Midwest Birding Symposium

I want to let all of you know about an exciting event coming up in Ohio. An opportunity to meet some of the best of the best in the birding community. What event is this, you ask? Why the Midwest Birding Symposium!!! This stellar event will take place in Lakeside Marblehead, OH Thursday September 17th through Sunday September 20th, 2009.

So why should you go to this event? Here are a few of my top reasons...

Number One: Great Birding. I have been to this area on quite a few occasions. It has tons of great birding this time of year. Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge is nearby. Magee Marsh (some of you know it as Crane Creek) is located nearby. You like warblers and shorebirds? They will be here. A list of some of the local birding sites can be found here. Then pair a great location with phenomenal leaders. What more could you ask for?

Number Two: Twenty-two, count 'em, twenty-two great speakers on a large variety of bird topics. There is something for everyone! Most birders will recognize many of these names. Can you say SIBLEY! He will be there with his brand spanking new tree book.

Number Three: I will be there. What more of a reason will you need? :) Just kidding! I will be there helping out. Hopefully not cleaning toilets, though I did tell Weedpicker Cheryl I would volunteer without knowing what I will actually be doing. Hmmmm. Maybe I should check on that!

Number Four: Quite a few of my blogger friends will be there. If you enjoy reading their blogs you will have a chance to meet them in person. Cheryl Harner, Bill Thompson III, Jim McCormac, Kenn Kaufman, Kim Kaufman, Nina from Nature Remains, Susan Williams from Susan Gets Native, KatDoc, Jeff Gordon, Liz Gordon, Julie Zickefoose, Birdchick, Donald the Birder, The Zen Birdfeeder, Laura Kammermeier , Chad Williams, Connie Kogler, and Scott Weidensaul will all be there. I am just going off the top of my head, so if you are a blogger buddy of mine and I forgot you, just drop me a line. I will add you to this list, no problem.

Number Five: Lots of top birders will be there. You want to become a better birder? I know personally of many, many fantastic birders that will be there that love to help beginning and intermediate birders work on their skills. Most of us are birders because we love birds and enjoy sharing them with others. You may think-Oh, I am not a good enough birder to go to an event like this. This is just the event to go to. You will learn so much and have a lot of fun doing so.

So check out the website and see what all there is to offer. Hope to see you there!