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Land Between the Lakes Offers Cross Creeks National Wildlife Refuge Tour

January 26, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Land Between the Lakes

As I’ve said (and said, and said, and said…) there’s always something going on in Kentucky’s Land Between the Lakes.  Whether it’s spring, summer, fall, or blisteringly cold winter – it’s always the right time to take a trip to Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley.

Below is information, from the Friends of Land Between the Lakes.  They’d also like you to know that the welcome mat never rolls up in the LBL region. It’s always out and you’re always treated like a long lost family member.

 

Land Between The Lakes National Recreation Area is presenting Cross Creeks National Wildlife Refuge Tour on Saturday, February 11, 2012, from 9am-12pm. Cross Creeks National Wildlife Refuge, which is managed by the U.S.Fish & Wildlife Service in Stewart County, TN, provides one of the area’s best wildlife viewing hotspots.

The tour is $10 for adults and $7 for children. Registration is limited. Reservations and full deposits are required. Call 270-924-2020 to reserve your space. Meet at South Welcome Station. Dress for the weather and bring binoculars.

“Come join us as we explore this bottomland habitat in search of harriers, sandhill cranes, eagles, and thousands of migrating ducks,” said Sharon Waltrip, LBL’s Program Manager for Environmental Education and Interpretation. “Morning will be our best shot at catching some great wildlife viewing opportunities!”

 

Filed Under: Featured, Kentucky Birds, Kentucky Wildlife, LBL, Winter in Kentucky Tagged With: , ,

Winter’s a Beautiful Thing for Bird Watchers at Land Between the Lakes

January 12, 2012 By

Kentucky’s beautiful Land Between the Lakes is a nature lover’s dream come true and a photographer’s Heaven on earth, year round. It’s just as beautiful in the fall and winter as it is in the spring and summer. The colors are different, and, of course, some birds have packed their bags and headed off for their vacation down south, but the nature-viewing (and photographing) are most definitely abundant.

As someone who is, admittedly, OBSESSED with watching birds and other wildlife, I have a little secret for you – you can often see more birds in the winter. Once the leafy green curtains on the trees have fallen, you can see the birds more clearly.  In our own yard, I always marvel at how many more birds I’m able to watch in the winter.

From Land Between the Lakes:

Got the winter blues? Embrace the season by joining us for one of the many wildlife-viewing van tours offered at Land Between The Lakes (LBL) National Recreation Area. During January, February, and March, there are multiple guided tours offering outdoor enthusiasts a chance to witness some of nature’s greatest moments. Registration is required for all tours, and space is limited. Please call 270-924-2020, weekdays from 8am-4:30pm, to learn more about each tour and make your reservation.

Our ongoing Nature Watch tour series highlights many birds that call this area home during the winter. During these tours, you may see everything from pelicans to pintails!

An all-day Nature Watch tour on January 14, will take you in search of eagles and some of the 25+ species of ducks that call LBL home in the winter. We’ll also cover the fascinating story of local bald eagle recovery by visiting several unique landmarks in LBL. The cost is $40/person and includes lunch at a local restaurant.

LBL continues to offer Eagle Viewing Van Tours from 1-4:30pm on Sundays, Jan. 22, 29, and February 5. Winter is the peak season for seeing bald eagles in LBL; both our resident eagles and visiting “snowbirds” are out looking for fish around the lakes. We’ll take you to the best spots in LBL for spotting these magnificent creatures. Cost is $7/adult and $5/child.

On February 11, we will offer a special Nature Watch tour that brings you to Cross Creeks National Wildlife Refuge, just south of LBL. We will explore this bottomland habitat in search of harriers, sandhill cranes, and thousands of migrant ducks. The cost is $10/adult and $7/child and runs from 9am-12pm.

The month of March offers a chance to see hundreds of pelicans as they migrate through the area, as well as our resident eagles on their giant nests, incubating eggs or sheltering their chicks. Join us on either March 18 or 24, for a Nature Watch tour that highlights these two amazing species. This two-hour tour costs $7/adult and $5/child.

