Celebrate International Migratory Bird Day Saturday, May 13

Come celebrate International Migratory Bird Day in Yellowstone National Park!

Celebrated annually in the Greater Yellowstone Area, International Migratory Bird Day puts Yellowstone’s raptors, warblers, sparrows, and other birds front and center.

Festivities are planned in both the park and West Yellowstone, Montana Saturday, May 13, according to a Yellowstone press release:

A bird-watching car caravan is set for Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon inside the park. Those interested in participating should meet at the Madison Junction picnic area. Caravan riders are reminded that they will need to pay the $30 park entrance fee.

Saturday afternoon between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m., the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center in West Yellowstone, Montana, will host a live raptor program and a presentation on common birds of the area. Adults and children of all ages can participate in a variety of programs, crafts, and activities, including making bird masks, origami, and a migration game called “It’s a Risky Journey.”

Many migratory birds arrive in the park this time of year. The Yellowstone Bird Program monitors this flurry of activity. Since record keeping began in 1872, nearly 300 bird species have been sighted including warblers, flycatchers, and some sparrows. Many species use the protected habitat in the park as part of their migration route. Check online to see Yellowstone Bird Reports from 1999 to 2014.

While bird watching, it’s important to follow a few rules. You should keep your distance from any and all birds—as you should with other wildlife in the park. Keep a pair of binoculars or a telephoto lens handy. In addition, the use of audio bird calls is illegal in Yellowstone. Finally, don’t feed any birds you encounter.

For more information on International Migratory Bird Day, you can call National Park Service volunteer Katy Duffy at 307-699-2696.