trip north along the Mississippi River. Meet at Brother’s Restaurant, Rapids City, Illinois at 7:00 a.m. for this half-day trip. *

April 4, Saturday - Field trip to Cone Marsh. Meet at Marquette Street Landing, Davenport at 7:00 a.m. for this half-day trip. *

May 9, Saturday - Illinois Spring Bird Count. Join us in this annual survey of spring birds in Rock Island County. Groups will cover all areas of the county. If you are not an experienced birder, no problem, we will team you with experienced birders. Whether experienced or not, it's always better to have more pairs of eyes than less. You can participate for part or all of the day. Some groups begin before dawn to look for owls, and most groups stay until dusk, but you can start whenever you want and stay as long as you want. The only requirement: have an interest in birds. Contact Tim Murphy, (309) 764-9779, to participate.

June 7, Sunday - Field trip to Mississippi Palisades and Lost Mound. Due to the closure of the I-80 bridge going into Illinois, people in Illinois will meet at Brother’s Restaurant in Rapids City at 6:30 am, and Iowa folk will meet at the Casey’s in Princeton at 6:30 am. The two groups will then meet at Lock & Dam 13 in Clinton at 8:00 a.m. This will be an all day field trip. We will stop for lunch in Savanna.

July 12, Sunday - Work morning at Lyndon-Agnew Prairie. We will remove invasive plants from this prairie plot near Lyndon, Ilinois. The plot runs parallel to Interstate 88. Meet at the Anchor Do-It Center, 1505 1st Street, Silvis, at 7:00 am for this half-day trip. Long sleeves, long pants, water, sunscreen and insect repellent are recommended. Bring a lopper and/or a spade if you can. Contact Tim Murphy (309) 764-9779 or (309) 716-4575 for more information. See the July-August issue of Mississippi Currents and the get involved page for more about the Lyndon-Agnew Prairie.

August 22, Saturday - Field trip to Credit Island, Nahant Marsh, Fairmount Cemetery, Sunderbruch Park and Schuetzenpark in Davenport. Fairmount Cemetery will include a historical tour by the caretaker of some of the interesting and infamous people buried there, and snacks will be served. The tour will cover a different part of the cemetery than last year. Meet at Marquette Street Landing, Davenport, at 7:00 a.m. for a half-day trip.

September 13, Sunday - Field trip to Wildcat Den. A half-day birding trip which will concentrate on migrating songbirds. Meet at Marquette Street Landing, Davenport at 7:00 a.m.

October 10, Saturday - Field trip to birding hotspots in Clinton - Eagle Point Park, Soaring Eagle Nature Center, and Bickelhaupt Arboretum. Meet at Casey’s in Princeton, Iowa at 7:00 a.m. for this half day plus trip.

November 8, Sunday - Field trip up the Illinois side of the Mississippi River. Illinois residents meet at Brothers Restaurant in Rapids City, Illinois at 7:00 a.m. Iowa residents meet at Casey’s in Princeton, Iowa at 7:00 a.m. The two groups will meet at 7:45 a.m. at Lock and Dam 13 north of Fulton, Illinois for this half day trip to look for waterfowl.

December and early January – see our Get Involved page for further information about Christmas Bird Counts.

January 27, Sunday - Field trip along the Mississippi River from I-280 to I-80. Meet at Marquette Street Landing, Davenport, at 8:00 a.m. for a half-day trip.*

February 23, Saturday - Field trip to Wildcat Den State Park. Meet at Marquette Street Landing, Davenport, at 8:00 a.m. for this half-day trip.*

March 1, Saturday - Bluebird Trail Maintenance. Meet at Marquette Street Landing, Davenport, at 7:00 a.m., to help clean bluebird nest boxes at Horseshoe Bend, Port Louisa National Wildlife Refuge.*

March 29, Saturday - Field trip to Cone Marsh. Meet at Marquette Street Landing at 8:00 a.m. for a half-day trip.*

May 10, Saturday - Illinois Spring Bird Count. Join us in this annual survey of spring birds in our area. Requirements: an interest in nature (especially birds) and be willing to get up rather early. Contact Tim Murphy, (309) 764-9779, to participate.

May 17 & 18, Saturday and Sunday - Field trip to Shimeck State Forest in southeastern Iowa. Meet at Marquette Street Landing in Davenport at 6:00 a.m. Individuals wishing to stay overnight should bring camping gear and be prepared to drive their own vehicle. Point of contact is Janelle Swanberg, (563) 324-9806.

