ackinaw MRAPTOR FEST AprilApril 55––7,7, 20192019

www.MackinawRaptorFest.org 1 Welcome to the Mackinaw Raptor Fest

Welcome to the fourth annual Mackinaw Raptor Fest, offered by the Mackinac Straits Raptor Watch (MSRW). This boutique event attracts both repeat attendees and newcomers. Timed to offer you a chance to see Red-tailed , Rough-legged Hawks and Golden during spring migration, the Fest also lets you share the company of other birders and learn about raptors and water birds from exceptional presenters and interpreters.

Through your attendance, volunteering, and generous donations, you have enabled MSRW to celebrate its fifth MACKINAC STRAITS RAPTOR WATCH BOARD anniversary. Since 2014, our bird migration research OF DIRECTORS, L-R: STEVE BAKER, DAVE has expanded to embrace hawks, owls, and waterbirds MAYBERRY, JOSH HAAS, JACKIE PILETTE, during both spring and fall migration. Volunteer or KATHY BRICKER, STEVE WAGNER, ED PIKE contracted raptor naturalists greet people and teach NOT PICTURED: BERT EBBERS, MELISSA them about birds at the Watch. HANSEN, JOANN LEAL, SUE STEWART Starting in 2016, education increased through launching the Mackinaw Raptor Fest, giving dozens of talks and exhibits around Michigan, and earning What is ? more media and on-line coverage. To promote conservation of needed habitat, MSRW submitted data to key decision-makers about the importance of Mackinac Straits Raptor Watch supports the Straits to waterbirds and other migrants. In late the conservation of habitat for migrating 2018, Executive Director Richard Couse joined MSRW birds of prey and waterbirds in the Straits of to enable even more successes. Mackinac region. It: As MSRW launches into its sixth year of 2019, we thank Conducts research to quantify the species you for your support. diversity and abundance of raptors and waterbirds migrating through the Straits Enjoy the 2019 Mackinaw Raptor Fest! of Mackinac, and to document changes in migration patterns over time.

Provides educational opportunities for people of all ages to increase understanding On the cover: of raptor and waterbird migration, and The 2019 Mackinaw Raptor Fest logo the special significance of the Straits and features a photograph by Keynote the natural resources surrounding it for Speaker, Todd Katzner. He explains: migrating birds. “This Golden was captured, tagged, and released in 2006 near Supports the conservation and stewardship the Allegheny Front Hawkwatch, of the natural resources in the Straits region near Central City, Pennsylvania. We to optimize the size, location, suitability, tracked that eagle for a couple of years and learned and sustainability of stop-over habitat for that it summered in Quebec and wintered in the central raptors and waterbirds. Appalachians of Pennsylvania and West Virginia.” 2 www.mackinacraptorwatch.org Thank you to all! Fest Mission It is my great pleasure to welcome back this awesome event. Mackinaw City, one of the major flyways for migrating raptors, Provide an entertaining and is very fortunate to have this dedicated group of people who educational showcase to promote devote so much time and effort into this enterprise. This public awareness and knowledge being the fourth annual Raptor Fest, we as a community feel of raptors and waterbirds and the proud that this event attracts so many birders and others who significance of Mackinaw City and are curious about the nature of these migrations. We have the Straits of Mackinac during witnessed over the years that this event has taken place, a growing attendance and influx of new visitors from far and migration. wide. We thank all who attend and hope you enjoy your stay in our beautiful village. We look forward to hearing about the Promote positive public attitudes success of your watch and count. towards raptors and waterbirds Scott P. Newman, Village President and their importance to the Mackinaw City, Michigan environment.

Become an internationally renowned annual festival that will generate ongoing ecotourism revenue for the Straits area and sponsorship for research on raptors.

