KANSAS BIRDING FESTIVAL AT WAKEFIELD APRIL 27-29

 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Birdwatching, wetland and prairie chicken lek tours, seminars to be featured; April 13 registration deadline

WAKEFIELD — On April 25-27, the Kansas Birding Festival will be held near Wakefield. The three-day event will feature seminars on birds and birdwatching, guided field trips, food, and much more. This area is rich in birding opportunities during the latter part of April. Native birds inhabit the area year round, and this is the prime season for migrating birds. Combine this with Milford Reservoir and Wetlands and the native prairie, and you have one of the best locations in America for watching birds.

On Friday, April 27, the event will begin at the Wakefield Methodist Church Community Center with registration and guided field trips to the Milford Wetlands, the Republican River Bottoms, and the Kansas Landscape Arboretum.

The event on Saturday will begin with breakfast from 4 a.m. to 5:45 a.m., followed by guided field trips, including a prairie chicken lek at Fort Riley, the Konza Prairie, the Landscape Arboretum, the Milford Wetlands, and the Republican River Bottoms.

After an 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. lunch break, events will include optional free time to bird watch and seminars, including “Greater Prairie Chickens in Kansas,” by Dr. Brett Sandercock; “Shorebird Identification,” by Suzanne Fellows; and “Grassland Birds,” by Eugene Young. At 7 p.m., a banquet will be held with a keynote address by wildlife photographer Judd Patterson.

On Sunday, April 29, breakfast will again be served from 4 a.m.-5:45 a.m. This will be followed by the field trip options.

Fees and pre-registration are required. For more information, phone Chuck Otte at 785-238-4161 or 785-238-8800 or Vanessa Avara at 785-238-3108, email cotte@ksu.edu, or go online to www.kansasbirdingfestival.org.

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RILEY COUNTY FISH & GAME ASSOCIATION DEER CLINIC NOV. 5

Image via Wikipedia

October 6, 2011
Limit of 10 students; application deadline Oct. 8
MANHATTAN — On Nov. 5, the Riley County Fish & Game Association will conduct a deer hunting clinic on the clubhouse grounds from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Cost is $20 per student, and a maximum of 10 students will be enrolled. Lunch is included in the cost.

The clinic will cover a number of topics related to deer and deer hunting, including the following:

• deer history;
• deer physiology;
• how to track and follow a blood trail;
• how to field dress a deer;
• tree stand safety, use, and placement;
• shot placement with both archery and cartridge firearm;
• legal aspects of deer hunting;
• how to skin for a mount;
• equipment; and
• how to mask scent.

All students attending will receive hunter orange hats provided by a sponsor and materials about white-tailed deer and deer hunting.

Anyone interested in taking this course should contact Dick Fultz, 2228 Green Ave., Manhattan, KS 66502.

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FUN DAY AT LOVEWELL STATE PARK AUG. 7

Image via Wikipedia First ever Disc Golf Tournament to highlight many events
WEBBER — The Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism Lovewell Marina at Lovewell State Park are sponsoring the annual Lovewell Fun Day on Saturday, Aug. 6. A new addition to the day’s events is the first ever Disc Golf Singles Tournament. Eighteen holes will be played beginning at 9 a.m. Competitors need to register at the park office by 8:30 a.m. on Saturday. The tournament will have two divisions: youth (15 and younger) and adult (16 and older). A $5 entry fee is due at time of registration, fully refunded to the first three places in each age division.

The Co-ed Mud Volleyball Tournament begins at 10 a.m. This event is double-elimination with a $20 entry fee per team and a 10-team limit. Pre-registration for the mud volleyball tournament is requested at the Lovewell State Park Office by August 4.

Other events scheduled for the Fun Day include minnow races at 10 a.m. at the marina, log races at noon at the Pioneer Day use Area (playground), water balloon toss at 2 p.m., waterslide contest at 3 p.m., and a Frisbee-throwing contest at 4 p.m. These events are for all ages.

In addition, an Outdoor Cook-off Contest will be held at the Pioneer Day Use area. Pre-registration is required by August 4 at 6 p.m. at the park office. Each cooker must cook 100 1-ounce servings for the judges. Judges will be chosen from the first 100 people who contribute $5 for a taste-testing ticket. Donations are used for prizes at Lovewell State Park’s special events throughout the year. Judging tickets will be available at the cook-off area beginning at 5 p.m., and judging will start at 6 p.m. and end at 6:30 p.m. Additional samples will be available, depending on availability of food entries. (If too few entrants register, this event may be cancelled.)

To check on the status of any of these events or for more information, phone Lovewell State Park at 785-753-4971. A vehicle permit is required to enter the park. Daily permits are $4.20, annual permits $24.70.

Glen Elder Youth Fishing Tournament Postponed

High water forces delay
GLEN ELDER — Due to high water levels at Glen Elder Reservoir, the 7^th Annual Youth Fishing Tournament has been postponed until July 23. Heavy rainfall this week on top of previous storms the last two weeks has caused the water level to reach 6.2 feet over conservation pool, with the potential for another 4-feet rise through the weekend. The Marina and Boller Point boat ramps had been closed earlier, and the Osage boat ramp is closed as of Thursday, June 2.

The schedule of events will remain the same for July 23 with registration at the park office between 8:30 a.m. and 9 a.m. and fishing until 3 p.m. Anyone who had previously signed up for the fishing tournament the weekend of June 4 will still be on the list for July 23. Those who cannot make that date are asked to call the park office at 785-545-3345 and let staff know. Phone this number for further information.