Dr. Doyle Howitt
director of the Elderhostel Program for UNK, 308.627.3222
Thirty-nine participants from 15 states and the District of Columbia are in the Kearney area for the Sandhills Cranes Elderhostel Program, which is offered in conjunction with the University of Nebraska at Kearney.
The group is here now through Friday, March 20. A complete schedule with topics, locations and presenters is listed below. In addition, the full list of participants and their locations is attached below the schedule.
Do note that the schedule is subject to change, so you will want to contact Dr. Howitt to ensure that the group will be at the location listed on the attached schedule.
SCHEDULE:
NOTE: Schedule subject to change without notification
Contact Doyle Howitt at 308-627-3222 for specific location of birders
Monday
March 16
5:45 – 8:30 am “First Glimpse of the Cranes”
Rowe Sanctuary River Viewing Blinds, Rowe Sanctuary Staff
9:00-9:45 am Breakfast Pioneer Village Restaurant
10:00-12:00 pm Classroom Topics Classroom
· “Natural History of Sandhill Cranes”
· “Why the Migration”
· Crane History and Crane Lore
· Biology of Cranes
· Crane’s Influence on our Culture
Presented by Keanna Leonard, Education Specialist Rowe Sanctuary
12:10-1:15 pm Lunch Pioneer Village Restaurant
1:30-2:30 pm Classroom Topics Classroom
· Water Fowl and other Migrants
Presented by Gary Lingle, Interpretative Naturalist
2:45-5:30 pm Field Field Observation at Loafing Areas
At any of the following locations
· Waterfowl Production Area,
· Sacramento Basin Area
· Funk Wildlife Refuge
Gary Lingle
6:00 pm Dinner Pioneer Village Restaurant
7:00-7:45 pm The Story of Pioneer Village
Tuesday
March17
6:30-8:00 am Field Prairie Chicken Lek
Gary Lingle
8:15-8:50 am Breakfast Pioneer Village Restaurant
9:15-11:30 am Classroom
”Birding Identification Techniques”
AND
“Platte River Basin Ecology”
Gary Lingle Interpretative Naturalist
11:45-12:45 pm Lunch Pioneer Village Restaurant
12:45-2:15 pm (optional) Exploring Time Pioneer Village and Museum
2:15-3:15 pm Exploring Rowe Sanctuary (Pending Weather Conditions) Rowe Sanctuary
Kent Skaggs and Staff, Wildlife Specialist
3:30-4:45 pm Rowe
· ” Another Perspective on the Cranes”
· “Crane Behavior”
· “Migratory Patterns”
Keanna Leonard, Educational Director Rowe Sanctuary
5:00 – 5:45 pm Snack Nutrition Break
6:15-8:15 pm ”Roosting Time – Return to Platte River”
8:40 pm Light Buffet Pioneer Village Restaurant
Wednesday
March 18
7:15 -7:45 am Breakfast Pioneer Village Restaurant
8:00-11:30 am Field Mist netting/Banding
· GROUP A Field Identification—Birding”
· GROUP B “Field Identification—Birding”
8:45-11:30 am Hike/Bike Trail Ft Kearney, Kent Skaggs
(Groups A & B will rotate locations mid-morning approx 9:30)
12:15-1:15 pm Lunch Pioneer Village Restaurant
1:30-3:30 pm (Live Raptors).………Raptor Recovery Nebraska, Betsy Finch and Staff
3:30-4:45 pm Visit Pioneer Village/Museum Pioneer Village
4:45-5:30 pm Dinner Pioneer Village Restaurant
6:00-8:00 pm ..….Optional …Cranes from another perspective
Observing from outside platforms, by Gary Lingle
**weather & light conditions may affect this activity
Thursday
March 19
**5:45-8:00 am Field** “Breakfast with the Cranes”
River Viewing Blinds, Rowe Sanctuary Staff & Gary Lingle
8:30 -9:00 am Breakfast Pioneer Village Restaurant
9:15-11:00 am Field Viewing Wildlife Sanctuaries
“Species of the River Basin”
by Dr. Joe Springer, UNK Biologist and Gary Lingle, Educator /Naturalist
11:15-12:30 pm. ”Endangered Species” Classroom
by Dr. Springer
12:45-1:45 pm Lunch Pioneer Village Restaurant
2:00-3:00 pm ”Whooping Crane Migration” Classroom
by Gary Lingle
3:00-5:00 pm Explore Pioneer Village Pioneer Village
5:00-5:45 pm Dinner Pioneer Village Restaurant
**6:15-8:30 pm….(Optional)……….….…..Cranes — Field Observation
(Weather Permitting) Gibbon Viewing Platform
OR
7:00-7:45 pm Slide Presentation Classroom
by Walter Sheppe, participant from Akron, Ohio
Friday
March 20
6:30-8:15 am Field**… .Prairie Chickens
OR
6:30-8:00 am Field** Hike-Bike Trail Viewing Bridge
Presented by Gary Lingle
**Weather conditions permitting**
8:45-9:30 am Breakfast Pioneer Village Restaurant
9:30-11:00 am Visit Pioneer Village Pioneer Village
11:00-11:40 am Recognition of Scholarly Achievement
12:00-1:00 pm Lunch Pioneer Village Restaurant
1:15-5:00 pm Departure
PARTICIPANTS:
