On Saturday, April 22nd from 7am to 2pm Darke County Parks invites everyone to spend the day exploring the wild birds that call Shawnee Prairie home with family and friends. 

Bird watching, or for enthusiasts “birding”, is one of the fastest growing hobbies in America. Birding involves more than just casual feeder observation out the kitchen window. Many birders rise early or stay up late, invest in birding technology like smart phone apps, or travel impressive distances to add to their species lists. Some keep lists of birds they only see while others include birds they’ve heard, and many birders have backyard lists, county lists, state lists, and even life lists. Most find this hobby an easy way to exercise, socialize, and engage in a little friendly competition. Every birder knows there is always more to learn, and for many, knowing what bird is calling or what species just flitted by brings them a deeper connection to nature.

Try out this hobby on April 22nd at “Take Flight”. This fun-filled birding festival will begin with “Breakfast with the Birds,” a fundraiser by the Darke County Birders Club, which will offer breakfast bites in an effort to raise money for the care of Greta, the Darke County Parks’ owl. Five Rivers MetroParks will join the celebration with a wide selection of the birds of prey animal ambassadors including a Screech Owl, Kestrel, and a Red-tailed Hawk! The day will continue with a variety of bird-themed hikes, activities for all ages, workshops, and more! From 11am to 1pm the Friends of the Parks will be offering a quick hotdog lunch. For the full schedule visit darkecountyparks.org and check out the front cover of the Spring Nature Notes Newsletter. The park staff and volunteers hope to see everyone enjoying Earth Day on the trails of Shawnee Prairie!

If you have any questions about this or any other program offered by the Darke County Parks, please call the Nature Center at (937) 548-0165 or visit the website at www.darkecountyparks.org

Did you know? The large Pileated Woodpecker is always an exciting find and has recently been sighted at Shawnee Prairie Preserve. 

The Darke County Parks Native Plant sale is back! The plant sale will be Saturday, May 13th from 10am-3pm at Shawnee Prairie Preserve. Pollinator plants are the focus of the plants available this year. Offerings include milkweeds, aster, bergamot, coneflower, and much more! Please consider planting milkweed to help provide habitat for the fragile monarch population. 

Pre-sale orders will be accepted until April 26th, and the plant list and order form can be picked up at the Nature Center on St. Rt. 502 West of Greenville or downloaded as the last page of the Nature Notes newsletter from the website at www.darkecountyparks.org. For questions or more information, call the Nature Center at (937)548-0165, or email info@darkecountyparks.org. 

Did you know? Butterfly weed is only one of the many options available this year that will attract butterflies and hummingbirds to your backyard.