Metro Parks offer a variety of birding events, including ‘The Big Sit!’
Wildlife — from insects up to dinosaurs — is the focus at the Columbus Metro Parks this week.
Learn to recognize insect songs of the season at Blacklick Woods Metro Park, or celebrate Global Bird Weekend in several ways at Blacklick Woods or Highbanks Metro Parks.
Find out how to recognize wildlife of various shapes and sizes from the bones they leave behind at Blendon Woods, or take aim at dinosaurs with bow and arrow at Scioto Grove.
Programs listed here are free and do not require prior registration. For more information on these and other programs, call 614-508-8111 or visit www.metroparks.net.
• Those eight and older can take aim at dinosaur-themed and other targets from 5 to 7 p.m. Oct. 7 at Scioto Grove, 5172 Jackson Pike, Grove City. Equipment and instructions will be provided. Participants must be able to follow safety instructions and have the strength to pull back a compound bow on their own.
• If you can sit and count, you're ready for “The Big Sit!” at Blacklick Woods, 6975 E. Livingston Ave., Reynoldsburg. Help scientists learn about bird populations from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 9 by counting the birds that visit the nature center. Naturalists will be on hand to help with identification in what's billed as a worldwide semi-competitive birding event.
• Birds will also be the objects of study from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Oct. 9 at the River Bluffs area of Highbanks, 8400 Olentangy River Road, during the “Global Big Day for Birds Hike.” Take a one-mile hike to look for birds, and learn how to use ebird to keep a life list of birds observed. A limited number of binoculars will be available for participants to borrow. Note that this site has no restrooms or water fountains.
• Meet an official Metro Parks taxidermist, try to assemble deer bones into a full skeleton and check out the skeletons of other animals at the kickoff of the “Blendon Bones” exhibit from 1 to 3 p.m. Oct. 10 at the nature center at Blendon Woods, 4265 E. Dublin-granville Rd., Westerville. Skeletons will be on display at the nature center until Oct. 31.
• Learn to identify the songs of October insects on two “Insect Song Walks” on Oct. 11 at Blacklick Woods, 6975 E. Livingston Ave., Reynoldsburg. Listen for daytime insects on a hike from 1 to 2 p.m., or for nighttime insects from 7 to 8 p.m., or show up for both! margaretquamme@hotmail.com