Come Visit Petoskey Too! The Petoskey Area is just 45 minutes from Mackinaw City and Raptor Fest. We invite guests to come explore Petoskey, Harbor Springs, Boyne City, Alanson and Bay Harbor either before or after experiencing this enlightening event. Keep in mind that the Sunset Coast Birding Trail includes our area and this is a paradise for birders year ‘round. PHOTO BY STEVE BAKER Visit www.PetoskeyArea.com for more information.

Why So Many Hawks in Mackinaw City? Mackinac VS Mackinaw? Every Spring and Fall, thousands of hawks, eagles, and vultures Visitors to the Straits area wonder why this funnel into the Straits of Mackinac, concentrated until conditions name has two spellings. The French occupied are right to continue migration across the narrowest stretch of this region first and spelled it Mackinac, water between the Upper and Lower Peninsulas. To save energy, pronounced as Mackinaw. The British daytime raptors often soar on rising air currents to gain altitude. who followed spelled the name the way it Called kettles, these formations contain dozens, hundreds, or even sounded. Over time the city retained the “aw” thousands of birds, spiraling upward until the birds disappear from spelling while the bridge, straits, island, and sight. Those higher up strike out across the three-mile-wide Straits the county containing St. Ignace clung to the of Mackinac. Some hawks make it in only one try. Those who fail “ac” spelling. So, the Mackinac Straits Raptor will return to try again later the same day or on future days. Watch sponsors the Mackinaw Raptor Fest. 3 2019 Programs SATURDAY, APRIL 6

9:00 AM Plenary Session: “Conservation of Raptors and Michigan’s Natural Features Inventory Program” BY DAVID CUTHRELL The Michigan Natural Features Inventory has been generating and disseminating the highest quality scientific information on the location and condition of rare species for more than 35 years. David will provide an overview of the Program and its Biotics Conservation Database. This database, approaching 20,000 records, is used by many entities in the conservation of rare species, including rare raptors.

10:15 AM Breakout Session Choices: the camera. Josh Haas will share some of his favorite “Science of Lead Poisoning of Raptors” techniques for capturing inspiring images of hawks in BY TODD KATZNER flight and getting around tracking and focus issues. Lead is a poisonous metal present in a variety of He will share his favorite spots for the best photo commercial products, as a pollutant from industrial opportunities and tell how to prepare for your days of activities, and as an environmental contaminant in many photographing hawks. urban and rural habitats throughout the world. When ingested or inhaled, the body "mistakes" lead for calcium “ Migration Across the and other beneficial metals, and thus transports lead into nerve cells and other vital tissues. Mankind has long known Americas” BY MARK MARTELL about lead as an agent of sickness and death. But recent Ospreys, with their worldwide distribution, large size, medical studies show harmful effects at unexpectedly and long migratory flights have been studied throughout low levels of exposure, including impairment of cognitive all phases of their life cycle. From northern nesting function and physical growth in children. grounds, along well-established migration corridors, to tropical wintering areas, they have adapted to a variety “Movement Ecology of Bald Eagles in of climates, geography, and human disturbance. Ospreys have been counted at raptor watch sites, tracked with the Midwest” BY TRISH MILLER satellite telemetry, and observed for countless hours. Bald Eagles are often found along the waterwaysof the Such research reveals how Ospreys recovered from near Midwest throughout the year. However, an increasing extinction to become one of the most widespread – number are nesting and wintering in upland areas, and in some places common – raptors, through taking where they are exposed to wind energy, electrocution, advantage of environments modified by humans. lead poisoning, and collisions with vehicles. To better understand how eagles use the Midwest and to conserve “Why Are We Here?: The Migratory this iconic species, Dr. Miller and colleagues tracked 71 Bald Eagles with telemetry. Learn about their findings Mindset of MSRW” BY RICHARD COUSE and efforts to conserve Bald Eagles in this fragmented This talk gives an overview of MSRW’s organizational landscape. history and research findings over the years. Rich will describe educational public outreach as well, through “Raptors in Flight: Photography Tips” people viewing the research sites in Cheboygan, BY JOSH HAAS Mackinaw City, and St. Ignace. He will summarize past Mackinaw Raptor Fests for those who did not attend Hawks in flight pose big challenges to aspiring bird them. The program will also allow attendees to provide photographers. Tricky lighting and erratic raptors input and reactions on possible future research, often seem like they want nothing more than to avoid education, and conservation work. 4 11:15 AM Breakout Session Choices: “Twenty Years of Recovering “Snowy Owls and Project Condors – What To Do SNOWstorm” With What We’ve Learned About BY MICHAEL LANZONE Some Snowy Owls remain on the northern breeding Lead in the Environment” grounds or actually move onto the Arctic sea ice, hunting BY CHRIS N. PARISH in perpetual winter darkness. Others, sometimes in Humans narrowly averted the extinction of North America’s large numbers, migrate south in a phenomenon called largest flying land-bird. The trials and tribulations of an irruption. In the mega-irruption of 2013, Snowy Owls condors offer landscape-scale insights into an ever- were seen as far south as Florida and Bermuda. Most changing arena of anthropogenic forcings. Since lead people assume that hunger has driven these owls south, poisoning remains the single greatest threat to condors, and that the birds will starve to death in unfamiliar the North American Non-Lead Partnership benefits them landscapes. Both assumptions have been proven wrong as well as other scavengers. Keeping lead out of the by Project SNOWStorm. In this talk, Michael Lanzone environment is as important as ongoing scientific research shares research from many collaborators in Project in recovering and protecting such species. SNOWstorm.

