The Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge will celebrate the 25th anniversary of International Migratory Bird Day on Saturday, May 19th, 2018. Now known as World Bird Day, the 2018 theme is celebrating the Year of the Bird, the 100th anniversary of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
SPECIAL NOTE: This year we will again have an “Early Bird” bird walk on the Maquam / Black Creek trails. Meet at 5:30 AM at the Route 78 parking lot. (Registration for this walk is not necessary.)
Regular activities will begin at 7:30 AM with an orientation at the refuge Visitor Center. Participants will split up into groups, including bird walks on several refuge trails, two birding trips by boat, and a “beginner’s” walk on the Discovery Trail. Given the incredible interest and limited slots available for the Refuge's Bird Day boat trips, we are holding a lottery for the slots in the two boats to make it fair for everyone interested. Should you want to sign up for a lottery slot please phone the refuge office starting in April. We will take names from April 4th - April 27th.
Each group will record all species and as many individuals within those species as they can and then tally the results over a light lunch. All birding participants will return to the Visitor Center by 11:00 AM to tally results and have lunch.
The Bird Day celebration coincides with the opening of our annual “Art on the Refuge” exhibit. Information about entering artworks in the exhibit will be posted here in the near future.
Please call 802-868-4781 to register for this activity. Also please check back closer to the event date for any changes/additions to the schedule.