Murphysboro, Ill. – Fall is a wonderful time to explore local nature. Join Master Naturalist Lily Glaeser for a leisurely walk to admire birds! Learn to identify our feathered friends at some of our local sites. All ages and experiences are welcome, and binoculars are available upon request.
This year's new addition to the series includes a bird sit on September 29 at Giant City State Park’s Post Oak Trail. This event is inspired by the organization Birdability, whose mission is to share the joys of birding with people who have disabilities and to ensure that birding is accessible to everyone. Bring a camping chair and enjoy the diverse birds of southern Illinois.
These walks are sponsored by the University of Illinois Extension. They are supported through a partnership with Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge, Giant City State Park, Green Earth, Southern Illinois Audubon Society, Shawnee Chapter of Illinois Audubon Society, and Southern Illinois University Carbondale Department of Zoology.
The walks will take place from 8:30 to 10 a.m. on the following dates:
Sept. 19 – Green Earth Chautauqua Bottoms Nature Preserve
Sept. 29- Giant City State Park Post Oak Trail
Oct. 13 – Green Earth Oakland Nature Preserve
Oct. 24 – Giant City State Park Indian Creek Trail
Nov. 28 – Green Earth Stan Harris Praire Nature Preserve
Dec. 12 – Green Earth Brush Hill
Dec. 15 – Southern Illinois University Carbondale Campus Lake
To register, please visit go.illinois.edu/BirdWithLily. Online registration for each event will close the Tuesday before each scheduled event. If you have questions about the program, please contact Lily Glaeser at littleglaeser@gmail.com.
University of Illinois Extension develops educational programs, extends knowledge, and builds partnerships to support people, communities, and their environments as part of the state's land-grant institution. Extension serves as the leading public outreach effort for University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences in all 102 Illinois counties through a network of 27 multi-county units and over 700 staff statewide. Extension’s mission is responsive to eight strategic priorities — community, economy, environment, food and agriculture, health, partnerships, technology and discovery, and workforce excellence — that are served through six program areas — 4-H youth development, agriculture and agribusiness, community and economic development, family and consumer science, integrated health disparities, and natural resources, environment, and energy.