2018 Iowa Purple Martin Workshop & Seminar Info

[Dave Duit]

A workshop/seminar on attracting Purple Martins will be held Saturday, March 17, 2018 beginning at 9:00 A.M. at the CAM Iowa Clothing Center (1005 Nutmeg Ave) 1.8 miles north of Kalona, IA and one mile east off Highway 1.
Morning speakers include:
Adam Todd (Washington, IA) and Chad Dolan (Washington, IA) , will talk on: "Turtles of Iowa" - Todd is a student at Des Moines Area Community College. Dolan is the head of Fishery Management Biology for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
Ivan Ray Miller (Jamesport, MO) - will speak on: "Creating Wildlife Habitat" Miller has long worked with Purple Martins, Prothonotary Warblers and many other species on his family farm in northwest Missouri.
The afternoon martin program will feature Jim Walters (Iowa City, IA) of the Songbird Project speaking on "Purple Martins: The Short Vision and the Long Vision." A panel of experts will then answer questions, followed by door prizes and an auction.
A well-maintained martin colony brings joy to any neighborhood. Establishing a new colony is now a realistic possibility for many people. Anyone wanting to start or re-establish a Purple martin colony, or in need of assistance in maintaining a colony, will benefit from attending this program.
There will be a $2.00 registration fee (ages 10 and under free). Lunch will be available at the site. Vendors are being encouraged to set up displays of interest to program attendees.
For more information, or if you would like to have a booth, please contact: Evan Gingerich, 2282 Johnson-Washington Rd. SW, Kalona, IA 52247 (319) 656-3629 (voice mail) or Jim Walters at (319) 466-1134.
Schedule
8:00 A.M. - Building opens - vendor setup
8:30 A.M - Registration - coffee & doughnuts available
9:00 A.M - Welcome
9:10 - 10:30 A.M. - Adam Todd & Chad Dolan - "Turtles of Iowa"
10:30 - 10:40 A.M. - Break
10:40 -11:30 A.M. - Ivan Ray Miller - "Creating Wildlife Habitat"
11:30 -1:00 P.M. - Break - Lunch available on site
(free will offering to CAM Center appreciated)
1:00 P.M.- Jim Walters - "Purple Martins: Short Vision & Long Vision"
2:00 P.M.- Questions & Answers - panel of veteran landlords
2:30 P.M.- Door Prizes & Auction

[Dave Duit]

This Saturday is the big day for Iowa martin landlords and to be landlords at this Kalona Iowa Purple Martin Workshop and Seminar. This event typically attracts a big crowd and is one of Iowa's best martin get togethers. If you want to make the drive or if you are close by, I encourage you to check it out. The meal made by the great ladies of this Amish community is amazing.

[JamesinIA]

I am looking forward to our Iowa martin landlord family reunion this Sat. Always a good program and it's great to see each other as a new season is about to begin.

[Dave Duit]

Hi James,
I will be there for the early bird donuts and coffee and registration. I think this is a great get together for all the Iowa landlords. I hope Tim M. will be there.

[Dave Reynolds]

Dave ... Sounds great... Good Job..

Dave

[Dave Duit]

Thanks Dave. We had around 200 in attendance today. Great martin presentation and our panel of martin experts fielded many good martin questions from the audience. The sweet ladies of the Amish community provided a homemade lunch that is about as close to heaven as one could get when it comes to food. An interesting concern that was covered in the presentation by Jim Walters was of the reduction in insects available for martins and birds in general due to insecticides, pollutions, etc.. and hopefully we can change the future.

[sugarcreek]

Anyone going to post some pics. Thats awesome

[Dave Duit]

Hi sugarcreek,
Since some Amish community members were present, I doubt any pictures were snapped at the event. But, I can tell you that there were some vendors, coffee, donuts prior to the event for the early birds, an auction full of nice items, (bird houses, gourds, bluebird cavities, etc..). The event started about 8:30 AM and ended about 3:30. It has been going on for years and we always have a large number in attendance. Each year we have a new martin presenter and focus on a different aspect of martins.

[lynnh]

Anyone take pictures yesterday? I did not.