I am always facinated here with the affects of weather and temps on which birds i get that day. Also the change of seasons with the change of birds. there are four distinct
seasons here. Spring has the returning migrants and the nesting and young hatching out. Summers with the fledglings and juveniles. Fall with the migrations south and the returns of the winter visiters. And winter with the snow and frozen water and the snow birds.

I find people are often at a loss about migration. They don't know which birds do and do not. They don't know where they go. They don't know when they leave and come back or what is involved. I'd like to hear someone address that.

I am a horticulturist. I like to address old wives' tales and misconceptions and when I give presentations always set aside a Q & A session and open discussion after my talks. We often take off where our noses lead us, and it's a good way to make the audience feel more involved in the program and not fall asleep. LOL. It feels good to look at the clock and tell them I have exceeded my time instead of groping for more fodder they may or may not be really interested in.

You might get a good group if you just talked about "Backyard Birds"... ID's; good field guide if you only have one; what should be "expected" in your area; how to prepare your yard to attract, keep, and cater to the birds...i.e. best food varieties, feeders, water treatments... all from the very simple and adapted to the very "upscale"

How about doing a segment on corvids? They are so intelligent and interesting and would include Ravens, Crows, Blue Jays.

I usually find any talk on birds interesting. Since you live in the desert how about a talk on how the birds living in your desert area are suited for living in the area. How do they survive, what they do for water and what do they eat. How they utilize the vegetation that does exist.

Do you have roadrunners? That would be a bird I would be interested in learning more about.

Richard

I really appreciate all those great ideas, I knew this was the place to ask!
I have noted them all and expect to be busy for quite awhile.
Thanks again!
Re: Roadrunners
Yes Richard we have roadrunners, it's the New Mexico state bird. They are quite feisty and enjoy visiting bird feeders but not for the seed. They are also a member of the cuckoo family.
Beep beep!

Hi,

How about an Owl prowl? we do it a few times a year. We have wings of owls and wings of other birds. Its cool to have someone actually flap the wings and see how the owl wings make hardly a sound while other birds wings are noisy. Its interesting when folks learn that an owls eyes are immobile, and turning the head is how they see all around them. we have a taxadermied Snowy Owl, too. So gorgeous. One of our guys does owl calls really well, and we use cassettes to bring the owls in. Great Horned Owls respond well as they are very territorial.
Rob Cassidy
Ft wayne, Indiana

Another topic might be about how gardening with native plants is a great way to provide habitat for birds. Anyone can do it in their own yard. You could talk about the NWF habitat certification, things people can do like not using pesticides, replacing invasive species with natives, etc.

--
Liz in Bloomington, MN
Backyard weather and feedercam: http://www.overlookcircle.org
Photo gallery: http://www.pbase.com/gymell/liz_favorites
Follow me on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/lizmstanley

More great ideas! Woo-hoo!!!!!