“Adaptations for Raptor Flight” “Movement Ecology of Bald Eagles in BY JOSH HAAS the Midwest” BY TRISH MILLER As predators and meat-eaters, raptors must first capture See page 4 description their prey. How is that done and how easy is it? This talk will wow you with the many adaptations that allow birds of prey to master their challenging lifestyle. Special “Why Are We Here?: The Migratory features include their body and wing shapes, weight, Mindset of MSRW” BY RICHARD COUSE and feathering patterns. These and other structural and See page 4 description physiological factors result in spectacular feats of flight by raptors, from tail chases to dives from great heights. KEYNOTE PRESENTATION 1:45 PM “ Conservation” BY TODD KATZNER Todd, Chair of the Eastern Golden Eagle Working Group, explains how this international collaborative of managers and researchers has tracked and worked to conserve Golden Eagles in eastern North America since 2006. Before their work, very little was known about these birds. Through telemetry and more traditional research, this group has learned about the ecology, behavior, and conservation of this enigmatic bird. This program will help you better understand the eastern Golden Eagle and its migration ecology, including new insights into the relationship between Golden Eagle migration behavior and the potential threats of wind turbines. PHOTO BY STEVE BAKER 5 2019 Programs SATURDAY, APRIL 6

3:00 PM Breakout Session Choices: “Identification of Waterbirds in Flight” BY DARRELL LAWSON Based on years of identifying and photographing waterbirds and serving as back-up counter for MSRW, Darrell will explain and illustrate how to identify waterbirds in flight. You will learn of features not emphasized in most bird books such as the tempo of wing flapping, shape of body, and silhouettes.