June 7, Saturday - Field trip to the Mississippi Palisades and Goose Lake to look for spring song birds, shorebirds, and waterfowl. Meet at Brothers Restaurant in Rapids City, IL, at 6:00 a.m. for this half-day trip.

July 6, Sunday - Work morning at Lyndon-Agnew Prairie. We will remove invasive plants from this remnant prairie plot near Lyndon, IL. Meet at Quad City Downs by IL Highway 5 in East Moline, at 7:00 a.m. Wear long-sleeve shirt and full-length pants. Bring drinking water and sunscreen, and gloves and tools for cutting (loppers or spade). Leader: Tim Murphy (309) 764-9779.

August 23, Saturday - Field Trip to Credit Island, Nahant Marsh, Fairmount Cemetery, Sunderbruch Park and Schuetzen Park in Davenport. Fairmount Cemetery will include a historical tour by the caretaker of some of the interesting and infamous people buried there, and refreshments will be served. Meet at Marquette Street Landing, Davenport, at 7:00 a.m. for this half-day trip.

September 7, Sunday - Wildcat Den State Park. A half-day birding trip which will concentrate on migrating songbirds. Meet at Marquette Street Landing, Davenport at 7:00 a.m.

November 16, Sunday - North from the Quad Cities along the Illinois side of the Mississippi River, including Lost Mound. Meet at Brothers Restaurant in Rapids City, Illinois, at 7:30 a.m. We will stop at the Pizza Hut in Savannah for lunch and will return late in the afternoon. *

December and early January – see our Get Involved page for further information about Christmas Bird Counts.

January 28 - Up the Mississippi River to look for waterfowl. Meet at Brothers Restaurant in Rapids City, IL, at 8:00 a.m. for a half-day trip.

February 11 - Wildcat Den State Park. Meet at Marquette Street Landing in Davenport, IA, at 8:00 a.m. for this half-day trip to look for birds wintering in local woodlands.

Sunday, March 4 - Bluebird Trail Maintenance. Meet at Marquette Street Landing, Davenport, at 7:00 a.m. We will car pool to Horseshoe Bend, Port Louisa National Wildlife Refuge, to check and clean bluebird houses and do some bird watching.

Saturday, March 17 - Field Trip to Lock and Dam 13 and Savannah to look for early migrants and waterfowl. Meet at Brothers Restaurant in Rapids City, IL, at 8:00 a.m. for a half-day trip .

Saturday, March 31 - Field Trip to Cone Marsh. Meet at 7:00 a.m. at Marquette Street Landing in Davenport for this half-day birding excursion.

Sunday, April 15 - Field Trip to the Martin Farm. Meet at Singing Bird Lodge, Blackhawk State Historic Site, Rock Island, at 7:00 a.m. for this half-day birding trip.

Saturday, May 5 - Illinois Spring Bird Count. Join experienced bird watchers in a day-long bird count through area fields, woods, and urban areas. Data collected in the count supports population trend analysis for birds that nest or pass through in spring migration. Contact Tim Murphy, (309) 764-9779, to participate.

Sunday, June 3 - Field Trip to the Mississippi Palisades and Goose Lake to look for songbirds, shorebirds, and waterfowl. Meet at Brothers Restaurant in Rapids City, IL, at 6:00 a.m. for a half-day trip.

Sunday, July 8 - Work morning at Lyndon-Agnew Prairie. Help remove invasive plants from this outstanding prairie remnant near Lyndon, IL. Meet at Quad City Downs, IL Highway 5 in East Moline, at 7:00 a.m. Wear long-sleeve shirt and long pants, bring drinking water, sunscreen, loppers (preferred) or a spade. Leader: Tim Murphy, (309) 764-9779.

Sunday, August 5 – Field trip up the Mississippi River from Nahant Marsh to Hampton, with the focus on shore birds. Meet at Marquette Street Landing in Davenport at 7:00 a.m. for this half-day trip.

Saturday, October 13 - Eagle Point Park and Bulger’s Hollow. Meet at the Casey’s store in Princeton, IA. at 7:00 a.m. for a half-day trip.

Sunday, November 11 - Up the Mississippi River to look for waterfowl. Meet at the Brothers Restaurant in Rapids City, IL, at 7:30 a.m. for a half-day trip.

May 13 - Prairie restoration at Horseshoe Bend, Port Louisa National Wildlife Refuge. Meet at Marquette Street Landing, Davenport, at 7:30 a.m. Leader: Pat Carlson, (309) 793-4131.