Winter doesn’t have to be spent inside! Join us for any of these fun wildlife-viewing tours:

January 22, 29, and February 5 – “Everything Eagles” Van Tours, 1-4:30pm
January 14 – Winter Wanderers: Eagles and Waterfowl Migration, 9am-5pm
February 11 – Cross Creeks National Wildlife Refuge Tour, 9am-12pm
March 18 & 24 – Pelicans and Eagles, times vary

Come Outside and Play at Land Between The Lakes National Recreation Area, managed by the Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, in partnership with “Friends of LBL,” to provide public lands outdoor recreation and environmental education. We encourage visitors to review LBL’s official website at www.lbl.org each season, and throughout the season, for our Calendar of Events, updates on programs and policies, safety information, maps, and temporary trail and road closures. Follow us on Twitter @LBLScreechOwl and on our blog at http://landbetweenthelakes.blogspot.com. Additional LBL and “Friends of LBL” information is available on our website or by calling 1-800-LBL-7077 or 270-924-2000.

Filed Under: Featured, Kentucky Birds, Kentucky Wildlife, LBL, Winter in Kentucky Tagged With: , ,

Barren River Lake State Resort Park Offers Sandhill Crane Weekends

December 13, 2011 By

Barren River Lake State Resort Park

Before getting to the fun Barren River Lake State Resort Park event, let me just say that I’ve fixed the e-mail form to the right. It was brought to my attention that the form decided to stop working (thanks again!), so I ditched the trouble-making form and hired a new one.  Out with the old, in with the new.  Sign up for e-mail alerts and you’ll know as soon as something new has been added to the website.  You can also sign up for our RSS feed, also on the right – or follow me on Twitter.

Heck, why not just do all three?!?

Beautiful Barren River Lake State Resort Park never fails to impress.  Maybe you’re a photographer looking for incredible photo ops or a diner looking for great catfish in the lodge’s restaurant.  Maybe you’re a boater, fisherman (or woman), or golfer looking for their next great challenge.

Or maybe you’re simply looking for rest and relaxation surrounded by Kentucky’s awe-inspiring beauty.  Whatever you’re looking for, you’ll find it.. and more… at Barren River Lake State Resort Park.  They have something special in store for bird lovers in January and February.

Each year thousands of sandhill cranes make Barren River Lake a stop on their journey back home.  Join Barren River Lake State Resort Park during its Nature Watch Weekends to get up close to these beautiful cranes as they migrate through the area.

The weekends, Jan. 20-21 and Feb. 17-18, 2012, will consist of educational sessions conducted by Wayne Tamminga, a wildlife biologist with the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, on Friday evenings at 7 p.m. CST.

Participants can register for one of two trips. The morning sunrise trip takes guests to the roosting site before sunrise to experience the beauty of the cranes leaving the roost as they journey to nearby cornfields to spend the day. The sunset trip begins by viewing the birds in the cornfields and ends at the roosting site so you may view the magnificence of thousands of cranes circling overhead as they get ready to settle down for the night.  Each of these trips will be led by naturalists from the Kentucky Department of Parks.

Registration is $30 per person and includes the evening session, a sunrise or sunset field trip, boxed meal, and a T-shirt.  Registration forms are available online at http://parks.ky.gov/calendar/details/nature-watch-weekend–sandhill-cranes/16254/ or by contacting Jamie Avery at 1-800-325-0057.

Please note that the dates selected are based on historical records under normal weather conditions in January and at the end of February, and past trends of the cranes’ arrival in this area.  Please be aware that this narrow window of opportunity can vary by several days based on weather and the cranes’ migration schedule.

Barren River Lake State Resort Park, near Glasgow, has a lodge, cottages, Driftwood Restaurant (amazing catfish!), golf course, fitness center, gift shop, fishing, picnic areas and hiking trails. The resort is located 44 miles southeast of Bowling Green and 15 miles south of Glasgow. Take I-65 to the Cumberland Parkway east, to US 31E south.

