Winter Birds of the Coulee Region, Presentation by Dan Jackson
Mississippi Valley Conservancy invites community members to a special presentation, Winter Feeder Birds of the Driftless Area, led by naturalist and wildlife photographer Dan Jackson. This two-hour event will take place on Saturday, February 21st at 10 a.m. at the McIntosh Memorial Library in Viroqua.
As part of the Conservancy’s Linked to the Land educational outreach program, this presentation offers a fun and accessible way for nature lovers to deepen their connection to the outdoors—right from their own backyards. Winter is an active season for feeder birds in the Driftless, and learning to identify and understand these species inspires stewardship and appreciation for the habitats that support them year-round.
Dan Jackson is a Wisconsin Master Naturalist, long-time birder, and dedicated conservation volunteer with experience in wildlife photography and citizen science. He has participated in many volunteer research activities and citizen science projects including the Wisconsin Odonata Survey, the Minnesota Odonata Survey, the Dragonfly Society of the Americas Dragonfly Survey, the Wisconsin Butterfly Survey, the Wisconsin Breeding Bird Atlas, USGS Breeding Bird Survey, Wisconsin Owl Survey, Wisconsin Nightjar Survey, Kirtland’s Warbler surveys, Christmas Bird Counts, the Wisconsin Frog Survey, the Wisconsin Mussel Monitoring Project, and the Great Backyard Bird Count. He has also led hundreds of field trips in search of birds and Odonata, and regularly does presentations on dragonflies, butterflies, birds, bumble bees, and nature photography.
As a wildlife photographer, Dan has spent countless hours in the field and has taken pictures of hundreds of species of birds, dragonflies, damselflies, butterflies, bumble bees, river mussels, and many other species of insects, plants, and animals. Some of his photos have been published in magazines, birding publications, newspapers, field guides, websites, and journals including “Dragonflies of the Northwoods”, “Dragonflies of Wisconsin”, “Damselflies of Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan”, the Wisconsin Natural Resources magazine, the Badger Birder, Argia, the Big River Magazine, and even “The Complete Field Guide to the Dragonflies of Australia”.
Jackson’s talk will feature photos of common—and a few uncommon—winter birds that visit feeders in our region, along with engaging insights into their behavior, biology, and ecology. Whether you’re new to backyard birding or a seasoned observer, this presentation will offer tips, visuals, and stories perfect for winter nature watching.
The event is free and open to the public, with donations welcomed to support the Conservancy’s work protecting more than 27,000 acres across the Driftless Area. Support for this Linked to the Land program was also provided by WXOW News 19.
(Photo by Dan Jackson. A Lapland longspur is a frequent visitor to the Driftless Area in the winter months.)