June 3 - Field Trip to the Mississippi Palisades. Meet at Brothers' Restaurant in Rapids City, IL, at 6:00 a.m. This is a day long trip, so bring a sack lunch or snacks.

July 9 - Work morning at Lyndon-Agnew Prairie. Help remove invasive plants from this outstanding prairie remnant near Lyndon, IL. Meet at Quad City Downs at 7:00 a.m. Wear long-sleeve shirts and pants, bring drinking water, sunscreen, loppers or a spade.

July 15 - Walk in the Park at Schuetzen Park, Davenport.  Meet at Marquette Landing, Davenport, at 7:30 a.m. Plan a half day outing. (Bug spray is recommended..)

August 6 - Field trip to Port Louisa National Wildlife Refuge. Meet at Marquette Street Landing at 7:00 a.m. for a half day trip.

September 16 - Field Trip to Wildcat Den to look for migrating songbirds. Meet at Marquette Street Landing at 7:00 a.m. for a half day trip.

October 15 – Field Trip to Eagle Point and Bulger's Hollow. Meet at the Casey's store in Princeton, IA, at 7:00 a.m. for a half day trip.

November 11 - Field Trip up the Mississippi River to look for waterfowl and a chance to see large numbers of tundra swans. Meet at Brothers Restaurant in Rapids City, IL, at 7:30 a.m. for a half-day trip.

December – No field trip, instead we will be participating in the Christmas Bird Counts. The dates are indicated below. Contact Brent Langley at (309) 799-7192 if you would like to participate.

January 9-11, Friday-Sunday - Bald Eagle Days, Quad Cities Expo Center, Rock Island. Friday, 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., and Sunday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The Quad City Audubon Society will again have an information booth at the Expo Center. The QCAS has supported and participated in Bald Eagle Days since its inception. Each year, many of our members generously donate their time to help spread the message about QCAS by helping to man our booth. The booth will have information about the Quad City Audubon Society and will have hands-on activities for children, including building suet feeders from pine cones that they can hang in their yards to attract birds. So we need a lot of volunteers to help run the booth, and lots of pine cones for feeders. We will also provide spotting scopes for viewing bald eagles along the Mississippi River at Sunset Park in Rock Island. Please contact Karen Rotschafer at (309) 749-7660 to volunteer to help at our booth or the spotting scopes. Pine cones can be dropped off at the December general meetings, or call Karen to arrange for pick up.

April 17-18, Friday-Saturday - Earth Week Celebration at the QC Expo Center, Rock Island. Volunteers are needed to man the QCAS booth. Please contact Karen Rotschafer, (309) 749-7660, greyiny2k@netzero.net, to volunteer.

May 16, Saturday - International Migratory Bird Day at Ingersoll Wetlands Learning Center, Upper Mississippi Wildlife Refuge, 7071 Riverview Road, Thomson, Illinois (North of Thomson, behind Metform on Highway 84). Bird walk at 7:30 a.m., speakers throughout the morning. For more information, contact Anne Schmidt (563) 244-7070, or Pam Steinhaus (815) 273-2732.

June 27, Saturday - Marilyn Andress Prairie Rose Farm will again this year be the site for a combined Audubon and Sierra Club outing. And again this year we will gather at Marilyn's by 10:00 am. The group will take a tour of the Andress restored farm including prairies, wetland, woods and, of course, observation of all of the birds along the bluffs of the Mississippi. At noon we will gather in the yard for a potluck. We ask everyone to bring a dish to share, plus your own table service and beverage. After lunch we will work off the extra calories and "pay" for the Andress Family's hospitality by helping remove some invasive species. Please bring a pair of work gloves and your own sun screen, mosquito repellant and camera. If you wish, you can also bring a folding chair. To make reservations and get directions to the farm contact (Audubon) Carol Rogers at (563) 324-8897 or (Sierra Club) Sheri Colman at (309) 786-8504.

August 29, Saturday - The Pelican Gala at White Oak Vineyards. This is Iowa Audubon’s major fundraiser and this year the guest speaker is Bill Zales. Bill has been extensively involved in land management with his White Oak Vineyards property in western Iowa and in teaching others how to care for their own. Hors-d’oeuvres, dessert and a beverage will be served. There will be a silent auction later in the evening. The vineyard is located between Ames and Ankeny, 2 miles east of I-35. $60 per person or $100 per couple. For further information, contact Carol Rogers at (309) 324-8897.

