The Annual High Plains Snow Goose Festival is back celebrating its 9th anniversary this year. The festival would start from 24th February 2011 and go on till 27th February 2011. Jeffrey Gordon, the new President of American Birding Association, is the keynote speaker this year. Apart from being a bird guide, he’s also a naturalist.
Cherish the view of milky white and shiny slate-grey flocks of snow geese at flying back to their homeland in Canadian Arctic and resting for a while mid-way at Lamar in south-east Colorado.
These migratory species of birds halt in Lamar on their way back from their migration in spring season. They perch near the various lakes of the plain land and nourish on the adjoining patches of lush.
Event Schedule at 9th Annual High Plains Snow Goose Festival
24th February, Thursday
4pm – 8pm : Registration & a warm hospitality gathering with local orchestra at Shore Arts Centre in Lamar downtown.
25th February, Friday
8am – 5pm : The association organizes a trip in and around the area to some historical sites like Sand Creek, Camp Amache, and many more. The bus and tickets can be available at the Lamar High School.
8am – 5pm : Another trip is being organized to the south canyon for birding and nature watch. For bus queries and tickets please visit Lamar High School.
1pm-4pm : A trip to Army Corps Visitor Centre is being organised to treat the eyes with bald eagles, geese, and ducks. Bus and tickets will be available at the Lamar High School.
4pm – 8pm : Registration session and hospitality gathering with fabulous music jam session of local band and introductory question answer session with Jeffrey Gordon, all at the Shore Arts Centre at 115 S. Main Street, Lamar.
6pm – 8pm : Fun Archery practise session will be held at the Division of Wildlife for all ages above 8yrs. All archery equipments will be provided at the Division of Wildlife Office at 2500 S Main St, Lamar.
26th February, Saturday
8am – 4pm : The Nature Art & Crafts fair will be held at the Lamar High School Gym. Within the fair there would be the Silent Auction also.
1am – 2pm : A visit to the Pueblo Raptor Centre is planed to see the eagles, hawks, and owls.
8am – 4pm : The Kids’ Zone will organize fun activities and great prizes at the Lamar High School.
8am – 9am : An early morning walk lead by Cliff Smith, Audubon Society, will be organized at the Lamar Community College Woods, one of the sites of birding trails in town. The walk will start from Willow Creek Woods, of the Community College at 2401 S. Main Street, Lamar.
8am – 12noon : An interactive discussion session with Jeffrey Gordon and breakfast at the Chez DuVall’s. Bus information and trip coupons including breakfast vouchers will be at Lamar High School.
9am – 12noon : A workshop on basic nature journal maintenance techniques, gesture drawing, and many more. Participants must bring their own sketch equipments. The workshop will be held at the classroom of Colorado Division of Wildlife.
9am : A presentation by entomologist Dave Leatherman at Lamar High School Auditorium on more than 100 species of Colorado’s interesting odes.
9am : An indoor seminar on Playa Lakes’ natural habitats will be held at the Lamar High School Band Room.
10am : A workshop on how one can learn lot about birds watching them without binoculars and listening to them chirping around. The indoor keynote would be presented by Ted Floyd of American Bird Association, at the Lamar High School Art room and the outdoor session would be held in Lamar Community College Woods.
11am : An entertainment performance by the Koshare Indian Dancers, a group of students studying about Native American culture and traditions, will be held at the Lamar High School Auditorium.
11am : A discussion will be held at the Lamar High School Band Room, led by the biologist with Division of Wildlife about how to protect the two endangered bird species called piping plovers and least terns.
1pm : A discussion on “Birds of Prey” will be led by Diana Miller of Pueblo Raptor Centre on eagles, hawks, and other birds of prey will be held at the Lamar High School Auditorium.
1pm : Dave Leatherman will discuss the food habits of different species of birds to give a better introspect of birding, at the Lamar High School Band Room.
1pm – 5pm : A trip to “The Black Hole” which is the Two Buttes Reservoir State Wildlife Area will be organized, guided by Ted Floyd. The journey starts from the Lamar High School.
1pm – 4pm : Biologists from Colorado Division of Wildlife will hold a seminar on waterfowl hunting at the Colorado Division of Wildlife classroom.
2pm – 5pm : A birding tour to the Thurston State Wildlife Area’s small lakes where all the migratory birds feed and hang around chirping.
3pm : A workshop on Cowboy poetry will be held at Lamar High School Auditorium.
3pm : A seminar on bats and the “white-nose syndrome” which is a spreading threat to the species at the Lamar High School Band Room.
4pm : Discussion on the heritage sites of South East Colorado at the Lamar High School Auditorium.
6pm : An evening banquet will be organized at Elks Lodge, 28157 US Highway 287, Lamar, Colorado.
8pm : Jeffrey Gordon will be playing his recorded list of birds’ chirping and the best sound voted by the audience would be the winner.
27th February, Sunday
5.15am – 10.30am : A tour to watch the migratory birds feed on the fields and besides the lake, followed by a breakfast in Eads Community Centre.
For further details about the event schedule, bus trips, food and lodging near the area and tickets, please log into the official website of the event, www.highplainssnowgoose.com
Contact Details
Address : Lamar High School – 1900 S 11th Street, Lamar, Colorado
Website : www.highplainssnowgoose.com
E-mail : Michael.Smith@state.co.us
