|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Hundreds of children, parents, and naturalists of all ages turned out for an engaging afternoon featuring games, crafting, prizes and rehabilitated bird encounters during Tropical Audubon’s 10th annual Bird Day held at the society’s Steinberg Nature Center grounds on Saturday, Feb. 17.
By 4 p.m., 300-plus visitors and 40-plus volunteers had visited the non-profit’s 2.2-acre near-native campus that comprises the conservation organization’s headquarters. The enriching activities enabled participants of every age to learn about bird protection programs, native habitat gardening and bird identification.
This year’s Bird Day was dedicated to the late Lewis “Brother” Milledge, who founded the event in his role as TAS Education & Grounds chair.
Celebrated annually and now chaired by TAS Education & Advocacy director Stephanie Clements, Bird Day celebrates the late winter/early spring northbound flight of nearly 350 species of migratory birds stopping over in South Florida as they return to their North American nesting grounds from points south.
To monitor their migration for science, TAS Field Trip coordinator Brian Rapoza mentored attendees about how to participate that same weekend in the nation’s Great Backyard Bird Count, leading a mini bird walk primer on the wooded grounds.
Attendees of every age were enthralled by the release of a rehabilitated Red-shouldered Hawk by Wildlife Rescue of Dade County’s Jemma Peterson. It had been rescued after ingesting rat poison and nursed back to health by capable Wildlife Rescue volunteers who help rehabilitate injured birds of prey and other native wildlife.
Pelican Harbor Seabird Station’s Rossella Dallo brought rescued Eastern Screech Owl “Mowgli” to educate curious children.
Many of the day’s visitors tried their hand at Owl Pellet dissection, Nature Journaling and crafting Piping Plover “chicks.” Others honed their binocular skills with loaner binoculars from Leica Store Miami. Kids also “ate like birds” and explored the nature trails that thread the Tropical Hardwood Hammock and Pine Rockland demonstration forests; their parents took tours of the historic 1932 Doc Thomas House.
The Tropical Audubon Society is located at 5530 Sunset Dr., Miami, FL 33143; phone 305-667-7337 or visit www.tropicalaudubon.org.
ABOUT US:
For more Miami community news, look no further than Miami Community Newspapers. This Miami online group of newspapers covers a variety of topics about the local community and beyond. Miami’s Community Newspapers offers daily news, online resources, podcasts and other multimedia content to keep readers informed. With topics ranging from local news to community events, Miami’s Community Newspapers is the ideal source for staying up to date with the latest news and happenings in the area.
This family-owned media company publishes more than a dozen neighborhood publications, magazines, special sections on their websites, newsletters, as well as distributing them in print throughout Miami Dade County from Aventura, Sunny Isles Beach, Miami Beach, Coral Gables, Brickell, Coconut Grove, Pinecrest, South Miami, Kendall, Palmetto Bay, Cutler Bay and Homestead. Each online publication and print editions provide comprehensive coverage of local news, events, business updates, lifestyle features, and local initiatives within its respective community.
Additionally, the newspaper has exclusive Miami community podcasts, providing listeners with an in-depth look into Miami’s culture. Whether you’re looking for local Miami news, or podcasts, Miami’s Community Newspapers has you covered. For more information, be sure to check out: https://communitynewspapers.com.
If you have any questions, feel free to email Michael@communitynewspapers.com or Grant@communitynewspapers.com.