September 18-20, Friday-Sunday - Upper Midwest Regional Audubon Conference. This year the theme is “Hope, Action and a Sense of Place”. It will take place at Chestnut Mountain Resort near Galena, Illinois. The conference is sponsored by the Audubon Council of Illinois. A luncheon address will be provided by National Audubon Society President John Flicker. Keynote speakers are photographer David Olson, author Scott Russell Sanders (who will also lead a writer’s workshop), and grassland bird authority Dr. Jim Herkert. More information and a registration form can be obtained from Lake County Audubon.

October 16-18, Friday-Sunday - Iowa Ornithologists’ Union Fall Meeting. The Lake Rathbun Birding Club will host the meeting in Centerville, Iowa. Jon Dunn, Chief Consultant/Editor for all five editions of the National Geographic Society’s Field Guide to the Birds of North America, will take center stage at Saturday night’s banquet. For more information, visit Iowa Ornithologists’ Union.

November 6-8, Friday-Sunday - 2009 Inland Bird Banding Association Conference, World Bird Sanctuary, 125 Bald Eagle Ridge Road, Valley Park, Missouri. Visit www.ibbainfo.org, or contact Valerie Geile at stlvanilla@aol.com or (636) 458-1554 for more information about the field trips, workshops and speakers.

November 10, Tuesday - Illinois Sierra Club’s 50th Anniversary Celebration. 6:00-8:30 p.m.at the Watch Tower Lodge, Black Hawk State Historic Site, 1510 46th Avenue, Rock Island. Join the Eagle View Chapter of the Sierra Club for music, food and the spellbinding storytelling of John Wallace as Sierra Club founder, John Muir. A donation of $5.00 is requested; free to all children and students.

January 12 & 13 - Bald Eagle Days, Quad Cities Expo Center, Rock Island. Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., and Sunday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The Quad City Audubon Society will again have an information booth at the Expo Center. The booth will have information about the Quad City Audubon Society and will have hands-on activities for children, including building suet feeders from pine cones. We will also provide spotting scopes at Sunset Park, Rock Island, for viewing bald eagles along the Mississippi River. Please contact Karen Rotschafer at (309) 523-9154 to volunteer to help at our booth or the spotting scopes.

February 3, Sunday - In conjunction with the John J. Audubon exhibition at the Figge Art Museum (see February 16 event below), Brent Langley will present a gallery talk at 1:30 p.m.

February 16, Saturday - Quad City Audubon Society 60th Anniversary Celebration and Reception, Figge Art Museum, Davenport. QCAS members, their families and friends are invited to share good food, fellowship and reminiscences of the past 60 years. There is no charge for attending, which runs from 2:00 - 5:00 p.m., and reservations are not required. Our aniversary celebration will be held at the Figge to take advantage of a special exhibition of John J. Audubon prints. These prints are from a rare 1860 edition of Audubon's Birds of America, probably purchased by Charles Deere in the 1870s. As part of our reception, we will tour the Audubon print exhibition. For more information on the Audubon exhibition, go to Figge Art Museum.

March 1, Saturday - Bluebird Trail Maintenance. Meet at Marquette Street Landing, Davenport, at 7:00 a.m., to help clean bluebird nest boxes at Horseshoe Bend, Port Louisa National Wildlife Refuge. (will be canceled in the event of hazardous winter road conditions.)

March 12, Wednesday - In conjunction with the John J. Audubon exhibition at the Figge Art Museum (see February 16 event above), Dick Sayles will lead a discussion on Richard Rhodes' biography of Audubon "John James Audubon: The Making of an American" at 7:00 p.m. at the Bettendorf Public Library.

April 18 & 19, Friday and Saturday - Earth Week celebration at the Quad City Expo Center, Rock Island. Volunteers are needed to help with the QCAS booth. Please contact Karen Rotschafer, (309) 749-7660 to volunteer.

