THE 47 th ANNUAL Audubon s Nebraska Crane Festival. March 16-19, 2017 Holiday Inn, Kearney, Nebraska

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THE 47 th ANNUAL Audubon s Nebraska Crane Festival March 16-19, 2017 Holiday Inn, Kearney, Nebraska presented by Audubon Nebraska Keynote Speakers: Jane Alexander Jane Alexander is a long-time,

1 THE 47 th ANNUAL Audubon s Nebraska Crane Festival March 16-19, 2017 Holiday Inn, Kearney, Nebraska presented by Audubon Nebraska Keynote Speakers: Jane Alexander Jane Alexander is a long-time, much-admired activist, impassioned wildlife proponent and conservationist, former chairperson of the National Endowment for the Arts, four-time Academy Award nominee, and Tony Award and two-time Emmy Award-winning actress. Jane just released a moving, inspiring, personal look at the vastly changing world of wildlife on planet earth as a result of human incursion, and the crucial work of animal and bird preservation across the globe being done by scientists, field biologists, zoologists, environmentalists, and conservationists. In Wild Things, Wild Places, Jane movingly, with a clear eye and a knowing, keen grasp of the issues, writes of her steady and fervent immersion into the worlds of wildlife conservation, of her coming to know the scientists throughout the world who are steeped in this work, of her travels with them and on her own to the most remote and forbidding areas of the world as they try to save many species, including ourselves. She is currently active on the board of the National Audubon Society. Matthew Anderson Matthew began serving as Vice President of Audubon's Climate Initiative in September He joined Audubon in the spring of 2013 as the executive director of Audubon Minnesota. While serving as a state director, Matthew was one of the original members of the four-member work group that developed Audubon's Climate Initiative. Matthew has a rich background working with diverse communities on climate change issues with nearly a decade of experience working with the religious community in particular. Iliana Peña As the first Center Director of Mitchell Lake Audubon Center, Iliana s first job was to garner the support of the local citizen group, Mitchell Lake Wetland Society. Iliana not only got their formal approval, but she also recruited 20 of its members to be the first docents of the newly constructed Audubon Center. Iliana continued to use her gift for introducing new ideas about conservation and planning as Director of Conservation Education for Audubon Texas. Of her many responsibilities, she has helped Audubon educators throughout Texas align their education programs with state and national education standards, and she has brought diverse audiences to the conservation field through college and high school internships for students not traditionally represented in the field of conservation. Today, Iliana serves as Director of Conservation, bringing her 15-years experience in project management and partner collaboration and synergy to Audubon Texas s conservation initiatives. For festival information, call Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center, (402)

2 Schedule of Events *Field trips (indicated with *) are not included in the festival registration; each trip has its own separate fee. Thursday, March 16 *6:45 am-3:00 pm Full-day Birding Excursion *7:00 am-12:15 pm Half-day Birding Excursion *3:45-9:00 pm Evening Guided Sandhill Crane Excursion to Rowe Sanctuary *4:00 pm-12:00 noon (Friday) Greater Prairie-Chicken Viewing Trip *4:00 pm-12:00 noon (Friday) Sharp-tailed Grouse Viewing Trip Friday, March 17 *5:30-10:00 am Morning Guided Sandhill Crane Excursion to Rowe Sanctuary *6:45 am-3:00 pm Full-day Birding Excursion *7:00 am-12:15 pm Half-day Birding Excursion 10:30 am-12:20 pm Concurrent Sessions 12:30-2:00 pm Speaker: Iliana Peña, Audubon Texas (includes lunch) 2:30-3:30 pm Concurrent Speaker Sessions *3:45-9:00 pm Open Air Crane Viewing and Campfire *3:45-9:00 pm Evening Guided Sandhill Crane Excursion to Rowe Sanctuary *4:00 pm-12:00 noon (Saturday) Greater Prairie-Chicken Viewing Trip *4:00 pm-12:00 noon (Saturday) Sharp-tailed Grouse Viewing Trip 8:30-10:00 pm Festival Social Hour Saturday, March 18 *5:30-10:00 am Morning Guided Sandhill Crane Excursion to Rowe Sanctuary *6:45 am-3:00 pm Full-day Birding Excursion *7:00 am-12:15 pm Half-day Birding Excursion 8:30-9:30 am Breakfast 10:30 am-12:20 pm Concurrent Speaker Sessions 12:30-2:00 pm Speaker: Matt Anderson, National Audubon Society (includes lunch) 1:00-4:00 pm Wild Experience Room (Kearney Public Library, st Ave.) 2:30-4:20 pm Concurrent Sessions 6:00-7:00 pm Social 7:00-9:00 pm Speaker: Jane Alexander (includes banquet meal) Sunday, March 19 *5:30-10:00 am Morning Guided Sandhill Crane Excursion to Rowe Sanctuary 10:30-11:30 am Speaker: Bill Taddicken, Rowe Sanctuary (includes brunch)

