Bird Days Celebration in Boise

International Migratory Bird Days will be celebrated at the MK Nature Center and Deer Flat Refuge May 15. The events will start at 8 a.m. with two bird walks led by naturalists. One will start at the MK Nature Center Education Building at 600 South Walnut in Boise and the other at the Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge Visitors' Center at Lake Lowell. Activities for the whole family will run from noon to 4 p.m. at the Nature Center including owl pellet dissection, making three-dimensional paper birds, learning bird songs, tasting shade grown (bird-friendly) coffee, experimenting with bird beak shapes to see what food each bird eats, opportunities to view birds and learn about spotting scopes and binoculars, information on creating backyard bird habitat and backyard birding. Four bird experts will be on hand with information, beginning with Larry Ridenhour from the BLM Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area and his Swainson's hawk at 12:30 p.m. At 2:30, Trish Nixon from the World Center for Birds of Prey will bring a golden eagle and a peregrine falcon. All activities are free to the public and donations are welcome to help support future International Migratory Bird Day events and educational programs about birds. This event represents a joint effort of the MK Nature Center, Idaho Fish and Game, the U.S. Forest Service, BLM, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Partners in Flight, the Golden Eagle Audubon Society, the Idaho Bird Observatory, the World Center for Birds of Prey, Bird House and Habitat (a local bird supply business) and the Roastere ( a local coffee business). Please call Kris Allison, MKNC Volunteer Coordinator/ Wildlife Educator 334-2225 with any questions.