Twin Cities Urban Birding Festival bigger and better than ever

By News Team
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Tue, May 11th, 2010
Posted in The Great Outdoors

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The fifth annual Urban Birding Festival will be held May 13-16 at various locations throughout Minneapolis-St. Paul. It's a free celebration of springtime birds, especially those which inhabit urban areas.

"There are excellent birding opportunities in the heart of a metropolitan area," said Liz Harper, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) nongame wildlife specialist. "Experts can help birders of all levels learn where the best birding spots are in the Twin Cities."

The festival is billed as "Where Birds and People Meet" and is being organized in part by the DNR Nongame Wildlife Program. It features a day-long series of events at Fridley's Springbrook Nature Center and daytime and evening bird walks at various locations.

Harper added that people spend lots of money to feed and watch birds in their backyards. This is an opportunity for people to see birds they may have never seen before.

DNR's Nongame Wildlife staff will be available to answer urban birding questions and selling DNR books, including the newly revised "Woodworking for Wildlife" by Carrol Henderson.

The only event requiring a reservation and a fee is Birding Central's catered lunch on Saturday, featuring birder and conservationist Lyle Bradley speaking about bird habitats.

On Sunday, there is a hike planned through the Arden Hills Army Training Site, which is seldom open to the public. All walks during the festival are led by experienced bird watchers.

For more information, locations, and full schedule, go to www.saintpaulaudubon.org.

Springbrook Nature Center is "Birding Central" for the festival and is located at 100 85th Avenue NW, Fridley.

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