Missouri state park to offer winter bird-watching workshop

Learn more about the birds you see outside your windows at a winter bird workshop Jan. 7, 2012 at Missouri's Van Meter State Park near Miami. The workshop is sponsored by Missouri State Parks in cooperation with the Missouri River Bird Observatory and will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. at Missouri’s American Indian Cultural Center. The workshop is free and open to the public.

Dana Ripper and Ethan Duke of Missouri River Bird Observatory in Marshall will discuss the winter birds you often see at your feeders and how to identify them by their visual and vocal characteristics. They will demonstrate bird-banding by catching some birds that visit the bird feeders at the park’s cultural center. As a take-home project, you will have the opportunity to craft a “fun”ctional bird feeder by reusing a plastic drink bottle.

On your way to Van Meter State Park, stop by the Missouri’s American Indian Cultural Center. From October to March, the center is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays and 1 to 5 p.m. on Sundays. The center is closed Monday through Friday.

Van Meter State Park is located 12 miles northwest of Marshall on Highway 122. Camping is available year round with both primitive and hookup sites. For more information about the event, contact the park at 660-886-7537. For more information about camping click here.

See sandhill cranes at Western Kentucky's Barren River Lake State Park

Whether you are a novice birdwatcher or have a life list of several hundred species, seeing hundreds of sandhill cranes lift off in a cacophony of noisy croaks or settle back into their sleeping grounds after a day of feeding in nearby fields, it is an exciting event.

Mark the weekends of January 20 - 21 and February 17 - 18 on your calendar to visit Barren River Lake State Resort Park in Western Kentucky. This is when a wildlife biologist from the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife comes to talk about the thousands of sandhill cranes that visit the park at this time each year.

Registration is $30 and includes an educational session, box meal, T-shirt, and tour--either at sunrise or sunset--to see hundreds of these giant, noisy birds as they lift off or settle back into their overnight sleeping grounds. Even if you are not a birdwatcher, it is a sight to see. Call Jamie Avery at 1-800-325-0057 or email jamie.avery@ky.gov for information and to register.

The park is located at 1149 State Park Road in Lucas.

Movie about birdwatching is good fun

Left to right: Steve Martin, Jack Black and Owen Wilson.

It's not often you come across a movie about birdwatching. But, right now, if you hurry out to your local theater, you might still be able to catch The Big Year, starring three well known Hollywood actors.

The fanatical bird-watchers (Steve Martin, Owen Wilson, Jack Black) spend an entire year competing to spot the highest number of species as El Nino sends an extraordinary variety of rare breeds flying up into the U.S., but they quickly discover that there are more important things than coming out on top of the competition. Director David Frankel (The Devil Wears Prada, Marley and Me) teams with screenwriter Howard Franklin to adapt author Mark Obmascik's 1998 book of the same name.

Movie critics have mostly liked the comedy, although non advises looking for it at the next Academy Awards. Here's what one bird watcher wrote after seeing it:

"This is an honest and sometimes funny look at what anyone with a hobby goes through. . . . I saw myself and what I've put my wife through at times in my pursuit of the birds and was surprised at how true to life it was portrayed. These are human beings that love birds and love being out in nature and that is what draws me out of my house to hunt these beautiful creatures with binoculars and books. If you want a nice movie that is about nature lovers that are chasing a dream and not about blowing something up or hacking someone to death then go see this movie. If you're a birding enthusiast don't be to critical of some of the glaring bird inaccuracies, just go with it."

Birdfeeders provide day-long campsite entertainment

Winter is a good time to add bird feeders to your campsite, providing entertainment and helping wild birds to survive.

Hang various types of bird feeders to attract a variety of birds. A platform feeder will attract certain birds and a tube feeder others.

Attract acrobatic and energetic hummingbirds with a special hummingbird feeder, and wooodpeckers, jays, and other larger birds with a suet feeder.

Oranges cut in half and stuck on the branch of a tree or bush will draw orioles. You can buy wild bird seed at most grocery stores and at pet supply and feed stores.

ou will soon have friendly birds visiting your campsite regularly providing day-long entertainment. Be sure to clean up the spill under your feeders periodically to keep from attracting rodents.