3 FIELD TRIPS (Open to festival registrants only) By popular demand, our schedule of field trips has been expanded to increase the birding opportunities for festival goers. Also, please note that arrival and departure times for some trips have changed from previous years. Important: These field trips are only available to people paying Crane Festival registration. Please read departure and return times carefully, as several trips will overlap with other conference programs. All field trips will leave from and return to the west entrance of the Holiday Inn. Guided Sandhill Crane Excursion to Rowe Sanctuary Thursday and Friday evening 3:45 9:00 p.m. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday morning 5:30 10:00 a.m. Cost: $50/person, $60 after February 15 On this guided trip you will experience the sights and the sounds of a multitude of Sandhill Cranes roosting on the Platte River at Audubon s Rowe Sanctuary. Morning trips will first go directly to Rowe Sanctuary. The group will walk to strategically placed viewing blinds to witness thousands of Sandhill Cranes on the river at sunrise, and then will watch cranes in the fields on the drive back to the hotel. Afternoon trips will begin with daytime viewing of cranes in nearby fields and meadows, then the tour will travel to Rowe Sanctuary to walk to the viewing blinds for a beautiful sunset view of cranes on the river. The blinds are enclosed, unheated wooden structures. Extremely warm clothing (especially footwear) is strongly recommended. Walking distances to the viewing blinds range from 1/4 to 1/2 mile over relatively level but unpaved terrain, with a portion of the walk occurring during very low light conditions (well before sunrise and well after sunset). If you are planning on using photography please note Rowe Sanctuary s Photo Policy at their website. Transportation is provided. Full-Day Birding Excursion Thursday, March 16 6:45 a.m. 3:00 p.m. Friday, March 17 6:45 a.m. 3:00 p.m. Saturday, March 18 6:45 a.m. 3:00 p.m. $50/person, $60 after February 15 A local birding expert will lead this popular trip to birding hotspots in central Nebraska. The emphasis will be on witnessing the great waterfowl migration. Routes for this trip will be determined close to the departure date in order to locate birding spots offering the best opportunity to see the most variety of birds. Transportation and a sack lunch will be provided vegetarian option by request. Please note that viewing will take place both outdoors and in buses; please dress in layers. Half-Day Birding Excursion Thursday, March 16 7:00 a.m. 12:15 p.m. Friday, March 17 7:00 a.m. 12:15 p.m. Saturday, March 18 7:00 a.m 12:15 p.m. $35/person, $45 after February 15 Enjoy a trip to birding hotspots in central Nebraska to view migrating ducks, geese, and other early migrants. Stops at prairie dog towns are also planned if time and weather allows. Routes for this trip will be determined close to the departure date in order to locate birding spots offering the best opportunity to see the most variety of birds. Transportation is provided. Please note that viewing will take place both outdoors and in buses; please dress in layers.

4 Greater Prairie-Chicken Viewing Trips Thursday, March 16 (leave hotel 4:00 p.m.) Friday, March 17 (return to hotel at 12:00 p.m.) Friday, March 17 (leave hotel at 4:00 p.m.) Saturday, March 18 (return to hotel at 12:00 p.m.) $200/person, $210 after February 15 Calamus Outfitters ( near Burwell, Nebraska, is the host for this trip to witness the wonderful prairie grouse courtship displays on a working ranch at an Audubon Important Bird Area in the Nebraska Sandhills. Participants will enjoy supper and an overnight stay at the lodge (rooms are double occupancy single participants may need to share rooms). After a restful night on the ranch, guests will be treated to a sunrise trip to a display area of greater prairie-chickens. After a warm sandhills country breakfast, the group will birdwatch around Calamus Reservoir before returning to Kearney. Fee includes transportation, supper, breakfast, lodging, and chicken tour. Space limited. Note: Due to trip s popularity, the fee is non-refundable. Sharp-tailed Grouse Viewing Trips Thursday, March 16 (leave hotel 4:00 p.m.) Friday, March 17 (return to hotel at 12:00 p.m.) Friday, March 17 (leave hotel at 4:00 p.m.) Saturday, March 18 (return to hotel at 12:00 p.m.) $200/person, $210 after February 15 Calamus Outfitters ( near Burwell, Nebraska, is the host for this fieldtrip to witness the wonderful prairie grouse courtship displays on a working ranch at an Audubon Important Bird Area in the Nebraska Sandhills. Participants will enjoy supper and an overnight stay in a hotel in Burwell (guests will not be staying at Calamus Outfitters; rooms are double occupancy single participants may need to share rooms). After a restful night, guests will be treated to a sunrise trip to a display area of sharp-tailed grouse. After a warm sandhills country breakfast, the group will birdwatch around Calamus Reservoir before returning to Kearney. Fee includes transportation, supper, breakfast, lodging, and grouse tour. Space limited. Note: Due to trip s popularity, the fee is non-refundable. Open Air Crane Viewing and Campfire Friday, March 17 3:45-9:00 p.m. $25/person, $35 after February 15 This trip will begin with daytime viewing of cranes in nearby fields and meadows. The tour will then travel to Rowe Sanctuary, where participants will enjoy a peaceful evening with a knowledgeable guide within Rowe s property. From this exclusive location near evening staging areas, guests will relax in lawn chairs with a campfire (weather dependent) to watch cranes gather in wet meadows and fly to the Platte River for the night. This unique experience will be under the open sky without a blind. Truly one of the most spectacular ways to witness this fly-in. Please note that this field trip does not include a trip to the Rowe Sanctuary viewing blinds. Transportation is provided. Motel Accommodations The festival will be held at the Holiday Inn in Kearney, located just north of the I-80 interchange ( ). A block of rooms has been set aside at special prices for RWC participants. Indicate that you are participating in Audubon s crane festival to receive the discounted rates. For more listings of area accommodations, see the website for the Kearney Visitors Bureau,