“Hawk Watching: A Novice-Friendly Hawk Identification Experience” BY BOB PETTIT Hawk watching is a thrilling type of birdwatching. Learn to identify hawks in flight during migration. This workshop highlights using binoculars, recognizing hawk types, learning flight characters, discovering flight ID clues, and “Wind Energy and Raptors Panel comprehending migration mechanics. You will receive Discussion” WITH TODD KATZNER, MARK ample handouts, learn how raptors behave in flight, MARTELL, TRISH MILLER, DAVID CUTHRELL and hear about experiencing raptor migration. You will become more skilled in hawk identification and better This first-ever panel discussion at a Mackinaw Raptor appreciate the migration, beauty, and role of birds of prey. Fest takes advantage of the presence of four specialists who have been engaged in research and activism on this issue. Their studies, including telemetry, provide insights “Why Are We Here?: The Migratory into the relationship between Golden Eagle migration behavior and the potential threats of wind turbines. They Mindset of MSRW” BY RICHARD COUSE have conducted raptor surveys for power companies See page 4 description putting up wind turbines and been involved in siting and mitigation methods to reduce the possibility of harm from alternative energy sources. 4:30 PM St. Anthony’s Church: “VultureNet: The Internet of Wildlife “Modern Falconry with Live Raptors” BY JENNY SCHROEDER and the Future of Animal Tracking” BY MICHAEL LANZONE A licensed falconer will bring several of her hunting birds along with equipment to show how falconry has changed This talk has a lot of potential application for raptors passing over time and what falconry looks like in modern time. through Mackinac Straits in the future. Mike will explain She will address history, regulation, training techniques, and give examples of how the transmitters that raptors and and the inner workings of the behavior between the vultures are wearing can talk to all the smaller transmitters oldest hunting partners in the world. This program will from other birds and animals. They can collect all their data include live , Hawks and Owls. as well and send it back to the researchers. 6 2019 Presenters

KEYNOTE SPEAKER Keynote Speaker Todd Katzner (Eastern Golden Eagle Working Group presenter) is a research wildlife biologist at the Snake River Field Station of the U.S. Geological Survey in Boise, Idaho. After 25 years of work in ecology and conservation biology, he now focuses on understanding and mitigating threats from renewable energy to soaring birds of prey. Todd also researches raptors in central Asia, particularly eagles in the Republic of Kazakhstan. He co- edited and authored the book The Eagle Watchers and co- founded the wildlife telemetry company Cellular Tracking Technologies, LLC. (Of interest to anyone into truly long- distance migratory raptors, his research also includes the Red-footed !)

PLENARY SPEAKER Plenary Speaker David Cuthrell (Eastern Golden Eagle Working Group presenter) is a conservation scientist with the Michigan Natural Features Inventory, part of MSU Extension. He has assisted with a variety of rare species surveys throughout the state and has worked with Northern Goshawks and Red-shouldered Hawks for over two decades. Believing that “conservation requires knowledge and action,” he disseminates information to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Michigan DNR, and through publications, training workshops, and participation in many professional organizations. When he is not chasing bugs or sloshing through prairie fens, he enjoys time with his family and umpiring baseball. LIVE RAPTOR PRESENTER Live Raptor Presenter Jenny Schroeder has a passion for youth education. She runs Hawk Hill Raptors in order to educate people about birds of prey through programs with live raptors. Schroeder has a degree in animal behavior from Michigan State University and has been conducting wildlife education programming for about twenty years. She worked full time for ten years for the Michigan United Conservation Clubs coordinating their Wildlife Encounters Program in partnership with the Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine Wildlife Rehabilitation Center. Looking for a more in- depth way to understand raptor behavior, Schroeder found the answer in falconry. She has been a licensed falconer for 12 years and belongs to the Michigan Hawking Club. 7 2019 Thank you to our Sponsors

Evening Program ($100) In-Kind Donors ($1,000 and up) Susan Hayes Affholter Bird Watchers Digest/Redstart Birding Au Sable Valley Audubon Straits Area Audubon Society CheapTotes Carp Lake Womens’ Club Chocolay Raptor Center Coffman Hardware Birds of Prey ($500) Citizens National Bank Nancy Demeuse Coffman Hardware Dar's Hallmark Keith Hammond Petoskey Area Visitors Bureau W.W. Fairbairn Hardware Harbor Lights Grill Petoskey Regional Audubon Society Lynn Fraze Photography Irish Boat Shop Keyhole Bar & Grill Deb Kurtz Keynote ($250) Mackinaw Woman’s Club McLean and Eakin Bookstore Paradise Lake Association Audubon Society of Kalamazoo Petoskey Plastics Patagonia Awakon Federal Credit Union Straits Area Federal Credit Union Teysen Gifts Thunder Bay Audubon Society Vernales Restaurant 8 Wheeler Chevrolet Buick Motors Ward and Eis 2019