Filed Under: Barren River Lake SRP, Featured, Kentucky Birds Tagged With: , ,

Hummingbird Festival at Land Between the lakes Woodlands Nature Station

July 25, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Hummingbirds at the Woodlands Nature Center, Land Between the Lakes

One of my favorite places in Kentucky’s Land Between the Lakes is the Woodlands Nature Station. Given the fact that I love animals, birds, butterflies, trees, and flowers to complete and utter distraction, how could it not be?! Woodlands Nature Station is a beautiful and incredibly peaceful place where you’ll lose yourself in the aforementioned lovelies.

If you’re as wild about hummingbirds as I am, the following press release from Land Between the Lakes will be of great interest.

Annual Hummingbird Festival Returns to LBL’s Woodlands Nature Station

Come out to Land Between The Lakes (LBL) National Recreation Area and witness the migration of the Ruby-throated hummingbird during the annual Hummingbird Festival Friday, Saturday, & Sunday, August 5-7, at Woodlands Nature Station (NS).

“Hummingbird migration in this area is at its peak in August,” said NS Interpreter Carrie Szwed. “A large number of hummingbirds stop here on their journey south to Mexico and Central America. During this time, up to 200 hummingbirds visit our feeders in a single day. The festival is an opportunity to be a part of this awesome event.”

The main Hummingbird Festival events take place at the NS Saturday 9 a.m.-4 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Admission to Hummingbird Festival 2011 is $5 ages 13 and up and $3 ages 5-12. Visit with NS staff and guest exhibitors to learn more about these amazing little birds and how you can help them survive their long migration. Highlights of the weekend include hummingbird banding demonstrations, a nature photography program, a native plant sale, a honeybee observation hive, activities and games for children, and live animal programs. Take-home information will be available about gardening, bird feeding, nature-friendly cleaning products, and more. Be sure to bring your camera to capture the stars of the weekend, the Ruby-throated hummingbirds.
Brainard Palmer-Ball Jr. and Mark Monroe, local hummingbird banders, will give up close demonstrations throughout the day on the technique of bird banding. Banding is a way of identifying and tracking individual birds. If a hummingbird is recaptured at another study site along its migration route, the leg band number is recorded and added to a database. Biologists can then look at all the data collected over the years for clues about the habits of these tiny birds and how best to meet their habitat needs. Visitors can attend ongoing demonstrations and visit other information stations Saturday 9 a.m.-4 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Other weekend activities include Dinner with the Hummingbirds on Friday, August 5, that requires reservations and full deposits due to limited space. For complete information or reservations, contact 270-924-2020. The following is a list of NS programs for the weekend:
Friday, August 5
6-8pm Dinner with the Hummingbirds
$20 per person (includes dinner and evening admission)
Saturday, August 6
9am-4pm Hummingbird Banding Demonstrations
10:30am Hummingbirds 101
11:30am Migration Miracles
12:30pm Hummingbirds for Kids
1:30pm Hummingbirds 101
2:30pm Nature Photography: Composition
3:30pm The Power of Pollinators
Sunday, August 7
10am-4pm Hummingbird Banding Demonstrations
11:30am Hummingbirds 101
12:30pm Hummingbird Folklore
1:30pm Nature Photography: Composition
2:30pm Hummingbirds 101
3:30pm Gardening for Hummingbirds and Butterflies

Land Between The Lakes is managed by the Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, in partnership with “Friends of LBL,” to provide public lands outdoor recreation and environmental education. We encourage visitors to review our website at www.lbl.org each season, and throughout the season, for our Calendar of Events, updates on programs and policies, safety information, maps, and temporary trail and road closures. Additional LBL and “Friends of LBL” information is also available on our website or by calling 1-800-LBL-7077 or 270-924-2000.

If you love hummingbirds, read how to attract hummingbirds to your yard!

Filed Under: Kentucky Birds, LBL, Summertime in Kentucky, The Nature Station Tagged With: , ,

Land Between the Lakes Recreation Area Events During July

July 6, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Oxen at The HomesteadOxen at The Homeplace. I love this picture! @MikeSigers  took the picture at just the right time.

I’ve said it millions of times and, no doubt, I’ll say it again twice as much: There is no place on earth quite like the Land Between the Lakes.  No two trips to Kentucky’s Land Between the Lakes are exactly the same and no one trip is less than a complete blast.  If you’ve never been, do yourself (and your family) a huge favor and plan your Land Between the Lakes vacation today. If you’ve been to Land Between the Lakes and even if (like us), you’ve been there far too many times to count – go again! As I said, no two trips are the same and you’ll inevitably see things that are different since you saw them last.