5 2017 Audubon s Nebraska s Crane Festival Registration Form For online registration, visit or use the form below to register by mail or fax ( ). Name(s) Adults/Students (Names as will be printed on nametags) Children (include ages) Address Phone ( ) City/State Zip (optional; for registration confirmation) A) FESTIVAL REGISTRATION FEES * Registration, all programs * Friday lunch, Saturday meals (breakfast, lunch, banquet vegetarian options available), and Sunday brunch * Additional Saturday banquet tickets can be purchased for individuals not attending the festival. * Field trips are NOT included in registration fees; trips are extra as indicated below. Price per person No. of people Total price Adults $150 $ Students 60 $ Children (17 and under) 20 $ Additional Saturday night banquet ticket 35 $ Registration total $ B) FIELD TRIPS Field trips have limited space available. Avoid signing up for field trips that occur at the same time. Field trip requests will be filled in the order registration materials are received. All participants in the field trips must also have registered for the festival. Price per After No. of Total person Feb. 15 people price Thursday, March 16 Full-Day Birding Excursion 6:45 am-3:00 pm $50 $60 $ Half-Day Birding Excursion 7:00 am-12:15 pm $35 $45 $ Greater Prairie-Chicken Viewing Trip 4:00 pm (Th)-12:00 pm (F) $200 $210 $ Sharp-tailed Grouse Viewing Trip 4:00 pm (Th)-12:00 pm (F) $200 $210 $ (Grouse trip fee is non-refundable) Evening Guided Sandhill Crane Excursion to Rowe Sanctuary 3:45 pm-9:00 pm $50 $60 $ Friday, March 17 Morning Guided Sandhill Crane Excursion to Rowe Sanctuary 5:30 am-10:00 am $50 $60 $ Full-Day Birding Excursion 6:45 am-3:00 pm $50 $60 $ Half-Day Birding Excursion 7:00 am-12:15 pm $35 $45 $ Greater Prairie-Chicken Viewing Trip 4:00 pm (F)-12:00 pm (Sat) $200 $210 $ Sharp-tailed Grouse Viewing Trip 4:00 pm (F)-12:00 pm (Sat) $200 $210 $ (Grouse trip fee is non-refundable) Open Air Crane Viewing and Campfire 3:45 pm-9:00 pm $25 $35 $ Evening Guided Sandhill Crane Excursion to Rowe Sanctuary 3:45 pm-9:00 pm $50 $60 $

6 Saturday, March 18 Morning Guided Sandhill Crane Excursion to Rowe Sanctuary 5:30 am-10:00 am $50 $60 $ Full-Day Birding Excursion 6:45 am-3:00 pm $50 $60 $ Half-Day Birding Excursion 7:00 am-12:15 pm $35 $45 $ Sunday, March 19 Morning Guided Sandhill Crane Excursion to Rowe Sanctuary 5:30 am-10:00 am $50 $60 $ Field Trips Subtotal $ Yes, I would like vegetarian options for the field trip sack lunches. Number of lunches: Festival Costs Festival Registration Fees Field Trips TOTAL $ $ $ Payment Information Register on-line at or complete this form and return with full payment (check made out to Audubon Nebraska, or use Visa or MasterCard) to: Audubon s Nebraska Crane Festival P.O. Box 117, Denton, NE Completed registration with credit card information may be faxed to (402) , or call (402) Mailed registration must be postmarked on or before February 15, 2017, to receive the lowest rates. Credit card: (Visa or MC; print clearly) # Expiration date Signature Refund Policy REFUND POLICY: Festival registration fee is refundable up to 7 days prior to the start of the festival, but subject to a 5% charge on your purchase total. Note: Field trips are nonrefundable after February 15, 2017.

Nebraska PRE-TRIP ITINERARY MARCH 18-25, 2018

Nebraska PRE-TRIP ITINERARY MARCH 18-25, 2018 Sandhill Cranes coming to roost Chris Helzer PRE-TRIP ITINERARY Nebraska A SPECIAL NATURE CONSERVANCY DEPARTURE MARCH 18-25, 2018 Estimated Price: $2995 per person, double occupancy, $3490 per person single