The 8th Annual Purple Martin Workshop and Seminar will be held Saturday, March 9th at the CAM Iowa Clothing Center, north of Kalona, beginning at 9:10 a.m. The CAM Iowa Clothing Center can be found at 1005 Nutmeg Ave., 1.8 miles north of Kalona and one mile east off Highway 1.
Anyone wishing to establish a colony of purple martins is encouraged to attend the program.
Morning speakers include Jim Scheib of the Iowa City Bird Club on “Backyard and Feeder Birds of Iowa,” Patty Petersen from Trees Forever on “Selection, Planting, and Care of Trees for Yards and Acreages,” and Jim Walters of the Songbird Project on “Build a Better Birdhouse.”
The afternoon program will feature a segment on conservation of the species. Kelly Applegate, a wildlife biologist for the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe and a founding member and director of the Minnesota Purple Martin Working Group will give a presentation titled “Purple Martins: Bringing Them Back.” His work focuses heavily on conservation of habitats and species through partnership building, education and active restoration of ecosystems. Some of Applegate’s projects at this time are working to help purple martins, common terns, chimney swifts and red-headed woodpeckers.
The seminar will conclude with a question and answer session with experts, door prizes and an auction.
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.