Join the Madison Nature Journal Club and Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance for a special opportunity to nature journal a live bird model–Uncle Butzie the Turkey Vulture! Lisa Hartman, a vulture researcher, will be bringing ambassador vulture Uncle Butzie for us to observe. Nature journaling includes sketching, but also writing questions and notes about what you’re seeing, sensing, and feeling. You do not need prior drawing experience to attend; we won’t be aiming to make beautiful pictures so much as we will be using words, numbers, and pictures to capture what we notice on our pages.
After learning some nature journaling tips from educator Amy Schleser, you’ll have plenty of free time to observe and nature journal about Uncle Butzie from a close distance. Vulture feathers will also be available to touch and journal about, and possibly other vulture objects. In the last half hour, people will be encouraged to share what they journaled about as we reflect on meeting Uncle Butzie the vulture.
DETAILS:
WHAT TO BRING: drawing supplies (a pencil and paper works or anything fancier), a blanket or lawn chair to sit on, sun screen, bug spray, water. (We’ll try to balance the number of people sitting on the ground VS on chairs so everyone can get a good view of Uncle Butzie.) Optionally bring binoculars to get an even closer look at the vulture’s face as he perches.
MEETING SPOT AND PARKING: Navigate to W7503 Kampen Road, Arlington, one of the sanctuary residences owned by Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance. There is parking available near the barns, and we will meet on the lawn by the house.
BATHROOMS: One porta potty is on site
AGES: great for all ages. As there is limited space, all attendees, including adults accompanying children, should plan to participate in nature journaling.
ACCESSIBILITY: We will be stationary for the event, with paved driveway between the parking area and the lawn. The lawn itself is turf grass and mostly even terrain.
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WHAT IS NATURE JOURNALING?
Nature journaling includes drawing pictures of nature but also writing questions and notes about what we’re observing. Our goal is to look closer and wonder more deeply about nature. We think about drawing as a tool to help us notice–you don’t need to draw beautifully to be a nature journaler. At the club we’ll talk briefly about ideas of what to write about, using prompts such as "I notice... I wonder... It reminds me of..." You'll also get some nature journaling tips about ways you could document what you’re seeing and sensing on your pages.
Register here!
Cover artwork by Amy Schelser