Whether it’s a week in paradise or just an overnight stay, you’ll make memories that’ll last a lifetime.  Get yourself to Land Between the Lakes and EXPLORE your options for fun!

This is one of Kentucky’s extra special regions.  The food is outstanding, the sights (and photo opportunities!) breathtaking, the fun is outrageous, and the people are the warmest, friendliest, and most colorful people you’ll ever meet.  They’re genuinely delighted to see guests and treat them like long lost family members.

Below you’ll find a list of events going on in the Land Between the Lakes region during July. As you’ll see, there’s a lot of fun and excitement waiting for you, your family, and your camera. Don’t make the fun wait any longer… if you do, it’ll find someone else!

July 1-31

  • Planetarium Shows – Golden Pond Planetarium Daytime shows: Ages 13 & up $4; Ages 5-12: $2
  • Far Out Space Places – Mon.-Fri. at 10am and Sat. & Sun. at 4pm
  • Laser- Legends of the Night Sky – Daily at 11am
  • Blown Away: The Wild World of Weather – Sat. & Sun. at 11am
  • Two Small Pieces of Glass – Daily at 3pm
  • The Skies Above – Daily at 1pm
  • Journey to the Edge of Space & Time – Daily at 2pm

Tuesday, July 5

  • 11am Bald Is Beautiful: The Bald Eagle – Nature Station
  • 2:15pm Goodies for Groundhog – Nature Station
  • 7pm Laser Ipop & 8:30pm, Laser Country Laser Lights Music Shows – Golden Pond Planetarium

Wednesday, July 6

  • 1pm Flower Pounding – Homeplace

Thursday, July 7

  • 2:15pm Truly Talon-ted – Nature Station

Friday, July 8

  • 7pm Laseropolis & 8:30pm, Laser U2 Laser Lights Music Shows – Golden Pond Planetarium

Saturday & Sunday, July 9-10

  • 10am-5pm Drag Boat Races – Pisgah Bay For more info, contact 800-732-0088 or www.kdba.net

Owl at the Nature Station, Land Between the LakesAdorable Owl at The Nature Station. The animals at the Nature Station are incredibly well-cared for and loved!  These are birds and animals with injuries that could not live on their own in the wild – they’d become prey or die of starvation.  The Nature Station allows them to live their lives as pampered pets who get attention and adoration 24/7. It’s a very, very special place that no animal lover will want to miss. It’s also a wealth of education for children… of all ages!

Saturday, July 9

  • 10am – 4pm Women’s Handwork Day – The Homeplace
  • Roaming the Nights in Shining Armor: Armadillos – Nature Station
  • 1pm, 3pm Crafty Stepping Stones – Nature Station

Cost per person is NS admission + $3 per stepping stone. Reservations are required since materials are limited. Call 270-924-2020 to reserve your space. Kids are invited to make their own stepping stones.

  • 7pm Summer Cooler Night Fright Light & 8:30pm, Summer Cooler Night Laser Holiday Laser Lights Music Shows – Golden Pond Planetarium

Sunday, July 10

  • 1pm Hug a White Oak – Homeplace *International Year of Forests Program*
  • 2:15pm Insect Hike – Nature Station

Tuesday, July 12

  • 11am A Real “Hoot”-enanny – Nature Station
  • 2:15pm What in the World is a Whistle-Pig? – The Nature Station
  • 7pm Laser Retro & 8:30pm, Laser Zeppelin Laser Lights Music Shows – Golden Pond Planetarium

Wednesday, July 13

  • 10am Field Work – Homeplace

Thursday, July 14

  • 2:15pm Gentle Giants: Alligator Snapping Turtles – Nature Station

Friday & Saturday, July 15-16

  • 8pm (Rodeo) LBL Primitive Rodeo and Wranglers Grand Jubilee Wranglers Campground

For more info, call 270-924-2200 or 2201.

