Bloomington park is designated as Important Bird Area

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (AP) - A park in the central Illinois city of Bloomington has been officially classified as an important stopover site for migrating birds.

The (Bloomington) Pantagraph reports (http://bit.ly/1jhKz4r) Ewing Park has been designated an Important Bird Area. Signs have been erected and a dedication ceremony is planned for Sunday.

The National Audubon Society implements the Important Bird Areas Program in the United States.

Matthew Winks of Bloomington's Audubon chapter says he and other bird watchers submitted three years' worth of data on birds they observed at the park to achieve the designation.

The Bloomington Audubon chapter helps the city's parks department maintain the park by purchasing and planting shrubs and trees. The chapter also maintains nesting boxes for eastern bluebirds, eastern screech owls and bats.

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Information from: The Pantagraph, http://www.pantagraph.com