Midwest Birding Symposium

I scarcely saw any birds while we attended the Midwest Birding Symposium in Davenport, Iowa. That's not because there were no birds, it's because the event was so heavily scheduled that it was nearly impossible to get away for any birding.
Our journey began with lost luggage (courtesy Northwest Airlines) and a mad dash across the Mississippi River (from the Moline, IL airport) to pick up a group of people accompanying us to a book reading and signing in Iowa City. No luggage, no personal hygiene products, NO PROBLEM! Well as long as you had no sense of smell it was no problem.
Prairie Lights bookstore is one of those sanctuary-like independent bookstores that really understands its business. Julie and I, along with Donald Kroodsma (author of "The Singing Life of Birds") were to be the on the "Live from Prairie Lights" radio program, hosted by Julie Englander. Lisa White (our editor at Houghton Mifflin and Katrina Kruse also from HM came along as our chaperones and guides. We somehow managed to make the hour-long drive to Iowa City, arriving on time. A red-tailed hawk perched atop a gold-domed college building may have been a good omen. After the show and book signing, we enjoyed a lovely dinner at Atlas. Alas we got back to D-Port too late to join the Karaoke Krew at The Rusty Nail. But our journey to the Karaoke Kosmos was only a few hours away....
Pictured below: The authors pose with show host Julie Englander. And our books on display for all to see (and buy).