Friday, July 15

  • Ongoing from 11am-3pm Radical Reptile Booth – Golden Pond Visitor Center

Free to all LBL visitors. Stop by our booth at the Visitor Center to meet some live snakes and turtles.

  • 7pm Laser Beatles & 8:30pm, Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon Laser Lights Music Shows – Golden Pond Planetarium

Saturday, July 16

  • 10am-4pm COOL & CRAWLY CRITTERS DAY!* – Nature Station

$3 children/$4 adults. Includes NS admission.
Hey kids! If bugs, snakes, turtles, frogs, and other slimy, slithery, and crawly critters fascinate you, then the Nature Station is the place for you today. Many special guests will be joining us to show off the critters they study. Check out all sorts of cool and crawly critters up close and personal, and meet scientists who study them!

Saturday, July 16

  • 1pm Old-Time Music Concert – Homeplace

Come on out today, rain or shine, for an old-time mountain music concert. Be sure to bring your dancin’ shoes.

  • 7pm Laser Vinyl Laser Lights Music Show 8:30pm, The Skies Above Astronomy Program 9:30pm Summer Nights– Golden Pond Planetarium

Filed Under: Kentucky Birds, Kentucky Wildlife, LBL, Summertime in Kentucky, The Homeplace, The Nature Station Tagged With: , ,

Cumberland Falls State Resort Park is hosting its Nature Photography Weekend April 29-May 1.

March 31, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Photography: Butterfly on a Bright Flower

Nature photography buffs will enjoy this weekend that features a 24-hour digital competition. Photographers with all skill levels can pick up helpful tips from guest speakers. There will be amateur and accomplished classes. Plaques will be given in several categories. The cost is $ 35 per person.

This year’s speakers are Kendal Chiles and Don McGowan, two very accomplished nature photographers who have taught numerous workshops focusing on the Great Smoky Mountains National Park area. Don and Kendal are eager to share their expertise with you.

Call the park at 1-800-325-0063 for information, registration and overnight accommodations. Email Bret A. Smitley@ky.gov for a brochure.

Cumberland Falls State Resort Park has a lodge, Riverview Restaurant, cottages, campground, hiking trails, fishing, horseback riding, rafting, other recreational activities and a great view of Cumberland Falls.

Filed Under: Cumberland Falls State Resort Park, Kentucky Birds, Kentucky in Pictures, Kentucky Wildlife, News, Springtime in Kentucky Tagged With: , ,

John James Audubon State Park: Wildflower Extravaganza April 2

March 25, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Black-Eyed Susans

If you love flowers, trees, and birds as much as we do in our home (I guess “in our yard” would be more appropriate), here’s something you’ll be very interested in.

John James Audubon State Park’s Annual Wildflower Extravaganza will be held on Saturday, April 2 , from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (CT).

Throughout the day, visitors to the park in Henderson will have the opportunity to stretch their legs, expand their minds and create botanical landscaping masterpieces. This annual event features programs for all ages including three wildflower walks, informative presentations and a children’s scavenger hunt.

Visitors will learn about the area’s incredible spring flowers and their historical uses. “Long before pharmacies, people looked to nature to cure their ills,” said Audubon Park Naturalist Julie McDonald. “Some of those medical uses were valid while others were just plain dangerous, however, since then we’ve lost touch with nature, and the stories that connect us to it.”

Evansville Courier and Press writer Sharon Sorenson will introduce visitors the art of birdscaping or landscaping to attract birds and wildlife. With all of the wonderful landscaping plants available, one would think that there’s plenty of food available.

“Not so,” said McDonald. “The toughest time to find food is toward the end of winter when natural food sources such as grasses and berry plants are depleted and the insects haven’t come back in large enough numbers to feed hungry mouths. If we plant the right plants to sustain birds through the winter and provide a frost-free water source, we’ll have a better chance of creating the best habitat for our feathered friends while reducing lawn mowing time throughout the summer.”

