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The second annual Red River Valley Birding & Nature Festival offers several come-and- go events at All Saints’ Camp & Conference Center on Lake Texoma for nature enthusiasts, including those with limited time and or funds:
1. Think you know North Texas birds?! Test your knowledge on the North Texas Armchair Birding Championship computer-based quiz, . Any bird that migrates through our North Texas area is “fair game”. This event will be held 8 am – 5 pm, Thurs - Sat, Nov. 30 - Dec. 2. There will be both an expert quiz and intermediate “fun” quiz. Top scorer of the expert quiz will win a $50 bookstore certificate and will be announced at the Saturday evening dinner (winner need not be present). Open to the public, free of charge.
2. Bird Banding (Come-and-Go) Join Dr. Doug Wood of Southeastern Oklahoma State University on 12/1/2006 for an exciting morning of bird banding. Mist nets will be set up from 7:30 - 11:30 a.m. to catch resident songbirds and wintering migrants. Participants will learn how to properly handle birds, basic banding theory, banding techniques, and data collection. See familiar resident birds like the Northern Cardinal and Carolina Wren as well as wintering Dark-eyed Juncos and White-throated Sparrows among other exciting species. Don’t forget to bring your camera as pictures are allowed of birds in hand. Open to the public, free of charge.
3. Stargazing - Come on out and see the sun and stars! The Astronomical Society of North Texas will be setting up telescopes for people to look out at the heavens. During the day on Saturday, Dec. 2, look at the sun to see the sun spots and from 8 – 10 p.m. that night view the moon, Orion’s Nebula and Pleiades just to name a few. Open to the public, free of charge.
4. Nature Bazaar - 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., Friday and Saturday, Dec. 1 and 2; admission free; browse nature related displays and booths selling nature related items.
5. Children’s Activities – for ages 5 – 12, free; kids can connect with nature through crafts and games offered from 1 – 5 p.m., Saturday, December 1. Advance registration advised, www.redriverbirding.com or call Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge, 903-786-2826 (toll free- 1-888-893-1198).
In addition, talks on birds, plants, and the environment will be offered the afternoons of November 30 – December 2, for only $5 per lecture.
Visit the website for complete information on guided field trips, workshops and social events slated for the festival.