Lafayette will celebrate bird migration at Waneka Lake for attendees to learn about the importance and beauty of birds and how to protect their habitats. The 11th annual Celebrating Bird Migration event will be held 1-3 p.m.
Sept. 15 at Waneka Lake and Greenlee Wildlife Preserve, 1600 Baseline Road. The event will start at the Waneka Lake east parking lot, where West Emma Street ends at Caria Drive.
Many activities will be held at the east parking lot and along the one-third mile walking path to Greenlee Wildlife Preserve. The Butterfly Pavilion, the Lafayette Arts and Cultural Resources Department, Boulder County Nature Association and more organizations will have activities and exhibits at the event. Attendees will have the opportunity to look at birds of prey up close, view birds in the area with binoculars or scopes and learn more about bird migration and their importance in the ecosystem.
The event will explore the World Migratory Bird Day theme of “protect insects, protect birds.” As insect populations decrease, birds lose their food source. Martin Ogle, education coordinator, said bird migration is always happening around the world, and it is an important aspect of life to acknowledge and celebrate.
“I have referred to birds as the single best way to understand the world around us,” Ogle said. He said studying bird migration is like taking a look behind the curtain to see how birds operate in the world. Ogle points to the Swainson’s hawk, which lives in the Colorado area and further north into Canada during the summer, but migrates to Argentina during the winter.
He said that not only is the extensive migration an incredible feat, but also symbolizes how diverse Lafayette residents are with the hawk being able to actually see the homelands of residents who came from North and South America. Ogle said that whether attendees are bird enthusiasts or beginner bird watchers, anyone can enjoy the festival. Ogle said the event will teach residents about their home and their wildlife neighbors, what they need and how residents can help contribute to a healthy environment.
Former Harlem Globetrotter basketball player Nate Lofton will be at the event at 1-2 p.m. to showcase his wingspan compared to some birds of prey.
“What we have here for bird habitats, I hope people see how special it is and how important it is to try to preserve it,” Parks and Open Space Manager Dennis Warringston said. He hopes that the event also serves as an opportunity to let people appreciate how important that riparian corridor is. Warrington and Ogle said that every action has an impact, and ask people to be respectful of the open space.
More information is available at tinyurl.com/LafayetteBirdMigrationEvent ..