Major Fest Volunteers In-Kind Donors Susan Affholter Sponsors Bird Watchers Digest/Redstart Birding Gary Appold Audio-Visual Barbara Beck Photography CheapTotes Kathy Bricker Chair Coffman Hardware Karen Busch Speaker Liaison Nancy Demeuse Dennis Fay Website Keith Hammond Cathy Freebairn Silent Auction Harbor Lights Grill Leonard Graf Field Trips & Interpreters Irish Boat Shop Melissa Hansen Exhibitors Deb Kurtz Lisa Hoyt Master of Ceremony McLean and Eakin Bookstore Eileen Martini Speaker Liaison WE THANK PELLSTON REGIONAL AIRPORT Patagonia Dave Mayberry Merchandise AND LITTLE TRAVERSE CONSERVANCY FOR Teysen Gifts Tammy Noirot Registrant Bags VOLUNTEER MEETING SPACE. Vernales Restaurant Denise Richards Scholarships Ward and Eis Linda Rogers Site Manager 9 2019 Presenters

Richard Couse became Executive Director of Mackinac Straits Raptor Watch in September 2018. Rich first worked in the field of Human Services advocating for troubled teens, variously as a counselor, grant writer, and program coordinator. After earning a Master’s Degree in Environmental Studies from Antioch University New England, he conducted field research on species ranging from Nelson’s Sparrows, Piping Plovers, and Least Terns to Eastern Hognose Snakes and the federally-endangered New England Cottontail Rabbit. He is passionate about the importance of raptor conservation and sees great potential for MSRW. The sky is the limit!

Josh Haas, past Chris N. Parish President of Battle Creek (Eastern Golden Eagle Audubon, first developed Working Group presenter) a love for hawks working was raised in a small with the birds of prey at the farming/ranching and oil Kalamazoo Nature Center. A town in San Joaquin Valley, hawkwatching trip to Lake California. After being Erie Metropark opened his introduced to wildlife of eyes to hawks in migration. the desert foothills through Perplexed by seeing specks at a distance with an hunting and fishing, he attended Northern Arizona overwhelming itch to know what they were, he University in Biology on an athletic scholarship. started learning from veteran hawk watchers and Upon reflection of the vast gap between the people was hooked. He spent seven seasons helping the of the land and conservation-oriented groups, Detroit River Hawkwatch as a relief counter. His goal he vowed to bring these groups together to build of making hawks accessible to everyone spawned intentional and successful conservation. After five the “Hawks on the Wing” instructional video on years with the Arizona Game and Fish Department identifying hawks in flight. Josh co-owns Hawks at as a wildlife biologist, he became Condor Program a Glance and Glances At Nature Photography where Director for The Peregrine Fund and now serves as he sells his work, teaches lessons and workshops, its Director of Global Conservation while pursuing a and leads bird photography trips around the Ph.D. at Northern Arizona University. He also chairs Midwest. the North American Non-Lead Partnership.

