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Hummingbird Month at the Nature Station in the Land Between the Lakes

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Hummingbirds at The Nature Station (Land Between the Lakes)

If you’ve ever been to Woodlands Nature Station in the Land Between the Lakes, you know why I say that… as a bird and animal lover… it’s one of my favorite places in the world. The bird-watching (and photographing, of course) can’t be beat. As my husband could attest, I could and do spend hours watching the beautiful birds while looking for just the right picture.

Hummingbirds are just one of the beautiful birds that have the good sense to flock to the Nature Station. They know a great buffet when they see it! August is Hummingbird Month at Woodlands and if you’re anything like me, you won’t want to miss a single thing… or feather. Notice that reservations are required for nearly half of the programs.

Special Hummingbird Programs:

  • Throughout August: Nature Station Hummingbird Photo Contest
  • Friday, August 4, 6-8pm: Dinner with the Hummingbirds (reservations required)
  • Saturday & Sunday, August 5 & 6: Hummingbird Festival
  • Tuesdays & Thursdays at 10am: Morning with the Hummingbirds
  • Wednesdays, August 2, 9, & 30 at 11:30am: Hummingbirds of the World
  • Saturday, August 12 at 9:30am: Hummingbird Photography Workshop (reservations required)
  • Saturday, August 26 at 9am: EXCLUSIVE: Early Morning Photo Session (reservations required)
  • Saturday, August 19 at 9am: Hummingbird Café (reservations required)
  • Sunday, August 13: Knee-high Naturalists – Hummingbirds

 

August is Hummingbird Month at Woodlands Nature Station in the Land Between the Lakes

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Hummingbird at the Nature Station in the LBL
I have been fascinated by all birds since I was barely able to walk. They’re just as fascinating today as they were then – many, many, many moons ago. Hummingbirds (my dad’s absolute favorite bird) are always a special joy for bird lovers, aren’t they? Unfortunately, in the grand scheme of time, they aren’t around long at all. In fact, if your experience is like mine has been this year, it’s going to be even shorter because the little beauties seemed particularly late in arriving this year.

Like all good bird watching nerds, I keep a bird journal and they weren’t just days late, they were weeks late!

Next month, August, is actually peak hummingbird viewing season in many parts of the region, including the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area.

Hundreds of Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds rest and fuel up in the gardens and feeders at Woodlands Nature Station for their migratory journey south. Nature Station naturalists present special hummingbird programs throughout August included with regular admission to the Nature Station:  $5 ages 13 and older, $3 ages 5 to 12, and free for ages 4 and younger.

Optimal hummingbird viewing begins in mid-July and lasts throughout August. The Nature Station provides a unique opportunity for up to 10 people during an Early Morning Hummingbird Photo Session. Photographers may also photograph butterflies, native wildflowers, and rescued wildlife including the red wolves and bobcat during their most active time of day. The Early Morning Hummingbird Photo Sessions begin at 9am on August 13 and 27. The cost is $10 per person. Call 270-924-2020 for reservations.

On August 20, the Nature Station opens early for Hummingbird Café. Enjoy breakfast among the native wildflower gardens and hummingbird feeding frenzy. The cost is $10 per person; call 270-924-2020 for reservations.

Nature Station visitors can enter Nature Station’s first ever Hummingbird Photo Contest by submitting a hummingbird photo taken at the Nature Station during August. Winners will have their photos displayed at Hummingbird Fest 2017. See full contest details on the web at http://www.landbetweenthelakes.us/nature-station-hummingbird-photo-contest-2016/.

Hummingbird Festival Click for a larger view.
Special programs offered in August include:

 

Contact the Nature Station at 270-924-2299 with questions or for more information about Hummingbird Month.

 

Woodlands Nature Station’s Hummingbird Festival

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Hummingbirds at The Nature Station (Land Between the Lakes)

Beautiful Hummingbirds at Woodlands Nature Station (Land Between the Lakes)

If you love birds even half as much as I do, bird-watching isn’t just something you enjoy, it’s something you live for. It isn’t a coincidence that some of my favorite places on earth (Land Between the Lakes, Kentucky State Parks, Woodlands Nature Station, our own yard..) also happen to be the best places to see tons of birds.

The set up at Woodlands Nature Station, in fact, is Heaven on Earth for bird lovers. There are countless hummingbird feeders as well as feeders for every other bird imaginable.  It’s a beautiful place to just sit and enjoy the beauty and gracefulness of these feathered marvels.

Hummingbird Festival

Woodlands Nature Station will host their popular annual Hummingbird Festival, Saturday and Sunday, August 1 and 2, from 10 am – 4 pm. Ruby-throated Hummingbird migration peaks for Land Between The Lakes National Recreation Area in August, and there really is no better place to enjoy these beautiful little birds than the Nature Station.

Admission to this special event is $7 ages 13 and up, $5 ages 5-12, and free for children 4 and under.

“A large number of hummingbirds stop here on their journey south to Mexico and Central America,” explains Nature Station Lead Naturalist, John Pollpeter. “Up to 200 hummingbirds might visit our feeders in a single day. The festival provides a fun atmosphere for people to see and learn about these powerful birds.”

Highlights include hummingbird banding demonstrations, a wildlife art show, staff-led programs, a native plant sale, live animal encounters, local wildlife experts, and activities for kids. Food prepared by the cooks at Brandon Spring Group Center will be available for purchase.

