The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

The Pine Bush Discovery Center And The Capital Region Audubon Society Celebrate Migration

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The Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission and the Audubon Society of the Capital Region will host the 4th annual Migration Celebration on Saturday, May 2, from 10 am to 3 pm at the Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center at 195 New Karner Road. The event celebrates International Migratory Bird Day and will feature some of the area’s premiere bird experts, a demonstration with live birds of prey, the Migration Challenge obstacle course, crafts, lectures, and more.

Trish Markie from the Wildlife Institute of Eastern New York is a wildlife rehabilitator who will give visitors an up-close look at birds of prey during the May 2 Migration Celebration at the Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center. Photo courtesy of the Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission.
Trish Markie from the Wildlife Institute of Eastern New York is a wildlife rehabilitator who will give visitors an up-close look at birds of prey during the May 2 Migration Celebration at the Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center. Photo courtesy of the Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission.

The day begins with a pre-event bird walk and banding demonstration at 7:30 am suitable for ages 10 and older and guided by Audubon naturalists.

The Preserve’s Conservation Director and USGS Master Bird Bander Neil Gifford will offer a bird banding demonstration and a rare opportunity to see how birds influence Preserve management.

“There are more than 190 kinds of birds using the Preserve,” according to Gifford. “Thanks to their high abundance, boisterous song, and vibrant color, they are some of the Preserve’s most watchable wildlife and they tell us a lot about the health of the globally-rare pitch pine-scrub oak barrens.”

After the early morning bird walk, there will be an indoor presentation at 11 am with bird expert Dr. Jeremy Kirchman from the New York State Museum. He will present, “The Passenger Pigeon: Icon of Extinction”.  One hundred years ago, on September 1, 1914, the world’s last Passenger Pigeon died in captivity at the Cincinnati Zoo marking the demise of a species that once numbered in the billions of birds. For participants ages 12 and up.

At 1 pm Trish Markie, Wildlife Rehabilitator, will present a bird of prey program to all ages. Trish will teach participants about the amazing adaptations that put these animals at the top of the food chain .

Attendees can take the Migration Challenge, making their way through six stations that simulate the challenges faced by migratory birds, make a bird craft, and more.

All ages are welcome to this free event which will be held rain or shine from 10 am to 3 pm at the Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center at 195 New Karner Road, Albany. Space is limited for all programs and pre-registration is required.

For more details and to pre-register, visit AlbanyPineBush.org or call 518-456-0655.