Photo by Sarah C. Truckey
For those seeking an easy and informative introduction to the pastime, Forest Park Forever offers regularly scheduled Beginner Bird Walks that highlight the feathered residents and visitors of the park. Walks take place from 8:15 to 10:30 a.m. on the first Saturday of each month, barring holidays, and are sponsored by Forest Park Forever and the St. Louis Audubon Society. The free events typically draw between 30 to 60 attendees, and all ages are welcome.
“Any time families can connect and learn together in nature makes for a terrific experience,” says Stephen Schenkenberg, strategic communications director for Forest Park Forever. “These walks combine focus and fun.”
This month’s event, June 4, features the purple martin. Budding birders will learn from species expert John Miller, who helps maintain purple martin houses and habitats around the St. Louis area.
“This walk will take attendees along Forest Park’s legendary waterway system. Highlights will include kingfisher, swallow, at least two species of woodpeckers and purple martins,” says Stephen Schenkenberg, strategic communications director for Forest Park Forever. “John Miller will take a purple martin hotel down from its perch, so attendees will be able to see the chicks. He’ll discuss the purple martin itself—including its biology and history—and the history of the purple martin effort here in Forest Park.”
The walks also offer visitors an intimate perspective on the 1,371-acre park. “From our conservancy’s standpoint, one of the additional benefits of these tours is that attendees walk away often having a greater understanding of why and how Forest Park’s natural areas are maintained. We all take pride in Forest Park being named the best city park in the country—as it has been twice in the past month,” Schenkenberg says. “Gaining this special ‘behind the scenes’ understanding of Forest Park’s natural areas and wildlife brings visitors that much closer to feeling truly connected to this civic treasure.”
The June 4 Beginner Bird Walk will meet at the Dennis and Judith Jones Visitor and Education Center. Visit Forest Park Forever's website for details.