June 28, Saturday - Andress Farm Picnic. Enjoy a pot luck picnic with the QCAS and the local Sierra Club chapter at the Andress’ Prairie Rose Farm west of the Quad Cities. The address is 31501 113th Avenue West, Illinois City. Hiking and work projects begin at 10:00 a.m., with lunch at 11:30. Bring one food item, and your own plates, utensils, and drinks. Directions: from I280, take Highway 92 west exit onto Hwy. 92 West (Andalusia). At the stop lights at Andalusia Road (78th Avenue West) turn right. This is still Hwy. 92 West. Continue on Hwy. 92 west through Andalusia to Illinois City (watch for where Hwy. 92 takes a turn to the right). Go four miles west of Illinois City on Hwy. 92 and turn right (north) onto 294th Street West (Pine Bluff Church is on your left at this intersection). At the curve this road becomes 113th Avenue West. Go one mile to the dead end. The house is on the right. For those wishing to car pool, meet at the Milan HyVee store, at the back of the parking lot near the gas station, at 9:30 a.m. If you get lost, call the Andress Farm at (309) 292-0690.

July 9, Wednesday - A Natural History Video of Ecuador at the Eldridge Library, Eldride Iowa. Keith and Jan Wiggers will present a video program condensed from a ten week trip through Ecuador.

August 21-23, Thursday-Saturday - Upper Mississippi River Conference, I-Wireless Center, Moline.

September 27-28, Saturday-Sunday - Unity Festival at LeClaire Park, Davenport. Unity Festival is a celebration of our rich and diverse Quad City community. Support the National Day of Action in support of our many service organizations. 10:00 - 5:00 Saturday and 11:00 - 6:00 Sunday.

October 11, Saturday - Earth Charter Summit at The River Center, Davenport.

October 17-19, Friday-Sunday - Upper Midwest Audubon Conference at the Holiday Inn in Dubuque, Iowa. This conference is a forum to network with others interested in habitat preservation and restoration. This year's conference welcomes two individuals who worked with the reintroduction of Peregrine Falcons and Trumpeter Swans in Iowa. On Friday evening a private reception will be held at the National Mississippi River Museum. Saturday conference activities include field trips and programs presenting research and chapter activities. John Flicker, National Audubon Society President, is the scheduled keynote speaker at the luncheon. Kelly McKay, of the BioEco Research and Monitoring Center in Hampton, Illinois, will have a couple of sessions on work and surveys at Milan Bottoms. Saturday night features impersonator Brian Ellis, who will be paying tribute to John James Audubon. For more information, contact Maggie O'Connell (birdlady1@iowatelecom.net) or Joe Tollari (jtollari@mchsi.com) for registration materials, or send the $75 registration fee, which includes the reception, four meals and all conference activities (except for the riverboat ride - $20 extra) to: The Upper Midwest Audubon Conference, c/o Dubuque Audubon Society, P.O. Box 3174, Dubuque, Iowa 52004-3174.

January 6, 7 - Bald Eagle Days, Quad Cities Expo Center, Rock Island. Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and Sunday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The Quad City Audubon Society will have an information booth at the Expo Center and will provide spotting scopes at Sunset Park, Rock Island, for viewing bald eagles along the Mississippi River. Please contact Karen Rotschafer (309) 523-9154 to volunteer to help man our booth or spotting scopes.

May 5, Saturday - Illinois Spring Bird Count. Join experienced bird watchers in a day-long bird count through area fields, woods, and urban areas. Data collected in the count supports population trend analysis for birds that nest or pass through in spring migration. Contact Tim Murphy, (309) 764-9779, to participate.

June 9, Saturday - Picnic at Phipps Prairie Park. All Quad City Audubon members are invited to a pot luck picnic in the new park that QC Audubon helped to fund. Bring your own plates, eating utensils, drinks, and a menu item to share with other picnickers, and binoculars for bird watching. Meet at Phipps Prairie Park, 12th Street off Colona Road, Silvis, IL, at 6:00 p.m.

July 8, Sunday - Work morning at Lyndon-Agnew Prairie. Help remove invasive plants from this outstanding prairie remnant near Lyndon, IL. Meet at Quad City Downs, IL Highway 5 in East Moline, at 7:00 a.m. Wear long-sleeve shirt and long pants, bring drinking water, sunscreen, loppers (preferred) or a spade. Leader: Tim Murphy, (309) 764-9779.

September 13–16 - Midwest Birding Symposium at the Stoney Creek Inn, Moline. Keynote Speaker is author/naturalist Kenn Kaufmann. There will be field trips to area birding locations.

October 24, Wednesday - Petersen Ornithological Collection Grand Opening Celebration, Western Illinois University. The ceremony and dinner are open to the public. Tickets are $20 per person and may be purchased through the University Libraries. Checks, payable to Western Illinois University, should be mailed to University Libraries, Western Illinois University, 1 University Circle, Macomb, IL 61455. For more information, contact the library office at (309) 298-2762.