National Park Service Announces Free Public Event in Partnership with Audubon Center for ‘The Great Backyard Bird Count”
On Saturday, February 18, 2017, the Great Backyard Bird Count comes to the Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary. This worldwide citizen science initiative creates a snapshot of birds all across the globe and answers “big picture” questions about what’s happening to bird populations and the climate. Last year more than 160,000 people from more than 130 countries participated.
The Great Backyard Bird Count event is free to the public, and will focus on birds and their life cycle, the importance of citizen science and bird watching, and one of our greatest natural resources: the Mississippi River. It is a fun event that allows bird watchers of all ages and skill levels to contribute meaningful scientific data and to help expand our understanding of birds in our own backyard.
Participants will move through several stations at the Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary to learn about birds and the natural history of the area. There will be booths featuring a living history display of the Lewis & Clark expedition, bird migration on the Mississippi River and birdhouse building; as well as an opportunity to see rehabilitated birds rescued by TreeHouse Wildlife Center. Hot chocolate will be served to keep you warm, and there will be prizes for completing an event passport. This event is made possible by the National Park Service, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
WHAT: Great Backyard Bird Count
WHEN: Saturday, February 18, 2017; 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
WHERE: Audubon Center at Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary, 301 Riverlands Way, West Alton, MO 63386
COST: Free and open to the public
DETAILS:
- Bird count stations led by Audubon Center Staff
- Lewis & Clark living history programming by Isaiah Frater and Don Schwertfeger, interpretive park rangers at Jefferson National Expansion Memorial
- Mississippi flyway migration talk by Two Rivers National Wildlife Refuge
- Geocaching scavenger hunt by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
- Bird house building by Jefferson National Expansion Memorial Education Department staff
- Birds of Prey and Native Species program (with live birds!) by Tree House Wildlife Center
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE EVENT OR TO REGISTER YOUR CLASS: Please email Bruce Yoder at [email protected].