Registration is now available for the Fall Meeting of the Nebraska Ornithologists’ Union (NOU)!!
Dates: September 26-28, 2025
Location: Ogallala NE
Venue: Quality Inn & Suites
Registration and more info here:
https://noubirds.org/Meetings/Next.aspx
FEATURING SPECIAL GUEST:
North American Gull expert and author of The Gull Guide-Amar Ayyash**
All attendees must register. You do not need to be an NOU Member to attend!
Amar Ayyash is both an expert on the gulls of North America and an evangelist for "gull recreation". He is often found speaking at birding events throughout the continent, and much of his free time is dedicated to traveling the world to photograph and study gulls. Ayyash has published a number of papers and articles on gull identification, distribution, and molt, and he is the author of the authoritative guide to North American Gulls, The Gull Guide. Amar is the recipient of the 2024 ABA Robert Ridgway Award for Outstanding Ornithological Publication.
Meeting Agenda
-Guided NOU Birding Field trips at one of Nebraska’s top birding hotspots Lake McConaughy and other area hotspots including Ash Hollow SHP, Clear Creek WMA!!
-Keynote presentations by Amar Ayyash
-The Gull Guide book signing by Amar (Bring your copy-purchase from Princeton Press or other retailers)
-Gulling with Amar at Lake McConaughy (morning and afternoon sessions/availability may be limited)
-Scientific Presentations- Contact the NOU President to submit abstract, limited slots
-Nebraska Birding Discord Server Introduction and Primer
***NEW*** NOU Silent Auction
A Closer Look at Gulls
Among the world's “seabirds”, gulls are the most accessible to humans, invading our most immediate surroundings. Gulls are sometimes perceived as 2nd class avian creatures. This, along with the identification challenges they present and their readiness to hybridize presents a love-hate relationship for many birders. Yet some gull species are among the most coveted birds on any birder's list (think Ross's, Ivory and Sabine’s Gull). This makes for an interesting juxtaposition. Do we like some gulls and look past others? Amar Ayyash will take us through an entertaining and intriguing exploration of the natural history of gulls, including their thorny taxonomy and identification.
Introduction to Gull ID
Often approached with apprehension, gulls have gained a love-hate relationship with many birders. Among these larids are some of the most coveted bird species in the world. Amar will highlight key identification field marks for separating our most common gull species, and he will also touch on some of the often-ignored topics in gull-study such as the aging process, plumage and molt. Learn why an increasing number of people are being drawn to this family of birds and are eagerly calling themselves “larophiles”.
Also check out other Meetups in Ogallala, Arts events in Ogallala, Literary Art events in Ogallala.
