Family-Outdoors

Image via Wikipedia Flying WILD focuses on bird ecology, adaptations, behavior, conservation, and basic identification in the field on Feb. 25 at the  Indiana Dunes  State Park Nature Center.  Participants will learn to be more comfortable using binoculars, be aware of bird-related citizen science opportunities appropriate for classrooms or nature centers, and know what to look for in order to identify a bird in the field or at a feeder. This workshop is great for anyone involved with the education of youth in the middle school grades. The workshop will run from 9:15 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. There is a $20 workshop fee. Registration is required. Call  (219) 926-1390  by Feb. 17 to register. Related articles Winter bird workshop planned Jan. 7 at Van Meter State Park (missourioutdoors.blogspot.com) Oklahoma Calling all citizen scientists to help conduct Wildlife Department's Winter Bird Feeder Survey (family-outdoors.bl...

Image via Wikipedia The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation’s Winter Bird Feeder Survey starts Jan. 5 and gives wildlife enthusiasts and their families an exciting way to kick off the New Year.             Attracting birds and maintaining backyard feeders for wintering birds is popular in both urban and rural areas of Oklahoma. People in both places can help the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation by participating in the survey while also getting close-up views of a number of unique birds.             Any Oklahoman with a backyard bird feeder can participate by choosing any two days between Jan. 5-8 to count birds at their feeders and record their observations. And according to Rachel Bradley, wildlife diversity specialist for the Wildlife Department, attracting birds to backyard feeders is not difficult.       ...

Image via Wikipedia DES MOINES—Colder temperatures and the inevitable snow doesn’t shut down the outdoor season for many of us. We just shift gears. Iowans spend more than $300 million each year watching wildlife, for everything from seed to feeders or binoculars , even wildlife-watching trips. As the snow flies, though, most of that money and time is spent filling bird feeders and watching the winter show as birds work yards into their daily feeding regimen. “It’s just the connection people get with something so beautiful, right in their backyards. It’s a great way to appreciate nature,” explains Pat Schlarbaum of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources wildlife diversity program. “If you enjoy songbirds, you can draw them right up to your picture window.” For the widest variety of birds, offer different seeds and other foods. The number one attraction, though, is black oil sunflower seed.  Everything from cardinals to nuthatches and chickadees, even bluejays and hair...