Join Great Backyard Bird Count Feb. 20

Families can learn more about birds that inhabit the area by participating in the Great Backyard Bird Count along with the Naperville Park District.

Participants can learn more about winter birds, and identify and record the birds they see from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Presidents Day, Monday, Feb. 20, at Knoch Knolls Nature Center, 320 Knoch Knolls Road, Naperville.

Naturalists will be on hand with binoculars and bird identification books to help guide kids and parents in their observation. No registration is necessary, but at least one adult must attend with each family or group of children.

The data will be shared with researchers at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society to learn more about how birds are doing and how to protect them. The official website for the event is gbbc.birdcount.org.

In addition to the observations that will be made at Knoch Knolls Nature Center, any resident can join the count in their backyard and enter their results on gbbc.birdcount.org or download the eBird mobile app.

Knoch Knolls Nature Center will host additional late-winter/early spring nature programs for adults, kids and families on weekends and during spring break, including the following:

• Boy Scouts can earn an Indian Lore Merit Badge on Saturday, Feb. 25, or a Weather Merit Badge on Saturday, March 4.

• Two programs on maple sugaring will be offered - one for ages 4 and 5 on Saturday, March 11, and another for students ages 9 to 12 on Saturday, March 18.

• Adults 18 and older are invited to take a free hike to the confluence of the East and West Branches of the DuPage River from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 23.

• Children ages 5 to 9 may join a four-day spring break camp, Let's Celebrate Spring, from Tuesday to Friday, March 28 to 31, at Knoch Knolls Nature Center.

To register for any of the programs, visit napervilleparks.org.