Fourth Annual High Plains Snow Goose Festival Set For Feb. 24-26, 2006

~ Weekend Set Aside To Honor Stately Birds ~


The City of Lamar and the Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW) will co-host the fourth annual “High Plains Snow Goose Festival,” the weekend of Feb. 24-26.  The festival offers an outstanding opportunity to celebrate snow geese and other wildlife in southeast Colorado.  Besides snow geese, there are various other bird species to view, including a large number of wintering bald eagles and other raptors.
 
Snow geese are considered the most abundant goose in the world.  Thousands of the large, white birds move through eastern Colorado during their spring migration so wildlife enthusiasts have set aside a weekend to honor these stately birds.
 
Registration begins at 5 p.m., Friday, Feb. 24 at the Lamar High School.  The weekend features a wide variety of educational and wildlife viewing seminars.  Highlights include a sunset tour on Saturday and a sunrise tour on Sunday.  Attendees will be able to watch thousands of snow geese land and take off as they come and go between feeding grounds and roosting sites.
 
Other activities include a craft fair, a history program about the Sand Creek Massacre by the National Park Service, a paleontological program about the rich dinosaur resources in the area, a Wildlife Skills seminar, a tour and program on Camp Amache – a Japanese internment camp from WWII, a history program on Zebulon Pike – to celebrate the 200th anniversary of his first expedition in southeast Colorado, a seminar on hunting snow geese, and programs on falconry birds of prey, and reptiles and amphibians. 
 
This year’s festival features entertainment and a keynote address by Denny Olson, a.k.a. Critterman.  Olson is nationally well known for his performances as the character Professor Avian Guano.  Olson strongly believes in encouraging people to think about how nature and people are connected.  His performances are an artful form of “educational entertainment” for both children and adults.
 
Wildlife biologists estimate there are least six million lesser snow geese in North America that are divided into four distinct populations. The lesser snow geese that bird watchers will see at the High Plains Snow Goose Festival are part of the Western Central Flyway population. The flock winters in southeastern Colorado, New Mexico, the Texas panhandle and northern Mexico. In late spring, the birds form enormous flocks before they head back to their summer nesting grounds in the Canadian Arctic.
 
Lesser snow geese come in two different color phases within the same species. In the white phase, the geese are as white as snow except for the black wing tips. The other phase, called blue geese, is slate gray with a white head.  Both have a dark “grinning patch” on the sides of their bill. Mixed in the flocks of snow geese you may find some Ross’ geese, which look very much like snow geese except that they are two-thirds the size of snow geese and do not have the grinning patch. Ross’ geese weigh between 3-4 pounds, while snow geese weigh between 5-6 pounds.  It is also possible to see Canada geese intermixed within the same flocks.
 
In the arctic, snow geese graze on grass and sedges that grow on the tundra. While migrating through the prairies of North America, they will also feed on leftover grain in the fields.
 
Participants are urged to dress appropriately to ensure their comfort on the outdoor tours. Organizers suggest bringing a camera, binoculars, bird identification book, sunglasses, layered clothing, a hat and raingear.
 
“The weather in southeastern Colorado is difficult to predict at this time of year, so it’s best to be prepared for all kinds of conditions,” said Linda Groat, an educational specialist with the DOW. “We have been known to have every kind of weather from sunny days in the mid-60s to wet weather with some snow. It’s best to be prepared for everything. As the old saying goes, if you don’t like the weather in Colorado, wait a few minutes and it will change.”
 
Groat notes that the event has a variety of indoor sessions for those who might not want to brave the weather on the outdoor wildlife viewing tours.
 
To inquire about festival activities, please call (719) 336-4379.
 
Links to downloadable photos:
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SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Friday Feb. 24, 2006
1-4 p.m. - Camp Amache Program and Tour
Camp Amache, a Japanese internment camp during World War II was located just a few miles away near the town of Granada, Colorado.  Come hear the story from the students of Granada High School, who have spent years researching and gathering this slice of history to develop a wonderful program and museum.  Meet at Granada High School, 18 miles east of Lamar on Hwy 50, turn right on Hoisington, 201 Hoisington, 719-734-5492.
 
1:30 p.m. - Jackson’s Pond Wetland Area Tour
Jackson’s Pond is a piece of land adjacent to the town of Eads including a pond and wetland area.  The community is planning its development to sustain the natural and wildlife resources there, to make available the site as an outdoor classroom, and offer some portion to residential and an assisted living center.  Must RSVP.
 
5-9 p.m. - Registration and Hospitality Gathering
Unwind after your drive and pick up your registration packet for the weekend’s activities at the Lamar High School. Enjoy some refreshments, sign up for tours, and meet other festival participants and organizers. Indoors at Lamar High School.
 
5-9 p.m. - Snow Geese in Peril
The story of snow geese in North America is illustrated in this 30-minute video.  The video will be shown continually throughout the evening.  Indoors at LHS.
 
7-9 p.m. - Wildlife Watch Class
The Colorado Division of Wildlife invites you to an activity-filled, wildlife viewing skills workshop, “WILDLIFE WATCH,” free of charge.  Whether you are a master or a novice outdoors person, take advantage of this great opportunity to get tips on how to enhance your outdoor experiences.  Indoors at Division of Wildlife Office.
 
