Presentations and Workshops
Saturday, November 7, 2009
10:00-10:50 – Beginning Birdwatching – Crete Hall
Join Jim Rowoth from San Joaquin Audubon as he reviews the basics of birdwatching, including equipment, ethics, and techniques. Jim will also prepare you for some of the many different birds found locally, especially those likely to be seen this weekend. (Coordinates with tours 16 and 42)
11:00-11:50 – Wild Things! – Patio off Kirst Hall
Gabe and Barb Kerschner return with some of their special animals for this fun and educational program. In past years they have shared a mountain lion, bear, raccoon, eagle, and other animals that were rescued but could not be returned to the wild.
12:05-12:25 – Native American Flute Performance– Crete Hall
Dan Ricketts will again play enchanting music from this distinctive instrument, accompanied by Pat Oberdieck on keyboard. Be sure to visit Dan in the Exhibit Hall at the Northern California Flute Circle table.
12:30-1:20 – The Owl and The Woodpecker: Encounters with North
America's Most Iconic Birds
Crete Hall. Award-winning photographer Paul Bannick will take you on a visual journey of 11 key North American habitats through the needs of specific owl and woodpecker species. This stunning photographic study will be accompanied by field stories and rich natural history derived from thousands of hours in the field. His talk will look at the way owls and woodpeckers define and enrich their habitat and how their life histories are intertwined. See sample images and pages from his book "The Owl and The Woodpecker: Encounters with North America's Most Iconic Birds" at www.paulbannick.com
12:30-1:15 – Story Time with Miss Karen – Thomas Theatre
Miss Karen from the Lodi Library will read stories and legends about cranes and their wetland animal friends. Some interaction will be included in these stories for young children and a simple craft will follow.
1:30-2:20 – Wild Things! – Patio off Kirst Hall
See 11:00 AM Saturday.
1:30-2:20 –You Can Play the Native American Flute – Thomas Theatre
Your instructor will be Dan Ricketts, a long-time Festival exhibitor and performer. Dan will share with you the basics of producing a nice sound on your flute, including some embellishment techniques and written resources. No formal musical training is needed to attend this class. Dan will have flutes for ten participants or you may bring your own. All are welcome just to sit in and hear the instruction. For more information, please see Dan in the Exhibit Hall at the Northern California Flute Circle table. For samples of music performed on the native flute, you can visit several websites: the Flute Circle’s (www.naflute.com), friend and mentor Mark Holland (www.autumnschild.com), or instructor and performer Mary Youngblood (www.maryyoungblood.com).
2:00-3:00 – Owl Pellet Exploration! – Upstairs Classroom
Come learn about the barn owl and dissect an owl pellet to discover what it has eaten in this hands-on activity for children. Be a nature detective by matching up the bones in the pellet to small mammal bone charts. Parents are recommended to attend and assist each child under 11 years old. Limit 12, sign-up for this free activity at the Oak Grove Nature Center table in the Exhibit Hall starting at 10 AM on Saturday.
2:30-3:20 – Catering to Cranes: Sandhill Crane Management on the Cosumnes River Preserve and Staten Island – Crete Hall
Some of the best winter habitats in the California Delta for Sandhill Cranes and other waterbirds are at Cosumnes River Preserve and Staten Island. Sara Sweet from The Nature Conservancy and Brent Tadman from Staten Island will present an overview of the biology of Sandhill Cranes and how these valuable areas are managed for them.
2:30-3:20 – A Walk in Their Scales – Patio off Kirst Hall
Kevin Hasenfus and Brandon Gideon will bring live snakes, lizards, and turtles for this in-depth look at the reptile world. They will also point out some ways that reptiles and birds are related. This will be fun program for all ages.
2:30-3:50 – A Zen-Optic Approach to Digital Capture of Sandhill Cranes - Photo, Video, Sound – Thomas Theatre
Sandhill cranes have little need for humans and don't pose for photos, but they will let you witness and record their magic if you're technically prepared and bring your imagination to the wetlands. Photographers Lon and Kathrina Yarbrough from ShareTheRoad Productions (www.ShareTheRoad.us) will discuss wildlife photography ethics and best practices focusing on our local Sandhill cranes. Specific local viewing sites and strategies for dawn and dusk digital capture will be discussed.