Mark Martell (Eastern Golden Eagle Working Group presenter) is a Senior Ecologist with Tetra Tech, Inc. Sciences in Bloomington, Minnesota. Before moving to this environmental consulting firm, he served as Director of Bird Conservation at Audubon Minnesota for twelve years. It was there that he began satellite tracking of Golden Eagles. Prior to Audubon, he was a Research Fellow at the Raptor Center at the University of Minnesota. He has conducted research on raptors in North and Central America since 1985 and was the keynote speaker at the 2017 Mackinaw Raptor Fest. 10 Mike Lanzone Bob Pettit gained (Eastern Golden Eagle his love for spotting and Working Group presenter) counting birds from his started birding when he was mother and ornithologist 8, and since then has traveled father. He earned his Masters the world to watch, listen degree in Ornithology from to, study, and photograph Central Michigan University birds. He has worked as a and became a Biology Professor at Monroe County field ornithologist for various Community College. Bob co-founded the Erie state, federal, and private organizations in the U.S. Shores Birding Association, chaired the Whitefish and Mexico and was the Assistant Coordinator Point Bird Observatory and the Hawk Migration for the 2nd Pennsylvania Breeding Bird Atlas. He Association of North America, and was president of served as Supervisor of the Biotechnology and the Holiday Beach Migration Observatory. He has Biomonitoring Lab at Powdermill, the biological volunteered as raptor observer for over 30 years, research station of Carnegie Museum of Natural amassing 1,500+ hours of observation, and has History. Currently, Mike is the Chief Executive Officer conducted workshops on hawk identification for of Cellular Tracking Technologies in Somerset, PA. over 25 years. For Bob, it’s not about racking up a His recent work has focused on Golden Eagle and list of species. It’s about camaraderie and giving Snowy Owl flight behavior and telemetry, including a little something back, ‘seeing it, sharing it with participation in Project SNOWstorm. Mike is excited other folks, and then sharing the data with the about the application of bioacoustics to monitoring world so we can see the health of our environment.’ nocturnal bird migrants using their flight calls, as well as geographically remote breeding populations Dr. Trish Miller of songbirds. Mike’s hobbies include butterflies, dragonflies and damselflies, photography, wine (Eastern Golden Eagle making, and gardening. Working Group presenter) has been studying birds for over 20 years and has been Darrell Lawson, a tracking and studying eagles computer programmer, for over a decade. She has ranks as one of the top Ebird a long standing interest in bird conservation and participants in Michigan. spatial ecology. Dr. Miller works as a senior research He is past president of wildlife biologist and the executive director of Petoskey Regional Audubon Conservation Science Global where she studies Society and served on the movement ecology and conservation of raptors, governing committee of Mackinac Straits Raptor especially eagles. Her research integrates telemetry Watch as well as a substitute waterbird counter. and spatial modeling to address conflicts with Darrell leads many birding field trips and is the human development. She received her B.S. in primary developer of the Sunset Coast Birding Trail biology from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, in northern lower Michigan. and her M.S. and Ph.D. in ecology from Penn State.

Photography Notice to Attendees MSRW uses volunteer photographers to take pictures, to spread awareness of the importance of this scientific work and to encourage public participation. No photos will be used or sold for profit. Photos may be posted on MSRW on-line sites or printed in brochures or other written materials. By attending any MSRW event you are giving consent for your photo to be taken and used. If you do not wish for your image to appear please inform us during registration. In the case of minor children, MSRW will ask parents for written permission beforehand. 11 2019 Interpreters & Field Trip Leaders

Steve Baker, a retired Kathy Bricker began veterinarian from Indian attending Toledo Star and River, has observed raptor Sky Study Group monthly migration in the Straits meetings when she was 9 of Mackinac since the years old. Although she early 1980s. He serves on pursued careers in biology, the Board of Directors of land conservation, and non- Mackinac Straits Raptor profit management and development rather than Watch and has been the astronomy, she has shared her knowledge about principal volunteer spring hawk counter since 2011 constellations with many groups since retiring to as well as helping with waterbirds. Steve leads northern Michigan in 2006. A past president of field trips and gives programs for several Audubon both Petoskey Regional and Straits Area Audubon societies and land conservancies. He enjoys Societies, she co-founded Mackinac Straits Raptor botanizing (especially for native orchids and ferns), Watch, serves as its Secretary and Mackinaw Raptor kayaking, hiking, taking nature photographs, and Fest Chair, and presents programs to groups around trying to learn the dragonflies. Michigan about its work.

