Celebrating Birds and the Wonders of Our Natural World
Join us on May 18th as we celebrate all things birds! Participants will have the opportunity to go on guided birding hikes or an accessible birding tour with local birding experts. Participants can meet and learn about a few of Blandford’s wildlife ambassador birds, and learn about wildlife photography from award-winning photographer Steve Jessmore.
Grand Rapids Audubon, Friends of Grand Rapids Parks, GR Outside, The Land Conservancy of West Michigan, MSU Extension 4-H and C4 will all be attending this event with yard games, free tree saplings, bird activities, and information and additional resources about their organizations. For our young birders, we will have a bird listening station and bird coloring sheets in the Learning Lab, and a bird craft in the schoolhouse!
This event also includes the opportunity for shopping with books from Books & Mortar, Querkus Creative, prints from Steve Jessmore, and coffee from Relation Coffee Co!
Event Schedule
Wildlife Presentation*: 11:30am – Noon
Wildlife Photography Presentation with Steve Jessmore*: 12:30pm-1:30pm
*Presentations will take place in the Mary Jane Dockeray Visitor Center Auditorium
Birding Hikes & Tours (30 min) let by GR Audubon Club:
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Route 1
Back Forty Trails
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10:00-10:30am
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11:00-11:30am
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12:00-12:30pm
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Route 2
The Highlands Accessible Trail **
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9:45-10:15am
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10:45-11:15am
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11:45am-12:15pm
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Route 3
Bert Hewitt Meadow
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9:15-9:45am
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10:15-10:45am
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11:15-11:45am
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12:15-12:45pm
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Route 4
South Farm Trail
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9:30-10:00am
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10:30-11:00am
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11:30am-12:00pm
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12:30-1:00pm
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**Tours will go out to The Highlands following our paved pathway, suitable for those with mobility challenges (0.9 miles).
Members: $10.40
Non-Members: $13
Children 2 & Under: Free
Pre-registration is available for this event, but not required.
Cancellation Policy: No refunds available for this event. If you are unsure if you will be able to attend the event, please plan to purchase tickets at the event. All Community Programs will be held unless there is severe weather, in which case you will receive a full registration refund. Please come prepared for the elements as refunds are not available for weather-related conditions except in the case of severe weather and you have been contacted that the program has been canceled.
Please Note: This program will take place indoors and outdoors. In the event of severe weather, the program will be canceled and participants will be notified of their refund options.
Blandford Nature Center partners with groups like the Grand Rapids Audubon Club to support our mission to engage and empower our community through enriching experiences in nature. We are aware of the broader conversations about the impact of John James Audubon’s legacy on today’s diverse birding community and are committed to ensuring an inclusive and welcoming experience for all program participants.
