News Release

____________________________________________________________

May 4, 2005

INTERNATIONAL MIGRATORY BIRD CELEBRATION MAY 13 AND 14 INCLUDES FILM SCREENING, BIRD WALKS, FAMILY ACTIVITIES

MacGillivray's Warbler

Western Tanager

click on photos above for full size view

A variety of family friendly activities, including bird walks, bird banding, bird crafts and a live birds of prey program are planned for Saturday, May 14, at the MK Nature Center, 600 South Walnut Street, to celebrate International Migratory Bird Day 2005.
 

In addition, the film “Winged Migration,” will be screened Friday evening, May 13. The free celebration is presented by Boise State University’s Idaho Bird Observatory, the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Golden Eagle Audubon Society, the Bureau of Land Management and the Forest Service.

International Migratory Bird Day is celebrated around the globe to draw attention to birds, their habitats and the need to protect their future. The theme for this year’s event is “collisions,” and will focus on the many obstacles such as wind turbines, cell phone towers, cars and power lines that make bird migration more difficult. The Boise celebration will include information on what’s being done on a local level to protect birds from collisions. The schedule of events include:
 

Friday, May 13

“Winged Migration,” a film that showcases bird migration through 40 countries and seven continents, shows at 7 p.m. in the MK Nature Center Auditorium. Free admission; limited seating is available on a first-come basis.

Saturday, May 14

(All events are at the MK Nature Center, 600 South Walnut Street)

Bird walks: 8:30 a.m. and 10 a.m. Western tanagers, lazuli buntings and Swainson’s hawks are among birds participants are likely to see.
 

Bird banding: 9 a.m.-noon. Idaho Bird Observatory director Greg Kaltenecker will band birds such as song sparrows, house finches, red-winged blackbirds, American goldfinches and others as part of a program to determine migratory movements and gather data on bird size, weight, age and other details.
 

Birds of prey program: 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Live birds will be displayed and discussed.
 

Kids activities: 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Face painting, bird crafts, a bird beak adaptation activity and owl pellet dissections are planned.

-30-

Contact: Greg Kaltenecker, Idaho Bird Observatory, (208) 866-6748, gkalten@internetoutlet.net

Media Contact: Janelle Brown, communications and marketing, (208) 426-1790, jbrown2@boisestate.edu

The Office of Communications and Marketing - Boise State University
1910 University Drive - Education Building, #726 - Boise Idaho 83725-1030

208-426-1577
(fax)208-426-4001

email newservices@boisestate.edu

Last reviewed on Thursday, December 22, 2005