Saturday, April 2 activities include:

  • 9 a.m.: Wildflower Walk (1.5 hour)—We’ll identify as many flowers as we can on this challenging one-mile trail ranging from ridge to river. Audubon Museum – Front Porch.
  • 11 a.m.: Wildflower Walk—Learn about the traditional uses of native wildflower plants on this moderately easy trail. Audubon Museum – Front Porch.
  • Noon: Kids Wildflower Scavenger Hunt (30-minute program for children ages 3-5 and their parents)—Learn about shapes, colors and our local flowers on this easy, paved trail. Audubon Museum Back Porch.
  • 1 p.m.: Wildflower Walk (one hour)—Stroll along on this guided moderately easy walk of less than a mile. Audubon Museum – Front Porch.
  • 2 p.m.: Birdscaping: Landscaping for Birds (one hour)—Irrevocably tied to the plants around them, birds turn to plants for food, shelter, nest sites and nest-making materials. Which flowers, trees, shrubs and vines grow in your yard determine which birds visit there. Presented by Sharon Sorenson. Audubon Meeting Room.

For more information contact Julie McDonald at (270) 826-2247 or juliea.mcdonald@ky.gov.

John James Audubon State Park also has a museum, gift shop, campground, cottages, hiking trails and a nine-hole golf course!

Filed Under: Events, Gardening, Henderson, John James Audubon State Park, Kentucky Birds, Springtime in Kentucky Tagged With: , , , ,

Flowers and Feathers Weekend at Pine Mountain State Resort Park April 29 – 30, 2011

March 19, 2011 By 2 Comments

Owl

Kentucky is on the brink of getting all dressed up for spring. Kentucky is always a beautiful state but when she dresses herself in Spring, it’s a breathtaking sight.

Make that many sights!

One such place you can see Kentucky showing off her spring wardrobe is Pine Mountain.

Glorious spring adorns the vaulted slopes of Kentucky’s Pine Mountain in a cloak of green and the lush forest enters an enchanting period of flowerings. By late April, the blooming of wildflowers is nearing its peak, and an assortment of warblers can be observed migrating through Kentucky. Now, there’s an adventurous weekend opportunity to celebrate the occurrence of both!

Pine Mountain State Resort Park

will host its Flowers and Feathers Weekend April 29-30.

Guests will enjoy guided outings that will include seek-n-find wildflower hikes, a misty morning bird walk and a how-to wildflower photography field trip. Enjoy Breakfast with the Birds by the dining room windows as the park’s naturalist directs observation and build your own take-home bluebird box in a hands-on workshop session. Feature evening programs will showcase spectacular wildflower photography, lovely native wildflowers and shrubs, and an up-close live birds of prey show featuring barn owl, great horned owl, peregrine falcon, red-tailed hawk and others. Don’t miss this outdoor celebration of the arrival of spring to the mountains.

The registration fee for participation is $10 for adults, $3 for youths 13-17, and children 12 and under are free. Pre-registration is encouraged; combined packages that include lodging, select meals and all event programs are also available. Registration fees are waived for those purchasing packages. To request additional program information e-mail Dean.Henson@ky.gov. To book a combined package, phone the Guest Services Desk at (800) 325-1712.

Pine Mountain State Resort is located south of Pineville, Ky. on US 25E and 10 miles north of Middlesboro, Ky. From I-75 South or North, take exit 29 at Corbin onto US 25E, then travel south on 25E, approximately 34 miles to Pineville, Ky. Continuing on 25E south, to the park entrances are located about 1.5 miles south of Pineville. Buses and larger vehicles should use the south entrance, just past Wasioto Winds Golf Course. The Herndon J. Evans lodge is located 4.5 miles from the park entrance; park signs mark the route.

Filed Under: Blog, Featured, Kentucky Birds, Pine Mountain State Resort Park, Springtime in Kentucky Tagged With: , , ,

Old Mulkey Meetinghouse State Historic Site Hosts Meet the Flock

March 4, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Old Mulkey Meetinghouse State Historic Site

Old Mulkey Meetinghouse State Historic Site will host the “Meet the Flock” birding event on March 26 to kick off its 2011 season.

Guests may see wild turkeys, woodpeckers, cardinals, owls and other avian species that call the park home with the day’s program that starts at 9 a.m. Learn about the park’s enhancements to date and future plans as it pursues the designation of “Birding Capital of South Central Kentucky.”

