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2008 Federal Duck Stamp Contest
Phone: 618-634-2231 E-mail: CypressCreek@fws.gov |
Calendar of Events
Houses! That’s for the Birds!
Saturday, January 20th
10am – noon
Get an early start on spring by learning how to build bird houses and bird feeders. This program will highlight how to decide which home is suitable for different species of birds and which food will attract a variety of species.
*Meet at the Cache River Wetlands Center.
Tree Planting
Saturday, March 24th
9am - noon
Plant a tree, and help staff restore the Cache River Wetlands. Participants will also learn to identify several species of trees and what it takes to restore a forest.
*Meet at the Cache River Wetlands Center.
Swamp Supermarket
Saturday, April 21st
9:00am – 10:30am
Wetlands provide a wealth of food and water to many animals including people! Join staff to discover wetland plants and their edible parts. The program will include identification and preparation of some of these “tasty” plants. Bring an appetite!
*Call the Wetlands Center for reservations. (618) 657-2064 (30 max)
Birding Fest of Southernmost Illinois
Saturday & Sunday, April 28 & 29
Join us for the 6th annual Birding Fest of Southernmost Illinois. The event will showcase the areas’ rich bird life and wetland habitat. Scheduled activities include guided field trips, mini-workshops, canoe tours, photo exhibits, music, live bird demonstrations, and much more. In addition, birders of all skills are welcome to participate in the Birding Blitz 2007; a fun and competitive event to see the most species of birds in a twenty four hour period. Programs and activities will be held at the Wetland Center.
*Check out the website at www.birdingblitz.org or contact the Wetlands Center for a schedule of activities and Blitz registration.
Focus on the Cache!
Saturday, May 5th or 12th /To Be Announced
8am - noon
Join Michael Jeffords and Susan Post for a hike on Heron Pond Trail and spend the morning capturing this area’s spectacular beauty on film. Michael and Susan will provide a variety of tips for photographing wildlife and natural landscapes.
*Meet at the Heron Pond Trail Head.
Guided Bike Tours in the Cache
Saturday, May 19th & 26th
Saturday, September 8th & 22nd
9am
Join staff on four bike tours in May and September on the Tunnel Hill State Trail; the bike trail stretches 47 miles from Harrisburg to the Wetlands Center. Guided tours will depart from the Wetlands Center and will feature sections of the trail that span the Cache River Basin.
*Meet at the Cache River Wetlands Center.
On a Wing and a Prayer
Saturday, June 9th
9am – 11:30am
Restoration of the Cache River Wetlands will benefit many species of migratory song birds. Join Dr. Jeff Hoover for a brief slide presentation of songbirds in Illinois followed by a forest hike and a demonstration of field techniques to find and identify songbirds. Be sure to wear long pants, hiking boots, and mosquito repellant.
*Call the Cache River Wetlands Center for reservations.
(618) 657-2064 (20 max)
What Big Teeth You Have!
Saturday, June 23rd
10am-noon
Learn the important role predators play in the environment. Wild behaviors, intelligence, animal communication and their impact on natural systems are revealed.
*Meet at the Cache River Wetlands Center.
Skins & Scales
Saturday, July 14th
10am- noon
Join staff for a close up view of frogs, turtles and snakes. Participants will have the opportunity to learn about these animals and the valuable role they play in the environment.
*Meet at the Cache River Wetlands Center
Wonderful World of Cattails
Saturday, September 8th
10am & 2pm (Two Programs)
Cattails provide food, nest cover, and/or important hiding places for wetland wildlife. They also have dozens of interesting human uses. Join staff to learn about the many historic and modern values of cattails and make a basket craft to take home.
Calendar of Events
*Call the Cache River Wetlands Center for reservations. (618) 657-2064
Cache River Wetlands Guided Hikes
Monday, October 8th
9am – 11:00am & 1pm – 3:00pm
Join us on a morning hike at Heron Pond, which features a boardwalk that winds through a pure stand of bald cypress trees. The afternoon will include a hike to Wildcat Bluff and Little Black Slough which meanders along an exposed sandstone shelter bluff and continues to Boss Island; the site of a cypress cabin that dates back to 1853.
*Meet at Heron Pond Trail Head at 9am or Wildcat Bluff Trail Head at 1pm.
National Wildlife Refuge Week
Saturday, October 13th
9:00am - All Day
In celebration of National Wildlife Refuge Week, join us for an open house and tour of the Bellrose Waterfowl Reserve. This 1,000 acre reserve is managed to provide a crucial stopover for thousands of migratory birds. The tour will highlight wetland plant identification and showcase early fall migrants and other wildlife that benefit from this wetland resource.
*Call Cypress Creek National Wildlife Refuge for details and tour reservations. (618) 634-2231
Cache River Wetlands Van Tour
Thursday, October 18th
All aboard for a van tour of the Cache River Wetlands via the Tunnel Hill State Trail. The tour, which will start at the Wetlands Center and end in Vienna, will focus on the historic and environmental importance of the surrounding Cache River watershed. This is an opportunity for senior citizens and those with physical limitations to experience the trail.
*Call the Cache River Wetlands Center for reservations. (618) 657-2064
Christmas Bird Count
Monday, December 17th
6:00am - All Day
Blue jays, finches, cardinals, hawks-these birds and more will be counted as part of the 15th annual Cypress Creek Christmas Bird Count. Beginning, average, and expert bird watchers are welcome. The count will begin at 6am and last all day.
*Meet at Cypress Creek National Wildlife Refuge main office on Shawnee College Road.
