Sea-to-Sky Birding / Saturday
By George Clulow
From sea to sky, mudflats to mountains, southwestern British Columbia during fall migration is a birders' "birdland." Our location is a spectacular one of mountain views and ocean vistas, where thousands of shorebirds, sea ducks, and a variety of target species from both high and low elevations will make for some unforgettable birding. For our first evening together, George will offer a preview of the upcoming six days in the Vancouver and Victoria areas. What we'll see, where we'll see them, and the rarities that inevitably show up, especially in September, will be featured.

George Clulow is an active local birder, bird atlaser, a director of Bird Studies Canada, a member of the BC Field Ornithologists, and of Nature Vancouver. While he loves birding in Vancouver year-round, late summer and fall always have some special birding magic to offer. George has been integral in planning our conference, and will be one of our field trip leaders.

The Bald Eagle: An Urban Success Story / Sunday
By David Hancock
Among his many talents (author, wildlife film producer, pilot, publisher, and photographer), David is foremost a biologist and conservationist. He has studied Bald Eagles in Alaska, BC, and Washington, since one of his pet projects is protecting and creating better Bald Eagle habitat. With a PowerPoint presentation to illustrate the successes he has documented in the greater Vancouver area (turning up more than 200 nesting pairs), David will share his love of the U.S. national bird with us.

David Hancock spent most of his life studying West Coast and Arctic wildlife. He has published scientific and popular books and papers on whales, seals, seabirds, grouse, and his specialty, northern raptors, and has produced films on these topics and the Haida and other northern natives. Most recently he was given worldwide acclaim for the original "Live Bald Eagle Streaming Video Cam."

An Enchantment of Birds / Monday
By Dick Cannings
We birders are all enchanted with birds. For Dick, the origin of this fascination is obvious - he was born into a family that lived and breathed nature. When asked what his favorite bird is, he has difficulty coming up with a single candidate. The birds in this talk comprise a very short list of his favorites-some because of special experiences he has had with them, some because their songs touch his inner soul, and some because they simply do very interesting things. Their stories will touch you, as well, and strengthen that lifelong enchantment.

Dick Cannings, a degreed zoologist,works as a consulting biologist in Naramata, BC, teaches field ecology at the University of British Columbia, and is a regular contributor to the CBC. He is the author of numerous books on natural history, including one which shares the same title as his presentation. He works half-time for Bird Studies Canada, coordinating Canadian Christmas Bird Counts, eBird Canada, and British Columbia-Yukon Owl Survey.When not birding or entering bird data into the computer, Dick plays fiddle for MacNaramata's Band, a local Scottish country dance band.

Western Pelagic Species: An Overview / Tuesday
By Michael Retter
While pelagic identifications are a challenge to all of us by definition (moving in or over the water), the beauty of seabirds is as compelling as their land-loving counterparts are for photographers. While action shots are the norm, so much sweeter is the reward when you get that clear shot of a curious large bird overhead. Enjoy a presentation of seabirds from the Pacific Northwest, all possible candidates for our journey across the Strait of Georgia and through Active Pass.

Michael Retter is a favorite field trip leader from previous ABA events. He has recently become a professional field guide with Tropical Birding's northern extension, Birding America. A birder since the age of six, Michael holds a BA in Biology and has done years of fieldwork since graduation. An accomplished bird artist and author, his work has appeared in Birding and other publications.

Pelagics on the Fly / Wednesday Morning Workshop
By Michael Retter
Join Michael on Wednesday morning immediately after breakfast for a visual presentation of pelagic birds in flight. Bring your binoculars and try to identify the birds in the slides, learn the subtle differences between like species, how their flight can be a clue to their identification, and how you, too, can become proficient at identifying those pesky pelagics on the fly.

Dinner on your own / Thursday
Enjoy an evening in Victoria. There is an excellent restaurant on the first floor of the hotel, and many restaurants are within a block of the hotel, or downtown- which is only a $5.00 taxi ride away.

ABA Recognitions and Milestones / Friday
By your ABA Staff
A light-hearted review of the events of the conference- who hit a milestone, who got life birds, who got that special elusive life bird, and sharing highlights of your conference with others.