Owl Flying

Bird Fest 2023

Virtual Festival
February 22 & 23, 2023
8am to 2:45pm Pacific Time

LRF logo

Open to the public, designed for K-12 grade students.

Registration

Amazing Adaptation of Owls

Zach Hutchinson, Community Science Coordinator, Audubon Rockies

Appropriate for Grades K-6

  • Wednesday February 22 at 8am & Noon
  • Thursday February 23 at 8am & 2pm

Owls are the silent predators providing humans a safe pest-control service. Learn about how owls survive and thrive from the darkest nights through the coldest winters! This virtual program uses new-age photography to reveal the amazing features these raptors utilize for daily survival.

Bird Easy

Christine Gerlach, Education Ranger, Indiana Dunes National Park

Appropriate for Grades K-12

  • Wednesday February 22 at 9am
  • Thursday February 23 at 11am

Learning and identifying birds does not have to be hard. Learning simple observation skills can make bird identification much easier and enjoyable.

This program will focus on key observations to learn while birding and nature observation.

The Presentation will last about 30 minutes and questions are welcome at the end. Bird observation skills will be discussed and the easy and basic tools you should have with you in the field will be included in the program.

A pencil and paper to take note of observations is not essential but helpful.

Birding Basics

Kelsey Hansen, Watchable Wildlife Coordinator, WA Dept of Fish & Wildlife

Appropriate for Grades 4-12

  • Wednesday February 22 at 8am

Birding is a fascinating hobby that can be accessible to all. Learn more about what “birding” is, how to identify birds and individual species, and what resources you may need to get started.

The course will include information on:

  • What birds are and why they are important.
  • Basic birds that can be commonly seen in a backyard or neighborhood.
  • How to identify birds based on appearance, behavior, and sound.
  • Basic birding tools.

Birds at Gateway Arch National Park

Barbara Michel, Park Ranger, Gateway Arch National Park

Appropriate for Grades 4-12

  • Wednesday February 22 at 10am
  • Thursday February 23 at Noon & 1pm

Gateway Arch National Park is the only national park with no natural features: every inch of our grounds has been modified beyond recognition from its original form. Nevertheless, birds and other animals can and do live here, or pass through on their yearly migrations. Learn about how we honor our duty to protect our historic landscape while still doing what we can to provide amenities to local wildlife. We will also review which birds are commonly found here, which are not, and why.

Everglades

Live Virtual Program

Araceli Otero, Education Administrative Assistant, Everglades National Park

Appropriate for Grades K-12

  • Wednesday February 22 at 11am
  • Thursday February 23 at 9am

The Everglades is famous for is biodiversity and birds, we will explore a variety of birds and their adaptations that help them survive in the habitats of the Everglades. Protecting wild birds in the park is crucial for their survival because they had been hunted to near extinction throughout history.

Park Rangers will tune in live from various Everglades Habitats. They will introduce birds that live in the habitats and discuss the adaptations the birds have that make them successful. Specific habitats and bird species will be dependent upon the conditions of the day.

Every Bird Counts!

A Beginner Birder’s Guide to eBird

Rachael Van Schoik, California Academy of Sciences

Appropriate for Grades 6-9

  • Wednesday February 22 at 10am

Birds, we see them everyday. They’re in trees, on the sidewalk and can even be pets. Being a birder is simple and requires less expertise than it may seem. Take flight with Science Action Club (SAC) and take the first steps into the world of birding. Follow along an activity straight from SAC’s Bird Scouts curriculum and conduct a Bird Count. SAC will show you how to incorporate experience-based learning and community and citizen science with apps like eBird.

HOOT

Hawk and Owl Outreach Shows

Becca Ediger, West Valley Outdoor Learning Center

Appropriate for Grades K-9

  • Wednesday February 22 at 9am & 2pm
  • Thursday February 23 at 10am & Noon

The Hawk and Owl Outreach Talks (H.O.O.T.) program introduces student and adult audiences to the incredible world of raptor adaptations. This program also looks at different roles that specific raptors play as ecological indicators. Critical habitat issues and species of specific concern are also addressed. Students are given opportunities to see our live education birds up close and build personal connections to wildlife.

Migration Along the Mississippi

Emily Connor, Education Manager, National Audubon Society and Ashley Lockwood, Educator, Audubon Center at Riverlands

Appropriate for Grades 4-9

  • Wednesday February 22 at 10am
  • Wednesday February 22 at 11am

Our region in Saint Louis, Missouri is home to the largest bird migration route in North America, the Mississippi Flyway. Through interactive activities students will “become” a bird themselves and discover why birds migrate, how they don’t get lost along the way, and learn challenges of their migration, and discuss ways to create a healthier planet for migrating birds.

Nests of the West

Nicole Parish-Andrews, Environmental Education Program Specialist, Seattle Parks & Recreation

Appropriate for Grades 2-6

  • Wednesday February 22 at Noon
  • Thursday February 23 at 11am

Have you ever seen a birds’ nest before? Ever wonder what it took to make one? During this presentation, Nicole from Seattle Parks and Recreation will go over how and why birds make their nests. See what materials are used in nesting, when it is done, and the vastly different nests certain birds make! Come join us as we explore Nests of the West!

This presentation will include several quiz-style sections for audience engagement. The general format will be lecture-style, but with some room for discussion and sharing of ideas. There will also be a “call to action” component at the end with an optional activity teachers can try with their students.

The presentation will focus on west coast birds specifically, and talk about the season nesting occurs, materials used in nesting, and how we can help our feathered friends during this time.

Owls of Washington

Whooo cares?

Scott Downes, Habitat Biologist, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife

Appropriate for Grades 4-12

  • Thursday February 23 at 2pm

Washington is home to 15 of the US 19 species of owls! They come in size from around 6 inches to over two feet in length. They live in forests to the dessert. Come learn about what makes them special, where they live and how they are doing.

Scott will cover the various owls that live in Washington State. We’ll go into adaptations that make them special and we’ll talk about the habitats they live in. Owls occupy almost every habitat and come in size from the small Pygmy Owl to the large Snowy Owl.

Rockie’s Sagebrush Adventures

Jacelyn Downey, Education Programs Manager, Audubon Rockies

Appropriate for Grades 2-9

  • Wednesday February 22 at 1pm
  • Thursday February 23 at 9am & 10am

Explore the sagebrush ecosystem through the eyes of Rockie, a burrowing owl. As an ambassador for this beautiful and vital yet under-appreciated landscape, she represents the diversity of life found in the sagebrush steppe. In this hands-on program, you’ll get a birds eye view of this ecosystems amazing plants and animals as well as their adaptations for thriving there.

Wildlife Watchers

Fatima Kamal, Digital Learning Supervisor
Pacific Science Center

Appropriate for Grades 4-6

  • Wednesday February 22 at 1pm
  • Thursday February 23 at 1pm

Sharpen your powers of wildlife observation as you search for clues on a virtual hike. Then practice identifying some flying, feathered species as we explore video footage and learn techniques for recognizing who’s who in the bird world. Continue your newfound skills with wildlife identification tools you can use right in your neighborhood!