Let’s Build a Nest with Stephen Lyn Bales
Register for Zoom Link and a Copy of the Recording
Thursday, February 5 at 7pm EST on Zoom
A sure sign that spring is on the way is when birds start to build a nest and raise a family. We are fascinated by the different colors and characteristics of birds, but they are also amazing engineers in the way they build their nests! Each bird species has their own method and time to build a home for the coming babies. Eagles return to last year’s nest of sticks as do herons. Wrens quickly fashion a mishmash of leaves, twigs and dry grass while chickadees like to add a little moss. Robins shore up the edges of their bassinets with mud, titmice look for strands of hair or fur and hummingbirds use spider silk and lichen. Woodpeckers drill out a new nest hole in a dead tree and bluebirds will use an old woodpecker home or wooden box.
Join Michelle Campanis, education coordinator with the UT Arboretum, and Stephen Lyn Bales, naturalist/author, for the First Thursday Supper Club via Zoom on February 5, 7pm in this “Let’s Build a Nest” program you’ll learn the amazing array of local nest building among our East Tennessee birds!
To contact Stephen Lyn Bales or buy one of his UT Press books, email him at hellostephenlyn@gmail.com.
Please contact Michelle at mcampani@utk.edu for any questions or registration issues.
The American Museum of Science and Energy (AMSE) is our new co-sponsor for our First Thursday Nature Supper Club. AMSE and UTAS are co-sponsoring a new Citizen Science Birding Program which will include monthly guided birding walks at the UT Arboretum in Oak Ridge and other opportunities to get involved with Citizen Science.
Cliff swallows build their urn shaped nests out of mouthfuls of mud while this tree swallow will use an empty box or plastic gourd. Photo by Stephen Lyn Bales
Guided Bird Walk: Wednesday, January 21 at 9am
Register to Reserve Your Spot
The American Museum of Science and Energy (AMSE) and the University of Tennessee Arboretum are partnering together to launch a new Citizen Science Birding Program to connect community members with hands-on science, local biodiversity, and ongoing conservation efforts. The December Guided Bird Walk will be held at the UT Arboretum on Wednesday, January 21st at 9:00 am. Please meet at the kiosk outside of the UT Arboretum Visitors Center. This guided walk will be led by Corky Witt and Courtney Beard from the American Museum of Science and Energy in Oak Ridge. The event is limited to 16 participants and registration is required. No pets please. Please wear comfortable shoes, bring hiking poles and binoculars if you wish. There will be a limited supply of loaner binoculars on a first come basis at the hike.
“Bird watching is now North America’s second most popular outdoor activity (second only to gardening).” Says AMSE educator Corky Witt. “There must be something to it—so come out with us and find out why!”
For questions or more information please contact Courtney Beard at cbeard@amse.org or 865-385-6081
Location: 901 S. Illinois Avenue, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37830
Third Saturday Hike, January 17, 9am
Meet in front of the UT Arboretum Visitors Center at the UT Arboretum in Oak Ridge at 9am for a guided hike of 1.5-2 miles led by UT Arboretum Society volunteers. No registration is needed. NO pets please. Please wear comfortable walking shoes and clothes appropriate for weather. Please bring water as even in winter you can get dehydrated.
Location: UT Arboretum, 901 S. Illinois Avenue, Oak Ridge, TN 37830