Dave Mayberry Leonard Graf is a works in landscape design licensed bird bander who has and execution. For this, birded on all seven continents. he travels frequently to He brings over 25 years of Mackinac Island where experience as a part time he has observed the volunteer hawk and waterbird spring raptor migration counter at the Whitefish Point for many years. He serves Bird Observatory. Leonard has on the Board of Directors spent over 20 years leading of Mackinac Straits Raptor Watch, which he co- winter birding tours to Sault Ste. Marie and leads state founded. He created the public information kiosks wide birding trips for local Audubon clubs. He co- at the hawk and owl research sites and manages authored the annotated checklist, “Birds of Leelanau MSRW’s merchandise effort. County and Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore.”

Ed Pike, retired from Michigan's Department of Natural Resources, has conducted bird research for four decades. As a licensed bird bander, he studied Barn Swallows and Piping Plovers, serving on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Piping Plover Recovery Team and chairing the D.N.R.'s Piping Plover Recovery Team. Wanting to learn the importance of the Straits of Mackinac to raptors, he secured funding for the first spring hawk count in 2004 and has banded more than 2,000 owls of eight species, working both spring and fall migrations as a volunteer. Ed co-founded and chairs the Mackinac Straits Raptor Watch.

Darrell Lawson, See Presenter description on page 11 12 Bev Kirby has long been an avid birder, volunteering with Michigan Audubon’s Winter Bird Feeder Survey and Cornell University’s Project FeederWatch since the beginning of both citizen science programs. She volunteered and watched hawks at Mackinac Straits for many years before Mackinac Straits Raptor Watch was founded and continues as volunteer greeter whenever she can. Bev worked at Birmingham Public School District for 35 FRONT ROW, L-R: 2018 SCHOLARS KELSEY BECRAFT years. A native Canadian, Bev is seldom seen without AND MAEVE KLEIN; BACK ROW, L-R: FUNDERS a smile on her face and her husband Jack by her side. JACKIE PILETTE, JOSH HAAS, CATHY FREEBAIRN

Elliot Nelson, an outreach educator with Student Scholarship Program Michigan Sea Grant, works Mackinac Straits Raptor Watch encourages with coastal communities young people through hiring them to conduct and businesses in the bird research and awarding scholarships to the Eastern Upper Peninsula Mackinaw Raptor Fest. Anyone may donate to to apply science-based enable future Student Scholars the chance to knowledge to address Great attend the Fest. Each scholarship of $300 covers Lakes, Lake Superior, northern Lake Michigan and the Fest fee, two field trips, and lodging. northern Lake Huron issues. Nelson was formerly a Research Assistant at the University of Michigan Water Center and helped create the Michigan Water THE RONALD E. WALLIN HAWK Collaboration Network. He also was the Program WATCH FUND HAS BEEN CREATED Coordinator for the North Huron Birding Trail, a high IN RON’S MEMORY AND ENABLED school science teacher and Founding Environmental ONE SCHOLARSHIP IN 2019. Educator of the Cedar Campus Environmental Stewardship and Tourism Program.