Saturday Feb. 25, 2006
8 a.m. - Registration
Just arriving?  Sign up for tours and programs at Lamar High School.
 
8 a.m. - 4 p.m. - Nature Art and Craft Fair
All day Saturday will be an on-going Nature Art and Craft Fair.  Discover an array of talent and information!  Be sure to browse through the gym at the Lamar High School, filled with artists and craftsman showing their nature-related creations, and visit the information booths to learn more from the agency folks.  Indoors at LHS.
 
9:00 a.m. - Bird Song Lore
Critterman, Denny Olson can imitate 150 different birds’ songs and calls!  Come learn more about bird communication and enjoy Denny’s talents and humor.  Indoors at LHS.
 
9:00 a.m. - or 1 p.m. - Sand Creek Massacre
The Sand Creek Massacre is a historical event that took place in Southeast Colorado.  Hear the story of Sand Creek and its commemoration as a unit of the National Park Service from Craig Moore, Education Technician.  Indoor program at LHS.
 
9:00 a.m. - Challenging Birds of SE Colorado
Hear about the status of some birds of special interest in SE Colorado from Jeff Yost, Terrestrial Biologist with DOW.  The overpopulation of snow geese, the steady but small population of lesser prairie chickens, and the struggling populations of least terns and piping plovers all pose challenging management concerns.  Indoors at DOW.
 
10:30 or 1:00 p.m. - Birds of Prey – Live!
Learn about hawks, owls, eagles and falcons through a live bird of prey presentation.  Diana Miller from the Pueblo Raptor Center will discuss birds of prey adaptations, predator/prey relationships, specific characteristics, natural histories, the personal histories of each bird, and their work to rehabilitate the injured birds.  Indoors at LHS.
 
10:30 a.m. - Zebulon Pike – Explorer and Namesake!
Zebulon Pike is said to have been one of the first explorers to “discover” Pikes Peak from a vantage point near John Martin Reservoir.  2006 is the 200th anniversary of his historical journey.  Rediscover his adventure with Don Headlee, Ranger at John Martin with the Army Corps of Engineers.  Indoors at LHS.
 
10:30 a.m. - Trackways from the Past
Bruce Schumacher – Rocky Mountain Region East Zone Paleontologist with the USDA Forest Service will be doing a presentation entitled, “New Dinosaur Discoveries and Research in Picketwire Canyonlands
 
10:30 a.m. - Hunting Geese in SE Colorado
Hunters!  Learn some tips and techniques for hunting geese in SE Colorado from District Wildlife Manager, Trent Verquer.  Outdoors at LHS.
 
1:00 p.m. - Falconry Demonstration
Learn about the sport of falconry with Bob and Cathy Tintinger, local falconers, who will bring their birds of prey to give a live demonstration of hunting falcons!  Outdoors near LHS.
 
1:00 p.m. - Scales and Tails
Meet Tina Jackson, Herptile Coordinator with the Division of Wildlife and learn about amphibians and reptiles in Colorado, and how you can help to inventory Colorado’s herps!  Some live examples!  Indoors at DOW.
 
9:00 a.m. - or 1 p.m. - Sand Creek Massacre
 
10:30 or 1:00 p.m. - Birds of Prey – Live!
 
2:30 p.m. - Kid Zone
Kids activities to have fun while learning more about snow geese and other birds.  Indoors at LHS.
 
3:30 - 6 p.m. - Sunset Tour
As the sun sinks in the western sky, all the ducks, geese and cranes return to the lakes to roost for the night.  Join us for a guided tour of the wildlife areas to watch this spectacle at sunset!  Outdoor tour, meet at LHS.
 
6:30 -7:30 p.m. - Banquet
Flock together with us for a delicious dinner and then sit back and enjoy the evening’s speaker, Critterman - Denny Olson.  Dinner $ 15.00 for adults, $6.00 for children 6-12.  Indoors at LHS.
 
8:00 p.m. - Professor Avian Guano, Bir D.
Professor Avian Guano, Bir D., aka Denny Olson, will perform his “artful form of educational entertainment” as an eccentric German professor of ornithology, sharing his solid knowledge of fascinating bird lore in his wacky and feathered way!  Indoor program in the LHS auditorium.
 
Sunday, Feb. 27, 2005
5:15 a.m. - 10 a.m. - Sunrise Tour
Watch the snow geese wake up and fly off to their feeding grounds.  Tour State Wildlife areas and farm fields to see a variety of waterfowl including sandhill cranes, ducks and shorebirds.  Breakfast will be served at the Eads Community Center – warm up with a hearty breakfast and good company indoors before the trip back to Lamar.  Cost: $5.00 per person over 6, plus $5.00 for breakfast.  Outdoor tour, meet at LHS
 
11 a.m. - Tour John Martin Reservoir and Dam
John Martin Reservoir offers food and rest to many migrating birds including bald eagles, waterfowl, and shorebirds, plus its breeding ground for endangered least terns and piping plovers, and is home to many other species year round.  Outdoor tour, Meet at John Martin State Park Visitor Center.
 
ACTIVITIES TO CONSDER EXPLORING ON YOUR OWN…
Colorado Green Wind Farm - See huge windmills reaching for the sky, only 25 miles south of Lamar.
 
Willow Creek Nature Trail - Enjoy winter birds and quiet woods behind Lamar Community College.
 

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