Great Backyard Bird Count in Naperville
Naperville Park District's Knoch Knolls Nature Center is inviting residents to participate in the Great Backyard Bird Count and winter birds activities from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, Feb. 18, at 320 Knoch Knolls Road.
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 offers other free and low-cost nature activities during February and March for kids, families and adults, including the following:
• On Feb. 16, families can drop in between 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. to learn more about winter birds in Illinois through self-guided activity stations at the Nature Center. No registration is needed.
• Scouts can earn an Indian Lore Merit Badge on Feb. 23 and a Weather Merit Badge on March 9. Register at www.napervilleparks.org.
• From 10 to 11:30 a.m. March 2, adults 18 and older are invited to take a free hike to learn about local wildlife. The hike is free, but registration is required at www.napervilleparks.org.
• The Nature Center will host free Nature Discovery Days from 1 to 4 p.m. March 10 and 24 with the theme "animal babies." These are free, drop-in programs with no registration required.
• Family Nature Night from 6 to 7:30 p.m. March 16 will focus on coyotes, with both indoor activities and a hike. Register at www.napervilleparks.org.
• Groups interested in a free tour of the Nature Center may contact Nature Center Manager Angelique Harshman at (630) 864-3962 to arrange a time.
Knoch Knolls Nature Center will begin its spring through fall hours on March 1. The hours are: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. Winter hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.