Celebrating Migratory Birds, May 10

BEND, Ore. – Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) and the Children’s Forest of Central Oregon are partnering to host “Birds Without Borders” 9 .am. – 1 p.m. May 11 at Tumalo State Park. The free event coincides with International Migratory Bird Day and will feature family-friendly bird walks, birdhouse building, live bird of prey viewing, crafts to prevent bird-window collisions, games, stories and more. All of the activities will be offered in both English and Spanish. “Our goal is to bring awareness to these amazing migration stories, and also to inspire kids and adults to continue learning more and take action to protect these birds and their habitat,” said Katie Chipko, executive director of the Children’s Forest of Central Oregon. “Plus, bird watching is a great way to connect people of all ages to nature, and we hope that some families continue to do so after the event.” North America, including central Oregon, is a large hub for several species of migratory birds. Most originate from North America, Mexico and the Caribbean, though some travel from as far as Central and South America. “It can be a long, perilous journey for the birds,” said Jill Nishball, OPRD program coordinator. “Besides pushing their physical limits, they also must navigate changing landscapes, habitat loss, pollution and other threats. It’s important for each of us to do our part to assist them on their journey.” Other organizations involved with the event are High Desert Museum, Think Wild, Discover Your Forest, Sunriver Nature Center and the East Cascades Audubon Society. The event is free, however Tumalo State Park charges a $5 day-use parking fee or requires visitors display a valid state parks day-use parking permit. More info about the park, including maps, is on oregonstateparks.org. More information about the Children’s Forest of Central Oregon is online.