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Dean Roosa to be Recognized During 25th Annual HawkWatch Weekend
Posted: September 29, 2009

The 25th annual HawkWatch will be held on Oct. 2, 3 and 4, at Effigy Mounds National Monument, near Marquette. This year, Dean Roosa, of Ames, will be recognized for initiating the hawk banding station at Effigy Mounds that is still active today.

As former state ecologist for DNR, Roosa will also be presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his ongoing conservation stewardship of our natural resources. Other members of the initial team will also be recognized for their early efforts at the hawk banding station including Jim Brown, of Guttenburg, Tim Mason, of McGregor, Dave McIlrath, of West Branch, and Jon Stravers, of Harpers Ferry. Dave Kester, of Marquette, will be included for his ongoing support and banding efforts at the station.

Activities will kick off with a Mississippi River music cruise by Jon Stravers on Friday at 5 p.m. from Lawler Park in Prairie du Chien, Wis., for $25. Passengers are encouraged to bring their own snacks and beverages. Further information can be found at mississippiexplorer.com or call Stravers at 563-586-2621.

On Saturday, a bird walk with internationally renowned birder, Dennis Carter, will take place at 8 a.m., then HawkWatch activities until 4 p.m. On Sunday, activities continue from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Bluffs of Upper Mississippi River provide beautiful backdrop to this family oriented event. Raptor presentations are given hourly throughout the day, and kids can learn about raptor diets by dissecting raptor pellets. Binoculars and spotting scopes will be provided to assist raptor enthusiasts in identifying as many as 11 raptor species including broadwings, redtails, Swainsons, sharp-shinned, and Coopers hawks. Northern harriers, ospreys, and eagles can be included with all three falcons: kestrels, merlins and peregrines.

A raptor banding stations is staffed where migrating raptors are lured, banded, and released. The releases occur at the Effigy Mounds Visitor's Center, so event participants can appreciate sharing the same air space with migrating birds.

For further information check with conservation partners at National Park Service: http://www.nps.gov/.../2009%20HawkWatch%20Program%20Sheet.pdf, 563-873-3491 or Iowa DNR at 712-330-0526.