(Atlantic, Iowa) – Cass County Naturalist Lora Kanning reports the Conservation Department’s final, “Building Better Birders” program will be in the form of a two day workshop format. You’re invited to join Kelly McKay from ‘Building Better Birders,’ as he shares about Sparrow, and Waterfowl Bird Identification. The event takes place November 19th, at Outdoor Educational Classroom near Massena.

It will start with Waterfowl ID at 5pm (you can bring your dinner with you), and includes an Owl Prowl, starting at 7-p.m. Friday, Nov. 19th. Kanning says participants will hike and try to call in various species of Owls that may be in the park that night. Saturday, November 20th at 8am, is at the Outdoor Educational Classroom near Massena, and features a Sparrow ID, with a birding hike to follow at 10-a.m.

At 11-a.m. that day, Iowa Bluebird Conservationists will do a presentation on bluebird basics and their efforts. There will be a break for a catered lunch for $10, in support of our Friends of the Outdoor Classroom. At 1pm the final program on a Christmas Bird Count Marathon will conclude the workshop. Funding for the program is provided by the Resource Enhancement and Protection – Conservation Education Program (REAP – CEP). The workshop will be conducted by Kelly McKay (BioEco Research and Monitoring Center), with assistance from Mark Roberts (Clinton County Conservation) and Brian Ritter (Nahant Marsh Education Center).

Pre-Register by November 15th . Call  769-2372 or email to sign up lkanning@casscoia.us Take Hwy 148 south of Massena, Turn Left on Tucson Rd, Follow it East for about two miles, and then a right hand turn into the parking lot. Kanning says you’re welcome to attend one or all of the programs, but they are asking for your preregistration for Saturday, Nov. 20th, so they know how many to expect for Lunch. She says “We look forward to seeing everyone for the final weekend.”