Events planned for Joplin birders

The Joplin Globe, Mo.
·3 min read

Jan. 1—A number of events are planned for area birders.

Winter Bird Count

The annual Kids Winter Bird Count will be Saturday, Jan. 6.

This program will be from 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at the Shoal Creek Conservation Education Center in Joplin's Wildcat Park, 201 Riviera Drive, and is for ages 7-17.

Missouri Department of Conservation staff and experienced birders from the Ozark Gateway Audubon Society Chapter will lead attendees on mentored bird-viewing opportunities on trails surrounding the Shoal Creek Center. The program will conclude with a lunch provided by Ozark Gateway Audubon and a discussion of what birds were seen.

Participants should bring binoculars if they have them, dress for the weather and wear comfortable walking shoes. People can register at https://mdc-event-web.s3licensing.com/Event/EventDetails/197182.

Though this program is free, registration is required. For information, call the Missouri Department of Conservation at 417-629-3434.

Project Feeder Watch

MDC's Project FeederWatch will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Jan. 10-11 at the Shoal Creek Conservation Education Center.

There's no registration for this two-day event.

At this event, MDC staff and program participants will record bird sightings at feeders at the Shoal Creek area on both days and people will get information on how they can watch for and record birds they see around their homes and in their neighborhoods. These citizen sightings are the foundation of Project FeederWatch.

Project FeederWatch is joint effort of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Birds Canada. The project's name describes the primary way data is collected from across the U.S. and from much of Canada from people who watch birds that come to their feeders and record the various species they see. This data is sent to ornithologists and biologists across the continent.

Participants to the Jan. 10-11 program can bring binoculars to help with bird identification. To find out more about this event, call 417-629-3434.

Eagle Days

Roaring River State Park, south of Cassville, holds its last Bald Eagle Days of the season on Saturday, Jan. 6.

Visitors can stop by the Ozark Chinquapin Nature Center anytime between 3 and 5 p.m. to participate in eagle-themed crafts and activities. Spotting scopes will be set up and warm beverages will be available. Visitors are encouraged to bring binoculars, spotting scopes and cameras of their own.

This program is free and open to the public. Registration is not required. Participants should dress appropriately for the weather and are encouraged to bring water and snacks

Another close eagle-viewing event will be Jan. 20-21 at the Springfield Conservation Nature Center, 4601 S. Nature Center Way, in Springfield.

The Saturday program runs from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and the Sunday program runs from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m.

Dickerson Park Zoo will have a live eagle at the nature center both days.

Programs will be held at the Nature Center every hour on the hour from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and at 12:30 p.m., 1:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m Sunday.

There will be opportunities to view bald eagles in the wild at the Lake Springfield Boathouse and Marina during event hours, with volunteers and spotting scopes.