WHERE BIRDS OF A FEATHER FLOCK TOGETHER
October 3, 2025 • International Crane Foundation • Baraboo, WI • 7:30 a.m. – 4:15 p.m.
DETAILS
Fly away for the day to the International Crane Foundation (ICF), Friday, October 3. Member-only registration opens August 1, so watch your email for details!
On-point small-animal lectures featuring real-world vet-med expertise. Six scientific CE credits you can put to work right away.
Interactive experiences include Crane Center tours, birdwatching walks, prairie restoration hikes, veterinary clinic visits, egg incubation sessions, and more.
A breathtaking location and a full flock of fellow veterinarians ready to connect.
SCHEDULE
7:30 a.m. Check In & Breakfast (all attendees)
8:30 a.m. Prepare for Takeoff: ICF History, Mission & Medicine (all attendees)
10:00 a.m.
Cohort A: Feline Medicine OR Dermatology
Cohort B: First Interactive Experience
11:30 a.m.
Cohort B: Feline Medicine OR Dermatology
Cohort A: First Interactive Experience
12:30 p.m. Lunch (all attendees)
1:45 p.m.
Cohort A: Rehabilitation OR Internal Medicine
Cohort B: Second Interactive Experience
3:15 p.m.
Cohort B: Rehabilitation OR Internal Medicine
Cohort A: Second Interactive Experience
4:15 p.m. Event Ends
Attend two of the five interactive experiences and two of the four lectures. Capacity is limited, so sign up right away to give yourself a better chance of getting your first and second choices of experiences.
Participants will be divided into two cohorts for a portion of the day and switch between lectures and experiences.
See the July Voice cover story for more exciting details!
COURSE SPEAKERS
Darren Berger
DVM, DACVD
Dermatology
Rikki Fitzpatrick
DVM, MS, DACVIM
Internal Medicine
Dayle Parnell-Lampen
DVM, CCRP, CVPP, cVMA, CSCC
Rehabilitation
Tamara Sloan
DVM
Feline Medicine
EXPERIENCE INSTRUCTORS
Diana Boon, DVM
Director of Conservation Medicine
Clinic/Incubation Rotations
Dr. Boon graduated from Tulane University in New Orleans with a BS in Biology and a minor in Studio Art. Before attending NC State University College of Veterinary Medicine, she took a School for Field Studies Wildlife Biology and Management course in Kenya and worked as a wildlife technician on several field projects around the country. Her focus in veterinary medicine was zoo & wildlife, and she spent her first summer working with the Florida Panther Project near the Everglades. Dr. Boon accumulated a broad knowledge of species and programs through multiple roles with zoos (staff veterinarian, contract & relief veterinarian, consultant) and their associated wildlife conservation programs. She’s fascinated with birds and what they represent, though she may have a few other species she considers favorites. Diana joined the ICF team in September 2023 as the Director of Conservation Medicine.
Kaycee Daentl, DVM
Veterinary Fellow
Clinic/Incubation Rotations
Dr. Kaycee is the Veterinary Fellow at the ICF. Originally from Kansas City, Missouri, Dr. Kaycee attended Kansas State University for both her undergraduate and veterinary schooling. After graduating from veterinary school, she went on to complete a small animal rotating internship at Virginia Tech, followed by a specialty internship in wildlife rehabilitation medicine in St Paul, Minnesota, at The Raptor Center at the University of Minnesota (U of M) and the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of Minnesota. After her internship, she remained on staff as a veterinarian while completing a master’s degree in public health at U of M. She then spent one year working as a locum staff veterinarian at the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife in Sanibel, Florida, before joining the flock at the ICF for a veterinary fellowship in crane conservation medicine. Outside of work, Dr. Kaycee is an avid reader and amateur birdwatcher. She’s excited to be back in Wisconsin, where much of her extended family resides.
Andy Gossens
Sandhill Crane Project Manager
Prairie Restoration Walks & Field Activity Rotations
Andy is a Project Manager working with sandhill crane research projects in the Field Ecology Department and has been employed at ICF since early 2006. Originally from Middleton, Wisconsin, Andy graduated from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities in 2002 with a B.S. in Ecology, Evolution and Behavior. During his time in college, Andy gained experience working with avian species while volunteering at The Raptor Center and completing an internship at the Minnesota Zoological Gardens. After following his wife to Madison to pursue her graduate studies, Andy worked as an Assistant Research Specialist in a neuroscience laboratory at UW-Madison. In 2006, he began working at ICF as a Crane Conservation Department intern, helping maintain the captive crane flock and costume rearing whooping crane chicks. The next spring Andy began as a Field Ecology Department intern and has been here ever since. He’s now helping coordinate sandhill crane research near Briggsville, Wisconsin, and is involved with prescribed burns, invasive species management, and other aspects of field ecology.
