FRIDAY, April 24

Welcome reception will be held from 6:30 - 7:00 p.m. in the seminar hall at the Audubon Center. Desserts and refreshments provided by the Ozark Gateway Audubon Society. This will be a great time to meet bird leaders and other participants. Cost: Included in registration fee.

Keynote speaker- Christopher Cokinos is the author of the critically acclaimed nonfiction book "Hope Is the Thing with Feathers: A Personal Chronicle of Vanished Birds" The book is due to be reprinted in May 2009. He's also the winner of a Whiting Award, the Sigurd Olson Nature Writing Award. Books available for purchase and autographs. Presentation begins at 7:00 p.m. Cost: Included in registration fee.

Rusty Scarborough will present a Live Raptor Program. Come see an American Kestrel, Peregrine Falcon, Red-tailed Hawk, Harris' Hawk, and Golden Eagle. Program begins at 8:00 - 9:00 p.m. Cost: Included in registration fee.

SATURDAY, April 25

Local wildlife artists will exhibit their work, featuring many bird and nature scenes from 12:00 noon -7:00 p.m. Pieces will be available for purchase.

Local Children's Art exhibit will be held inside the Audubon Center from 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

Roaring River Saturday field trip will offer opportunities to see both glade and forest interior species. Target birds include prairie warblers, blue grosbeaks, painted buntings, Kentucky warblers, hooded warblers, and chestnut-sided warblers. 6:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Cost: $30 per person. Includes transportation, bird leader, snacks, lunch and drinks.

Golden Prairie Conservation Area is a National Natural Landmark. It has upland rolling prairies covered in blooming wildflowers and is likely to have eastern meadowlark, Henslow's sparrow, grasshopper sparrow, dickcissel, scissortail fly catcher, northern bobwhite and possibly some greater prairie chickens. 6:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Cost: $30 per person. Includes transportation, bird leader, snacks, lunch and drinks.

Schell-Osage Conservation area field trip will take us to grassland and wetland habitats for birds such as greater prairie chickens, osprey, avocet, black necked stilt, snowy egret, prothonotary warbler, parula, summer tanager and Henslow's sparrows. 6:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Cost: $30 per person. Includes transportation, bird leader, snacks, lunch and drinks.

The Local Hot Spots birding trip include stops in downtown Joplin for western kingbirds, Wildcat Park for yellow-crowned night herons, and various other destinations for birds such as Swainson's thrush, Kentucky warbler, prothonotary warbler, Mississippi kite, and yellow throated vireos. 7:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon. Cost: $20 per person. Includes transportation, bird leader, snacks, and drinks.

Rusty Scarborough will present a Live Raptor Program. Come see an American Kestrel, Peregrine Falcon, Red-tailed Hawk, Harris' Hawk, and Golden Eagle. Time: 1:00- 2:00 p.m. Cost: Included in registration fee.

Calvin Cassady will take you on a journey through captivating stories once told by Native Americans. Time: 2:00- 3:00 p.m. Cost: Included in registration fee.

Margaret Wheeler, Native American textile artist, will show her original one-of-a-kind woven garments made in natural fibers and American Indian clothing adapted for contemporary wear. There will also be a special showing of her pieces depicting birds. Time: 3:00- 4:00 p.m. Cost: Included in registration fee.

Brad Jacobs, Missouri Department of Conservation will present Missouri's Tropical Connection. It is no easy trip for them and homelife is not bed of roses either. Come learn about the life styles of our migrants, some of the challenges they face and efforts of the Avian Conservation Alliance of the Americas. Time: 4:00- 5:00 p.m. Cost: Included in registration fee.

Birds In Culture video presentation shows how birds influenced the Native American culture. Time: 5:30- 6:00 p.m. Cost: Included in registration fee.

Charles Stephens (Tall Bear), local artist, will share Native American stories while creating Cherokee coil clay pottery. Tall Bear has been a potter for nearly 50 years. Time: 6:00- 7:00 p.m. Cost: Included in registration fee.

John Two-Hawks is a true music visionary and pioneer, having taken Native American flute music from the powwow and folk festival, and into the sold-out concert arena, Emmy Award Winning movies, Platinum Award Winning projects and more. CDs available for purchase and autographs. Time: 7:30- 8:30 p.m. Cost: Included in registration fee.

SUNDAY, April 26

Roaring River glade emphasis will target birds such as Summer Tanagers, Yellow-breasted Chats, Prairie Warblers, Blue Grosbeaks, Orchard Orioles, and Painted buntings. The 2075 acres of Roaring River Hills Wild Area provides a superb example of the White River hills landscape. 7:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon Cost: $10 per person. Includes bird leader, snacks, and drinks. Must provide your own transportation to Roaring River.

Wildcat Park hike will target birds such as yellow-crowned night herons, golden-winged warbler, and blackburnian warbler. 7:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon Cost: $10 per person. Includes bird leader, snacks, and drinks.