3:30-5:00 – Go Batty with Burleigh – Crete Hall
Welcome back Burleigh Lockwood, a long-time festival favorite from the Fresno Chaffee Zoo, as she shares her wealth of knowledge about these fascinating winged mammals. Burleigh is known as “The Bat Lady”, and she will delight you with fun facts about bats using her hands-on display.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
7:15-10:30 – Bird Photography with Paul Bannick – Thomas Theatre
Paul Bannick, Saturday’s Featured Speaker, with work with a small group to improve bird photography skills. He will discuss technical considerations such of depth of field, shutter speed, exposure compensation, ISO, shooting modes, and lens selection as well finding, stalking, and being unobtrusive with subjects. Students should have a functional camera that allows for exposure compensation and understand how to operate the controls that allow adjusting exposure, ISO, and shooting mode. Paul has experience with both Canon and Nikon Cameras. This workshop has a classroom and field session and you must register for Tour #33 to participate. Space is limited to 15 and pre-registration is strongly encouraged.
9:00-12:00 – Carving Seminar for Beginners – Upstairs Classroom
Join master carvers from the Pacific Flyway Decoy Association for a 3-hour carving seminar. All of the necessary materials, including a study guide and the best knives on the market, will be provided. Short lectures with lots of hands-on carving time will enable you to complete a life-size Dunlin shorebird decoy. There is a $20 materials fee, collected at the seminar. Please pre-register by calling Jim Burcio at 925-754-4978 or stop by the Pacific Flyway Decoy Association table in the Exhibit Hall from 10 AM to 4 PM on Saturday.
10:00-10:50 – From Reptiles to Birds – Crete Hall
Explore the remarkable transformation ancient reptiles made as they adapted to life on land and then into the air! Join Burleigh Lockwood from the Fresno Chaffee Zoo and find out just how similar reptiles and birds are.
11:00-11:50 – California Raptor Center – Patio off Kirst Hall
Learn about raptors from The California Raptor Center. Volunteers will bring several live birds (possibly a hawk, kestrel, and owl) and tell us their special stories.
12:05-12:25 – Taiko Drumming – Crete Hall
Denis, Linda, and James Kurata perform this ancient form of Japanese music in an exciting performance.
12:30-1:20 – Sandhill Crane Behavior
Crete Hall. Sandhill cranes communicate with each other in a variety of different ways, including dancing, body language, and vocalizations. From a video presentation you will learn about crane behavior, including how to distinguish between dancing and aggression and many other details that will help you better understand and appreciate cranes. Your presenter is Paul Tebbel, who has worked with cranes since 1976, including 11 years as the director of Audubon's Rowe Sanctuary on the Platte River in Nebraska, where more Sandhill cranes gather every spring than any other location in the world. This presentation is geared towards audiences with little or no background in birding and is suitable for children 10 years old or older.
12:30-1:15 – Miss Dorothy Presents – Thomas Theatre
A medley of puppets and stories by local favorite Dorothy Maas, including the puppet plays “Lizard's Song” and “The Runaway Pancake” and a folding paper story "The Fox and the Crane". After the program the children are invited to play with the puppets and use the puppet stage and make origami cranes.
1:30-2:20 – California Raptor Center – Patio off Kirst Hall
See 11:00 AM Sunday.
2:00-3:00 – Owl Pellet Exploration! – Upstairs Classroom
See 2:00 PM Saturday. Limit 12, sign-up at the Oak Grove Nature Center table in the Exhibit Hall.
2:30-3:20 – California Soundscapes – Thomas Theatre
The relatively recent concept of "soundscapes" is a more immersive, rather than "picture postcard", appreciation of nature. We will enjoy a selection of stereo and surround-sound recordings from California parks and wildlife preserves. Included will be a quick survey of nature recording equipment and brief ear training exercises. Presented by Dan Dugan and Sharon Perry with the Nature Sounds Society.
2:30-3:50 – Creepy, Crawly Pond Critters – Patio off Kirst Hall
See and learn about creatures found in the ponds and the streams in our area. Birds eat some, some eat birds! An art activity suitable for children of all ages will also take place. Presented by the Lodi Lake Docents: Mary Fuhs, Melree Fuhs, Kathy Grant, and Virginia Moore.
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