SUPERIOR — The city of Superior is celebrating World Migratory Bird Day this year.
World Migratory Bird Day is a global effort to raise awareness of the need to protect migratory birds and their habitats and is celebrated on two peak migration days each year—the second Saturdays in May and October.
“It’s a little bit bigger deal than it sounds,” said Mayor Jim Paine. “This is a pretty significant event, and I want to start calling more attention to things like this.”
Superior’s Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department is partnering with the Lake Superior National Estuarine Research Reserve and Friends of the Lake Superior Reserve to call attention to network of resting, breeding and feeding sites migratory birds depend on.
“I would venture that most of us are not birders or bird enthusiasts, but it’s a pretty cool thing,” Paine said. “That creates a lot of attention nationally for Superior for just how vibrant our avian life here is.”
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The Superior City Council adopted a resolution at its May 3 meeting in support of World Migratory Bird Day.
The two-part celebration kicks off from 7:30-9:30 a.m. Saturday, May 14, on Wisconsin Point with a bird walk led by Jeff Davis, Duluth Audubon president, and Pat Collins, founding board member of the Friends of the Lake Superior Reserve.
The walk will be followed by an event at the Lake Superior Estuarium on Barker’s Island starting at 10 a.m. A video from Tom Prestby, Wisconsin conservation manager for Audubon Great Lakes, will highlight the projects happening in the Lake Superior Reserve to improve the habitat for migratory birds in the estuary. Fun and interesting bird-related videos will follow, and participants are invited to share in light snacks and beverages.
After the videos, spotting scopes will be set up outside the Lake Superior Estuarium for viewing birds around Barker’s Island. A volunteer at each station will help identify the birds and answer questions. A limited number of binoculars will also be available.
Those interested in joining the celebration can visit www.eventbrite.com/cc/folsr-2022-world-migratory-bird-day-events-327959 for information and to register for the events.