Birds Up Close and Personal
Speaker: John Walch
Professional Wildlife and Nature Photographer
Through striking photography and engaging storytelling, John will explore the 2025 World Migratory Bird Day theme “Shared Spaces”. He will highlight how birds play a vital role in our environment and the delicate balance of ecosystems. Whether you’re a seasoned birder, a nature enthusiast, or simply curious about the feathered friends we share our world with, this program will offer new insights and a deeper appreciation for the birds around us.
John combined his passion for nature and his enthusiasm for photography into a profession. After working and in many cases, living in different countries throughout the world for many years, it was the allure of once again living in a small Wisconsin town with nature at his doorstep, that brought him to Algoma.
Speaker: John Walch
Professional Wildlife and Nature Photographer
Through striking photography and engaging storytelling, John will explore the 2025 World Migratory Bird Day theme “Shared Spaces”. He will highlight how birds play a vital role in our environment and the delicate balance of ecosystems. Whether you’re a seasoned birder, a nature enthusiast, or simply curious about the feathered friends we share our world with, this program will offer new insights and a deeper appreciation for the birds around us.
John combined his passion for nature and his enthusiasm for photography into a profession. After working and in many cases, living in different countries throughout the world for many years, it was the allure of once again living in a small Wisconsin town with nature at his doorstep, that brought him to Algoma.
Shared Spaces: Creating Bird-Friendly Communities
Speakers:
Mabel Kirst
Lake Michigan Bird Observatory, Community Conservation Assistant
Matt Murphy, Algoma City Administrator
Learn what the Lake Michigan Bird Observatory is all about as Mabel shares how their programs—like their Neighborhood Habitat Improvement Project and Bird City Wisconsin—are helping create better spaces for birds. Hear about upcoming plantings, volunteer opportunities, and simple ways to make your yard—or even just a small corner of it—a more welcoming space for birds. Algoma City Administrator Matt Murphy will join Mabel to provide an update on local restoration projects happening around town. It’s all about creating healthier habitats and helping the birds we love thrive right here in our community. Whether you’re a bird enthusiast, a backyard gardener, or just curious, this is a great chance to learn something new, meet others, and get inspired to make a difference!
Mabel Kirst is the Community Conservation Assistant at the Lake Michigan Bird Observatory. A recent UW-Green Bay graduate with a degree in biology, she has studied and monitored birds in Great Lakes coastal wetlands across Wisconsin and Upper Michigan. During her college years, she established a long-term forest bird monitoring project at Toft Point Natural Area in Bailey’s Harbor, WI. Mabel joined LMBO as an intern in March 2024 and, after graduating in August, transitioned into her current role. Her work includes collaborating with volunteers, monitoring nest boxes, developing educational materials, and supporting Lake Michigan Bird Observatory's biochar program. LMBO is dedicated to research, conservation, and education about birds and their habitats in the Lake Michigan region. Through bird monitoring, community engagement, and habitat restoration initiatives, LMBO works to better understand bird populations and promote conservation efforts across Wisconsin and beyond.
Collaborative Invasive Species Management: Tips on Identifying Invasives and Methods of Control
Speakers:
Valerie O’Connor
Invasive Species Coordinator, Glacierland Resource Conservation & Development, Inc./Lakeshore Invasive Species Management Area (LISMA)
Debbie Kiedrowski, Friends of Crescent Beach, Crescent Crew Leader
Valerie will share information about the work of Glacierland Resource Conservation & Development Inc./Lakeshore Invasive Species Management Area (LISMA) and their collaborative efforts to protect and restore natural ecosystems across northeast Wisconsin, including a phragmites restoration program in Kewaunee County. Her presentation will introduce some of the most common invasive species found in Kewaunee County, offering tips on how to identify them and sharing the most effective control methods currently in use. Valerie will be joined by Debbie Kiedrowski, leader of the Friends of Crescent Beach Crescent Crew volunteers. Discover how citizen participation plays a key role in managing invasive species and how community members can get involved in reporting infestations and supporting local conservation efforts.
Valerie O’Connor is an environmental specialist with the Lakeshore Invasive Species Management Area (LISMA) at Glacierland Resource Conservation and Development, Inc., serving Kewaunee, Manitowoc, Calumet, and Fond du Lac counties. She holds a B.A. with a concentration in Environmental Studies and an M.S. in Conservation Science from the University of Queensland, Australia. Valerie has a background in habitat restoration, wildlife management, and invasive species control. Since joining Glacierland in 2024, she has collaborated with partners and organizations to manage invasive species and protect local ecosystems. Valerie grew up in Oshkosh. In her free time, she enjoys walking her dog, scuba diving, traveling, and trying new foods.
Speakers:
Valerie O’Connor
Invasive Species Coordinator, Glacierland Resource Conservation & Development, Inc./Lakeshore Invasive Species Management Area (LISMA)
Debbie Kiedrowski, Friends of Crescent Beach, Crescent Crew Leader
Valerie will share information about the work of Glacierland Resource Conservation & Development Inc./Lakeshore Invasive Species Management Area (LISMA) and their collaborative efforts to protect and restore natural ecosystems across northeast Wisconsin, including a phragmites restoration program in Kewaunee County. Her presentation will introduce some of the most common invasive species found in Kewaunee County, offering tips on how to identify them and sharing the most effective control methods currently in use. Valerie will be joined by Debbie Kiedrowski, leader of the Friends of Crescent Beach Crescent Crew volunteers. Discover how citizen participation plays a key role in managing invasive species and how community members can get involved in reporting infestations and supporting local conservation efforts.
Valerie O’Connor is an environmental specialist with the Lakeshore Invasive Species Management Area (LISMA) at Glacierland Resource Conservation and Development, Inc., serving Kewaunee, Manitowoc, Calumet, and Fond du Lac counties. She holds a B.A. with a concentration in Environmental Studies and an M.S. in Conservation Science from the University of Queensland, Australia. Valerie has a background in habitat restoration, wildlife management, and invasive species control. Since joining Glacierland in 2024, she has collaborated with partners and organizations to manage invasive species and protect local ecosystems. Valerie grew up in Oshkosh. In her free time, she enjoys walking her dog, scuba diving, traveling, and trying new foods.
LIVE Bird Booth - Raptor Education Group Inc. (REGI)
From 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., visitors to the REGI booth will have the exciting opportunity to meet birds of prey up close and personal. Knowledgeable REGI staff will share each bird’s story and highlight their unique adaptations and vital roles in nature. Learn about Raptor Education Group Inc. work in wildlife rehabilitation and conservation and explore a variety of hands-on educational materials. Kids can enjoy fun coloring pages, while everyone can examine touchable objects like wings and skulls for a deeper understanding of these incredible birds.
From 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., visitors to the REGI booth will have the exciting opportunity to meet birds of prey up close and personal. Knowledgeable REGI staff will share each bird’s story and highlight their unique adaptations and vital roles in nature. Learn about Raptor Education Group Inc. work in wildlife rehabilitation and conservation and explore a variety of hands-on educational materials. Kids can enjoy fun coloring pages, while everyone can examine touchable objects like wings and skulls for a deeper understanding of these incredible birds.