Bruce Seeger relocated to Cheboygan from downstate a decade ago. Interested in birds for most of his life, he joined Straits Area Audubon Society and participates in the annual Cheboygan Christmas Bird Counts. Seeger learned about the Hawk Count from an Wind Under Wings 2018 Award article in the Cheboygan Daily Tribune announcing The 2018 Wind Under Wings Award was given that professional counter Kevin Georg was hired by Bev Kirby to Erich Doerr, who accepted it on to do the first count. Seeger credits Kevin Georg behalf of the St. Ignace News. The newspaper for teaching him much about raptors and their was honored for its accurate, timely, and in- identification during countless hours at the hawk depth reporting of Mackinac Straits Raptor Watch watch over five years, including the magical day when activities over the past five years. nearly five thousand Red-tailed Hawks were counted. 13 14 15 2018 Research Results at a Glance SPRING HAWK COUNT, STARTED 2014: 64,298 individuals of 19 species with rarities of Black Vulture, Gryfalcon, ackinaw and Mississippi Kite MRAPTOR FEST (historic range 43,191 to 50,399) FALL HAWK COUNT, STARTED 2017: 10,047 individuals of 15 species Friday, April 5 (historic range 8,719 to 10,047) 7:15 pm Owls, Stars, and Night-Sky Photography at Headlands Dark Sky Park FIELD TRIP REGISTRANTS ONLY SPRING OWL BANDING, STARTED 2015: 182 Owls captured of 3 species Saturday, April 6 (historic range 82 to 254) 8:30–9 am Registration and Coffee, Exhibitors, Merchandise, Silent Auction 9–10 am PLENARY SESSION: Conservation of Raptors by David Cuthrell FALL OWL BANDING, STARTED 2014: 10:15–11 am BREAKOUT SESSIONS (choose one) 118 Owls captured of 3 species • Science of Lead Poisoning of Raptors (historic range 173 to 550) • Movement Ecology of Bald Eagles in the Midwest • Raptors in Flight: Photography Tips SPRING WATERBIRD COUNT, STARTED 2016: • Osprey Migration Across the Americas • Why Are We Here?: The Migratory Mindset of MSRW 30,167 individuals of 38 species 11:15 am–Noon BREAKOUT SESSIONS (choose one) (historic range 39,386 to 47,785) • Twenty Years of Recovering California Condors – What To Do With What We’ve Learned About Lead in the Environment FALL WATERBIRD COUNT, STARTED 2015: • Adaptations for Raptor Flight 29,034 individuals of 43 species • Snowy Owls and Project SNOWstorm (historic range 26,283 to 44,302) • Movement Ecology of Bald Eagles in the Midwest • Why Are We Here?: The Migratory Mindset of MSRW Noon–1:45 pm Lunch at Area Restaurant of your choice (list and map provided) 1:45–2:45 pm KEYNOTE: Golden Eagle Conservation by Todd Katzner 3:00–3:45 pm BREAKOUT SESSIONS (choose one) • Wind Energy and Raptors Panel Discussion • VultureNet: The Internet of Wildlife and the Future of Animal Tracking • Identification of Waterbirds in Flight • Hawk Watching: A Novice-Friendly Hawk Identification Experience • Why Are We Here?: The Migratory Mindset of MSRW 4–4:30 pm Modern Falconry with Live Raptors at St. Anthony’s Church 5:45 pm Pizza & Pasta Buffet, Silent Auction, Wind Under Wings Award at St. Anthony’s Church Exhibits 7:15 pm Owls, Stars, and Night-Sky Photography at Headlands Dark Sky Park FIELD TRIP REGISTRANTS ONLY BE SURE TO VISIT THE HALLWAY EXHIBITS FROM VARIOUS NON- Sunday, April 7 PROFIT CONSERVATION GROUPS. 5:30–Noon Sharp-tailed Grouse Lek Trip to Upper Peninsula, meeting at Mackinaw City Welcome Center ∙ FIELD TRIP REGISTRANTS ONLY Learning Bird Songs 8 am–4 pm Late Winter Birding in the Eastern Upper Peninsula, meeting at Mackinaw City School TEACHES TRIED AND TRUE FREE TO ALL REGISTRANTS METHODS TO MASTER BIRD SONG 7 am–3 pm Waterbird Research Viewing IDENTIFICATION AND ADD ANOTHER 9:30 am–11 am Learning Bird Songs by Bob Pettit at Headlands Dark Sky Park Guest House ASPECT TO YOUR BIRDING 10 am–4 pm Hawk Watch Research Viewing ENJOYMENT. YOU WILL RECEIVE FREE EXPLANATORY HANDOUTS.

Learn More, Register, or Volunteer at www.MackinawRaptorFest.org 16