Friends of
International Migratory Bird Days
2009
On Saturday May 2nd The Friends of Moraine Hills State Park Volunteers teamed up with a dozen other organizations and businesses with the help of the Moraine Hills State Park staff started off the weekend celebration.
The day started off with a 7 am bird walk led by Rob Gough, representing The Illinois Audubon, McHenry County Chapter. Some fifty-four species were observed. At 11 am Mary Kozub & Kim Caldwell of the McHenry County Conservation District began bird banding our visitors and measuring their wing spans. From there our participants were invited to sign a bird action pledge, take the Great Migration Challenge, and play Bird Bingo, Jeop-Birdy, Fill the Bill, and Just Ducky. Participants could also make a sound map, go on a Bird Behavior Scavenger Hunt, look through a spotting Scope, learn how to use binoculars, and sit by the Fox River and listen to stories. Sara Denham of McHenry County Conservation District’s Wildlife Resource Center was there with a live Short-eared Owl and an American Kestrel. Also for our viewing pleasure was the Illinois Natural History Survey’s Traveling Science Center.
All participants were given a passport to take to each of the activities to be stamped, earning prizes on the number of stamps received. The coveted Plush Birds – that sang accurate bird songs when squeezed – inspired many participates to complete the 14 required activities. A Grand Prize Drawing was held at 3:00
p.m. based upon the Bird Band numbers. A pair of 8 x 40 binoculars donated by the Wild Bird Center of Fox River Grove, went to Marisa Greninger of Cary.
Conscious Cup of Crystal Lake provided free rain-forest (i.e. bird habitat) friendly coffee to participants.
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Wing Span, Banded, & Stamped |
Bird Behavior & Scavenger Hunt |
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“Jeop-Birdy” |
“Bird Bingo” |
Binocular & Spotting Scope use |
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“Fill the Bill” |
“Just Ducky” |
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FOMHSP Table |
Story Telling Down by the River |
Traveling Science Center |
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American Krestrel |
Short-eared Owl |
Plush Singing Birds |
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Photos by Cheryl Graves |
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International Migratory Bird Day
2010
Because of staff cuts
excreta we were not as big as last year but weather was good, and those that
attended had a good time..
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FOMHSP Banner |
Myrna, Stacy, Neil & John |
Sign the Bird Pledge |
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Tina ran “Get Banded” |
Bob ran “Bird Bingo” |
Lee ran “Jeop-Birdy” |
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Dubey family ran “Sports Trivia/Habitat Match |
How to use Binoculars & spotting scope by Walt Dembos |
Carl Howard’s Story reading by the Fox River |
