Midwest Birding Symposium, Sept. 15-18, 2011
This fall, discover a premier birding experience in America’s heartland! One of the largest and most comprehensive birding festivals of the year, the Midwest Birding Symposium (MBS) offers a weekend of birding, learning, and camaraderie sure to create memories to last a lifetime. This year, the setting is the picturesque, historic Chautauqua community of Lakeside, Ohio, on the south shore of Lake Erie. Since the 1930’s, the facilities at Lakeside have been uniquely suited for gatherings that nurture the mind, body, and spirit. MBS aims to honor that tradition with an outstanding array of speakers, programs, vendors, and diverse birding hotspots in virtually every direction–including on Lake Erie by boat! MBS is hosted by Bird Watcher’s Digest, the Ohio Ornithological Society, and the Lakeside Association.
The organizers of this event really know what they’re doing, folks. They’ve packed so much into these 3 days, you will have some deliciously tough decisions to make. Have you always wanted to witness bird banding or participate in a Big Sit? Does a moonlight cruise on the lake sound appealing? How about a day trip to Kelly’s Island? The Birds of Prey demo? Hear the Bird Call Lady do her thing or learn to photograph birds like the pros? See what I mean?
This will be my first time attending MBS, though not my first time to Lakeside; in my former life as a professional juggler, I performed on Hoover Auditorium’s stage twice. I’m excited to go back, and though I’ll be busy at the Eagle Optics vendor booth, I’m hoping to slip away to hear a speaker or two. When you see the list of illustrious speakers for this event, you’ll be looking at a who’s who of the men and women in the world of birding. Kenn and Kim Kaufman, Jeff Gordon, Julie Zickefoose, Bill Thompson III, and many more. You can dream about far-away birding destinations during the many Travel Talks, or in Diane Porter’s presentation of Deep Birding, learn to “become the world’s greatest bird expert on your own spot on Earth.”
According to the MBS festival website, space for attendees, vendors, and sponsors is filling up fast. This festival is golden, friends. Get registered and get yourselves there!
Originally published on June 29, 2011