Scientists want to know how birds survive in cities and how they use urban green spaces. So, Lakeside Nature Center is inviting the public to participate and share information with Cornell University Ornithology Lab and its Celebrating Urban Birds project.
Researchers are asking the public for their observations on how birds use parks, rooftop gardens and even potted plants on balconies for food, resting sites and shelter. To assist, Lakeside Nature Center is hosting a Celebrating Urban Birds event on Saturday, May 14. It will include talks about the 15 species designated as ‘urban birds’ by Cornell, a bird walk led by a naturalist, artifacts and a kid’s bird walk. Children will have the opportunity to make a craft to take home.
Founded in 2007, Celebrate Urban Birds is a year-round project developed and launched by The Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Its primary purpose is to reach diverse urban audiences who do not already participate in science or scientific investigation. The project aims to collect data from participants on how different environments influence the location of birds in urban areas.
In the last six years, the project has partnered with more than 9,000 community-based organizations, distributed more than 250,000 educational kits and awarded dozens of mini-grants. Eighty-eight percent of the project’s partner organizations work with underserved audiences. Participants range in age from preschoolers to seniors, and more than 75 percent have little or no experience with birds.
This free event will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 14 at the Lakeside Nature Center, 4701 E Gregory Blvd., Kansas City, MO. For more information, visit www.lakesidenaturecenter.org.
Top photo: By Matt Stratmoen // CC BY