World Migratory Bird Day is an annual event for educating the public about the urgent conservation needs of migratory birds and their habitats. On Saturday, May 14, join Pipestone National Monument for a fun and informative day of activities for the whole family!
The event kicks off with a free “Intro to Nature and Bird Photography" workshop led by local photographer Marty DeWitt. This portion of the event is by reservation only, as space is limited. The program will begin at 9am with an indoor information session, followed by a two-hour interactive photo walk along the Circle Trail. This program is best suited for photographers with DSLR or mirrorless cameras. Registration for the photography workshop opens April 14th. Call (507) 825-5464 ext. 214 to secure your spot – Marty’s program is guaranteed to fill up!
If you prefer a point-and-click approach to snapping photos, you are invited to participate in the monument’s Migratory Bird Day BioBlitz. This is an opportunity for citizen scientists (that’s you!) to collect important data about park birds by capturing photos along the trail and submitting them to Pipestone’s iNaturalist page. Anyone can participate and you can arrive any time, but many birds are most active in the early morning. All blitzers will receive a token of thanks once their bird images are uploaded to the site (or emailed to a ranger). Just ask a ranger how you can help!
From 1 – 4 pm, kids can earn a Junior Birder patch, play bird bingo, test your knowledge at bird trivia, and search for bird images throughout the park to complete your Pipestone birding safari! Discover what types of birds call Pipestone home, and how threats like light pollution can impact migratory birds.
For additional information, visit the Monument’s Facebook page (Facebook.com/PipestoneNPS) or call (507) 825-5464 ext. 214 to speak to a ranger.
About the National Park Service: More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America's 424 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov, and on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.