The Bluebird Society of Pennsylvania will host its 9th Annual Conference in State College which features a variety of speakers, displays, a live auction, raffles, quilt raffle and luncheon.

The conference will entertain participants on a range of topics regarding the eastern bluebird and share the joys and problems found in bluebird nest boxes, and on the bluebird trail.

Scheduled speakers include:

· Bet (Elizabeth) Zimmerman was a featured presenter at the NABS 2006 Conference and hosts a wonderful educational bluebird website www.sialis.org . She will discuss effective house sparrow control methods and will share her innovative trail monitoring techniques and tips that she uses on her three bluebird trails in Woodstock, Ct.

· Susan Renkel is an avid bluebirder, nature photographer, conservationist, published freelance writer and artist. She currently serves as BSP County Coordinator for Snyder County, BSP newsletter formatter/ illustrator, and member of BSP’s Speaker’s Bureau. Susan will present an exciting, close-up photographic journey into the life of some of some of Pennsylvania’s native cavity- nesting songbirds that utilize nest boxes.

· Andrew Ohrman is the Co- Chair of the BSP Research Committee and is very skilled in utilizing audiovisual technology along the bluebird trail for research and for the sheer enjoyment of observing the wonders of nesting songbirds. He will share his fascinating video of bluebirds and other cavity nesting species inside and outside of the nest box at his bluebird trail at the Penn State University/ Middletown campus.

In the 1900's, Eastern bluebird populations plummeted by 90 percent throughout their range, and were absent from many areas in Pennsylvania. The bluebird uses cavities in dead or dying trees for nesting, but this habitat was and still is, commonly destroyed by human activities.

In the late 60's and 70's, a grassroots effort rose up nationwide to erect and monitor artificial nesting boxes along what are called “bluebird trails”. These volunteer-driven trails have helped bring bluebirds back to the fields of Pennsylvania.

Early Bird Registration- $30.00 per person (before February 12th) after this date- $35.00 per person.

For more information, visit the Bluebird Conference webpage.

2/9/2007