May 10

8:30am to 3:00pm

They’re Here!!! Forestry Field Day for the Birds

at the Jack Knight Property 603 Maple Road in Allamakee County (north of Monona)

Are you a forest owner, a bird enthusiast? Are you interested in making wise choices about how to manage your land for long-term economic AND ecological benefits? Want to learn to identify more trees and shrubs, and enjoy spring wildflowers? Then save Saturday, May 10th for a free, family-friendly (bring the kids out to the woods!) and information packed field day in the woods.

In northeast Iowa, the songs of the Cerulean Warbler, Indigo Bunting, Wood Thrush and others will be more prominent, thanks to funding from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and support from the Community Forestry Resource Center. Neotropical migratory songbirds such as these, spend their summer months in the forests of the Driftless Area, and require healthy forests to feed, shelter, and reproduce.

Focused management to protect and enhance forest habitat within the Driftless Area of northeast Iowa is critical because of its unique position as a major branching-off point on the Mississippi River flyway. The rugged physical characteristics of our region and its diverse forest ecosystems provide important habitat for nesting and migrating birds.

A team composed of natural resource professionals, forest landowners, and volunteers from grassroots organizations such as Prairie’s Edge Sustainable Woods Coop (PESWC), is providing private forest landowners with a local model for developing “bird-friendly” forestry plans and practices. A “demonstration property” in Allamakee County has been selected to serve as an ongoing example of the benefits of incorporating bird habitat priorities into forest management plans and activities.

The field day is open to the public at no charge, with the goal that those who attend will learn how they can coordinate their land management activities to reduce fragmentation in their woodlands and improve interior forest conditions for birds. The event will be held rain or shine, so please be prepared for hiking in the hills in any weather. No pre-registration required.

The agenda is as follows:

8:30-9:00 Check-in with coffee, juice, and pastries.
9:00-9:15 Introductions and break into groups for guided tours through five woodland stations:
1. “Music of the Forest-Music for the Forest”-Jon Stravers of the Audubon Society’s Mississippi River Initiative-Identify songbirds and their “music”.
2. “Target tree selection to benefit wildlife”-IA DNR Forester Bruce Blair and MN Forester Peter Bundy of the Community Forestry Resource Center-how to select trees to accomplish your goals.
3. “Beneath the Trees”-Gigi La Budde, Ecologist/Education Coordinator of the Community Forestry Resource Center-a look at trees, shrubs, and the forest floor, including spring flowers and invasive species that threaten them.
4. “Landscape Context and Forest Bird Habitat”-David C. Wilson, Coordinator of the Driftless Area Initiative and Jack Knight, landowner-
landscape impacts on neotropicals and land management practices and goals for the site.
5. “Funding a Forestry Facelift…It’s for the Bird’s!”-Connie Dettman, IA DNR Private Lands Technician and Rob Bolson of PESWC-improvements that private landowners can do and cost-share opportunites available to landowners.

There will be a noon break for lunch. Bring your own or reserve an organic, local foods lunch of maid-rites, baked beans, and coleslaw from Oneota Coop from Decorah for $7.50 at check-in. Morning pastries, coffee and juice and lunch beverages will be provided no charge.

Location: Jack Knight Property at 603 Maple Road in Allamakee County (north of Monona, Iowa).

Directions: From Waukon...one mile east on Hwy 76, at county road X16 (Forest Mills Road) turn south and go 5 miles to Smithfield Drive and turn east. Go two miles on Smithfield Drive, then one-half mile north on Penney Spring. Take a right onto Maple Road and park on Maple Road below the house.

From Monona … 5 miles north on county road X26 (Falcon Avenue), to Smithfield Drive-turn west and go 3 miles and then one-half mile north on Penney Spring. Take a right onto Maple Road and park on Maple Road below the house.

Call Jack Knight at 563-568-3308 for any further questions.