Beginners and pro’s alike will enjoy a morning birding a Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge, one of the best spots for birding in southern Indiana. What a great way to celebrate Earth Day! Event sponsor: Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge. RSVP to the refuge office at (812) 273-0783.
A few more details:
Come celebrate Earth Day at Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge (NWR)! A bird tour will be held on Friday, April 22, 2016. This free event is being offered to the public through a joint partnership between Big Oaks NWR, Big Oaks Conservation Society (BOCS), and the Oak Heritage Conservancy. The bird tour will begin at 8 a.m. with participants meeting at the refuge office. Reservations are required by calling (812) 273-0783. Participants will be shuttled to different sites within Big Oaks NWR and take small hikes to view unique birds found on the refuge.
Big Oaks NWR consists of 50,000 acres on the former Jefferson Proving Ground (JPG) located in Jennings, Ripley, and Jefferson Counties in southeastern Indiana. The local refuge is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and provides public use opportunities, such as hunting, fishing, wildlife observation, photography, interpretation and environmental education. The refuge has one of the largest contiguous forest blocks in the southeastern part of the state as well as one of the largest grassland complexes; both provide wonderful wildlife viewing opportunities for refuge visitors. Information about the refuge is available at the website: http://www.fws.gov/refuge/big_oaks/
This bird tour is one of the “Great Events, Great Outdoors,” organized by the Oak Heritage Conservancy, which consists of 11 free events around Jefferson County from March 8 to June 21. The Conservancy is a nonprofit group that protects natural areas in southeast Indiana. Big Oaks Conservation Society is the non-profit friends group of the refuge and helps the refuge in sponsoring events like these and other activities on the refuge.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal Federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife, and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 150-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System, which encompasses nearly 550 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. The agency enforces Federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign governments with their conservation efforts.
This program is part of our “Great Events. Great Outdoors.” spring events series. This series is a collaborative effort with Clifty Falls State Park, Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge, Heritage Trail, and the Hanover College Green Panthers student group.
Our goal is to build our partnership as we host events that connect Jefferson County residents with the natural world. Our work is generously supported by the Community Foundation of Madison and Jefferson County, and a private donor.
All events are free and open to the public. Find other Great Events listed on our calendar.