Sara Kalani
Veterinary Technician
Clinic/Incubation Rotations
Sara Kalani is a dedicated veterinary professional with years of experience providing comprehensive care to a wide range of animals, including dogs, cats, birds, reptiles, small mammals, and other wildlife. With a background in diagnostics, surgery, and nursing, Sara’s main focus is on exotic species. Sara has worked closely with the International Crane Foundation as a relief technician and has also provided valuable support during the annual crane health checks. This summer, Sara became the International Crane Foundation’s Veterinary Technician at Headquarters in Baraboo, WI, where she continues to provide care for ICF’s resident flock of cranes.
Ryan Michalekso
Communications & Advocacy Specialist
Bird Watching Walks
Ryan Michalesko is a Communications & Advocacy Specialist at the ICF. He holds both an M.S. in Natural Resources Policy and a B.S. in Natural Resources Planning from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. An award-winning photojournalist, Ryan’s work has been published by The New York Times, The Washington Post, Associated Press, The Guardian, and others. He’s a former Professional Fellow with the U.S. Department of State/International Center for Journalists and a Grantee of the Pulitzer Center. He’s also an avid birder, with most of his free time in the spring and fall spent in the woods soaking in the magic of migration.
Hillary Thompson
Whooping Crane Project Manager
Field Activity Rotation
Hillary grew up in the rural Wisconsin town of Scandinavia, a town with a population of 300. She spent most of her childhood collecting rocks, chasing toads, listening to birds, and swimming in the lakes. All this time outside led to a decision to major in Conservation Biology. Hillary graduated from UW Madison in 2010 with a BS degree in Zoology, Conservation Biology, and Scandinavian Studies. From there, she worked on a variety of projects studying beetles, sea lions, and fish, which took her from Madison to Wyoming, then to Washington, Oregon, and back home to Wisconsin. She started at ICF in 2012 as a Field Ecology Intern and never quite left. In 2014, she began her Master’s research at Clemson University, studying winter habitat use and non-breeding movements of Whooping Cranes in the Eastern Migratory Population. Hillary is now back at ICF working as the Whooping Crane Project Manager.
Go behind the scenes of ICF’s veterinary clinic and connect with the top doc and dedicated staff responsible for the medical care of every crane on campus. Just a few steps away, aviculturists will discuss egg incubation and hatching for the Whooping Crane Reintroduction Program, and biologists will share how wild cranes are caught and monitored.
INTERACTIVE EXPERIENCES
Choose two of the five experiences.
Tours take place on paved walking paths,
with a limited number of scooters available on
a first-come, first-served basis.
Please note that the Guided Prairie Walk and
Birding Trail Walk follow narrow, single-file dirt trails
that are not suitable for scooters.
Explore the beauty and history of ICF’s awe-inspiring acres. Learn about the continued efforts to restore native vegetation, the process of prairie restoration, and how a farmstead was transformed into the scenic terrain you see today. Andy will discuss practical prairie plant information, lessons learned along the way, and restoration projects planned for the future.
It’s the crane tour of all crane tours. Join your flock for an educational walk with your friendly ICF guide and get to know the world’s 15 magnificent crane species. Discover the unique biology, anatomy, care tactics, threats, and conservation methods for each species. And learn about complex behaviors, the practice of costume-rearing crane chicks, and stories about ICF’s global impact.
Take a deep dive with aviculturists to hear the captivating stories of two majestic birds from two different parts of the planet. First up, the Whooping Crane’s journey from the brink of extinction. Learn about the biologic implications of a genetic bottleneck and explore ICF’s groundbreaking conservation techniques, including imprinting and isolation rearing. From there, it’s off to Africa for a look into the vulnerable lives and conservation of the Wattled Crane. We’ll explore the ecological roles Wattleds play across diverse landscapes—from wetlands and savannas to grasslands.
Cranes aren’t the only winged residents around here. Enjoy the fall migration and discover an array of bird species as you hike the scenic trails winding through restored prairie, wetlands, and woodlands. Ryan will provide trail walkers with a unique glimpse into the biodiversity supported by ICF’s conservation and land restoration efforts.
SPONSORS
LOCATION
A Huge Thanks to our Amazing Partners at
International Crane Foundation
E11376 Shady Lane Rd, Baraboo, WI 53913
Parking and Entry
Flight School attendees can park in the field directly across from the exit gate. Just look for the friendly parking attendants. From there, enter at the front gate and walk to the Welcome Center to register at the WVMA table.
Your Attendance Supports More Than CE
Admission to the International Crane Foundation is included with Flight School, and those fees will directly support avian influenza preparedness, including PPE for staff on the front lines of crane conservation.