Go on “location” with Bob and Judy Peak during their presentation of “Bluebirds Over Western Kentucky.” Hear Stephen Stedman’s “Birdlife of the Upper Cumberland Region of Tennessee and Kentucky.” Participate in the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s “Celebrate Urban Birds” and more!

Dress for the weather and bring your favorite bird watching equipment. Register by March 22 to ensure sufficient materials. Bring your own lunch or enjoy world-famous Monroe County barbeque by pre-paying $7 per plate. Checks for barbeque should be made payable to “The Friends of Old Mulkey.”

In conjunction with the March 26 event, Old Mulkey is partnering with the Monroe County School District Community Education Department to host the “Meet the Flock Art Contest.” Entries in the contest will be displayed in the Meetinghouse and viewer’s choice awards will be selected by participants of Meet the Flock. Artists within the following criteria are invited to participate:

Adult Division — any individual 18 years of age as of March 25, 2011. Painting: oil, acrylic or watercolors. Drawing: ink, graphite, pastel or colored pencil.

Middle & High School Divisions — Students in middle or high school who reside in Monroe County and are under 18 as of March 25, 2011. Painting: oil, acrylic or watercolors. Drawing: ink, graphite, pastel or colored pencil.

SPECIFICATIONS: All entries must have a bird or birds as the main focus. Entries without birds will not be permitted. Additional rules apply. For a complete set of rules or other information on the day’s events contact Sheila Rush at sheila.rush@ky.gov or 270-487-8481.

Filed Under: Blog, Events, Featured, Kentucky Birds, Old Mulkey Meetinghouse State Historic Site Tagged With: , , ,

Bird Watchers, Get Ready for Winter Bird Blitz at Natural Bridge

January 21, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Kentucky State Parks: Natural Bridge State Resort Park

Fellow bird lovers of Kentucky, this is right up our alley… or should I say right up our tree.

Natural Bridge State Resort Park is hosting a Winter Bird Blitz on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 4-5. The Winter Bird Blitz features a day of birding activities on Friday followed by a bird count on Saturday morning and afternoon. Bird count data over time in any given area can provide valuable insights into the long-term health of bird populations and the environment… and besides, it’s fun and free!

Friday’s birding activities will be led by the park naturalists Brian Gasdorf and Tyler Morgan.  The day will begin in the Hemlock Lodge lobby for a birding basics program from 9:30-11:30 a.m. covering topics such as binoculars, field guides and bird identification characteristics.  From 1-2 p.m. visitors can join a bird watching motor tour looking for birds in different habitats at the park.  For $7, participants can build a cedar bird nest box from 2:30-4:30 p.m. at the park’s nature center (supplies available on a first-come, first-serve basis.) In preparation for the bird count, a “Winter Birds of the Appalachian Woods” evening presentation will be held in the Hemlock Lodge lobby from 7:30-8:30 p.m.

On Saturday, bird count participants can join the park naturalists in the Hemlock Lodge lobby for a bird watching motor tour from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. counting birds at various 15 to 30 minute stops at Natural Bridge and the surrounding Red River Gorge area.  During the motor tour, every individual bird and bird species observed will be counted. Participants in the motor tour should bring their own lunch, drink and binoculars (a limited amount of binoculars will be available for a $5 fee during the guided motor tour.) Participants should also be sure to dress for the weather.

If interested in counting birds on your own on Saturday’s bird count, a map of possible birding locations, a bird checklist and other bird count information will be available at the front desk of the Hemlock Lodge.

For more information about the Winter Bird Blitz event, contact park naturalist Brian Gasdorf at 606 663-2214 or brian.gasdorf@ky.gov for more information.

Natural Bridge State Resort Park has a lodge, cottages, the Sandstone Arches Restaurant, gift shop and hiking trails. For more information or for room reservations, phone 1-800-325-1710.

The resort near Slade is 52 miles southeast of Lexington off the Mountain Parkway on KY 11.



Filed Under: Kentucky Birds, Kentucky State Parks, Natural Bridge State Resort Park, News, Winter in Kentucky Tagged With: , , ,
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