Tallgrass Preserve offers a weekend of birding
By The Emporia Gazette (Contact)
Thursday, May 7, 2009
The Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve will offer two days of birding this weekend. The weekend will begin at 7 a.m. Saturday with a 60-minute International Migratory Bird Count and Hike starting from the Bottomland Trail area (weather permitting). Visitors will count species of birds and learn about bird conservation and bird-watching methods.
At 8 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday, 90-minute birding hikes will be offered at the same location. The trail is two miles south of the ranch headquarters and 1/3 mile east on the gravel county road near St. Anthony cemetery. Hikers should wear protective clothing, use sunscreen and insect repellent and bring drinking water, binoculars and birding guides.
“Birding Not Just for the Birds: Getting a Good Start in Birding” will be presented both days at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. at the ranch headquarters. There will be a children’s workshop at 1 p.m.
At 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Saturday, the Birds of Prey program will be presented in the barn by naturalist Vanessa Avara of the Milford Nature Center.
For more information visit the preserve’s Web site at www.nps.gov/tapr, e-mail tapr_interpretation@nps.gov or call (620) 273-8494.