Weekend events at Nature Station include:
Saturday & Sunday, August 1 & 2 – 11 am, 1 pm, 3 pm Hummingbirds 101

Saturday, August 1 – 12pm Benefits of Backyard Bats and 2pm Attracting Butterflies

Sunday, August 2 – 12pm Attracting Songbirds to the Backyard and 2pm A Place for Pollinators
Other special activities focusing on hummingbirds will be presented all month at the Nature Station. Check the LBL’s calendar for more information.

Hummingbirds at The Nature Station (Land Between the Lakes)

Hummingbird Festival 2014 at Woodlands Nature Station (August 2-3)

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Hummingbird Festival Woodlands Nature Station 2014
Although this festival has expired, there is always something to see and do in the Woodlands Nature Station, as well as in the Land Between the Lakes. Visit our Kentucky Events  page for up to the minute happenings and be sure to check out our Things to Do in Kentucky  page.

 

I can actually remember the very first hummingbird I ever saw. My dad (where I got both my insane love of birds AND coffee from) pointed out a tiny little ball of motion that was hovering near one of his rose beds. When he asked if I knew what it was, I said it looked like the world’s largest dragonfly moving really, really, really fast. When he said it was a “hummingbird,” I thought he was pulling my leg – since it happened to be his favorite sport, it was never out of the question.

My mom backed up his story and a lifelong infatuation with these tiny beauties was born.

If you have an ongoing fascination with hummingbirds, you’ll want to be in the Land Between the Lakes in early August. The Hummingbird Festival will take place on Saturday and Sunday (August 2-3, 2014) from 10am to 4pm.

From Woodlands Nature Station and LBL.org:

On-Going Activities:

  • Observe and learn as scientists band hummingbirds for migratory research.
  • Visit with local artists as they demonstrate their craft; buy some art to take home with you.
  • Talk with a local beekeeper as you check out our honeybee observation hive; purchase local bee products.
  • Find out how to attract bluebirds and other wildlife into your backyard; buy some native plants at our sale.
  • Visit the Hummingbird Gift Store to purchase feeders and more.
  • Discover our resident wildlife such as a bald eagle, bobcat, owls, snakes, and our new, red wolf pup.
  • Bring the kids for crafts, games, face painting, and scavenger hunt.

If you like Ruby-Throated hummingbirds, this is the weekend for you! Delight in watching more of these flying gems in one place than you can count! This year, discover “The Art of Hummingbirds,” featuring the artwork of local nature artists, inspired by the tiny hummingbirds and their outdoor neighbors. View a gallery of wildlife art, get tips from the experts, and even try your hand at wildlife photography and illustration. As always, you can also view our ongoing hummingbird banding demonstrations by licensed banders, as well as participate in a variety of programs and activities going on throughout the weekend. Bring the whole family, there will be plenty for kids to do too! Be sure to check back for further updates about the weekend’s schedule of programs and activities.$6 for adults; $4 for kids ages 5-12; Free for ages 4 and under. Event will take place rain or shine.

Click HERE for more information (the PDF will open in a new window).

See Also: How to Attract Hummingbirds to Your Yard

The Hummingbird Festival Returns to LBL’s Woodlands Nature Station

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Hummingbird

If you’re a bird watcher or simply someone who happens to love hummingbirds, Woodlands Nature Station is having a Festival that you won’t want to miss. It’s the Hummingbird Festival and the popular event is just around the corner.

Land Between The Lakes (LBL) National Recreation Area is the place to be in early August for a lot of reasons, but hummingbird lovers have an extra reason to head for the lakes.�  On Saturday & Sunday, August 4-5, enjoy the migration of the Ruby-throated hummingbird during the annual Hummingbird Festival�  at Woodlands Nature Station.

“Hummingbird migration in this area is at its peak in August,ââ?¬Â said Nature Station Interpreter Carrie Szwed. ââ?¬Å?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.ââ?¬Â

The main Hummingbird Festival events take place at the Nature Station Saturday 9am-4pm and Sunday 10am-4pm. Admission to Hummingbird Festival 2012 is $5 ages 13 and up, $3 ages 5-12, and free for children 4 and under. Visit with the 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 encounters. Take-home information will be available about building nest boxes, participating in citizen science projects, downloading nature apps to your smartphones, and more. Be sure to bring your camera to capture the stars of the weekend, the Ruby-throated hummingbirds.

Hummingbird banders from Louisville, Kentucky, Brainard Palmer-Ball Jr. and Mark Monroe, will give up close demonstrations throughout the day on the technique of bird banding. 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 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 9am-4pm and Sunday 10am-4pm.

Other weekend activities include Dinner with the Hummingbirds on Friday, August 3. This event requires reservations and full deposits due to limited space. For complete information or reservations, contact 270-924-2020.

The following is a list of Nature Station programs for the weekend:

Friday, August 3

  • 6-8pm Dinner with the Hummingbirds – $20 per person (includes dinner and evening admission)

Saturday, August 4

  • 9am-4pm Hummingbird Banding Demonstrations
  • 10am Hummingbirds 101
  • 11am Hummingbird Photography: The Basics & More
  • 12pm Hummingbirds 101
  • 1pm Hummingbird Photography: The Basics & More
  • 2pm Hummingbirds 101
  • Ã? 3pm Gardening for Hummingbirds & Butterflies

Sunday, August 5

  • 10am-4pm Hummingbird Banding Demonstrations
  • Ã? 11am Hummingbird Photography: The Basics & More
  • 12pm Hummingbirds 101
  • 1pm Hummingbird Folklore
  • 2pm Hummingbirds 101
  • 3pm Hummingbirds for Kids

Please visit http://www.lbl.org for more information about the beautiful Land Between the Lakes area!

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