WEST RIDGE — A free Family Nature Day at the West Ridge Nature Preserve this weekend promises a day full of bird-spotting, nest-making and trail-walking.
From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., park-goers can head to the nature preserve (the entrance is at Western and Ardmore avenues) for a variety of planned activities, including a display on birds from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, story time, I-Spy walk, crafts and more.
Early birds can also catch a 7:30 a.m. bird walk with Jill Niland of the park's advisory council, as well as a member of Chicago Ornithological Society.
The family days are held the last Saturday of each month and center around different wildlife themes, with this month's spotlight on birds.
Park Advisory Council members will also be recording patrons' memories of the nature preserve at the entrance of the park, for those who choose to participate.
Check out a list of the planned activities below:
Bird Table: The Illinois Department of Natural Resources will be on hand with organic materials from birds for kids to look at and touch. Books and guides useful for identifying birds will also be available.
Bird Watch Station: With the help of a stationed volunteer, children can use binoculars to check out birds throughout the nature preserve, as well as how to use bird callers to draw them in.
Bird’s Nest House Making: Kids 10 and older can learn how to make their own bird house they can take with them (kits will also be available to take home for later).
Bird Feeders: Volunteers will help kids make bird feeders the old-fashioned way: a cardboard roll, seed and twine. Young children will use pipe cleaners and Cheerios cereal for mini-feeders.
Crafts Table: Kids can craft their own paper birds to take home.
Nature Play Area/Story Walks and Nature Walks: For kids looking to stretch their legs and explore, volunteers will be on hand to help out with supervised play. Kids will also have an opportunity for story time, as well as an interactive I-Spy game to be played while taking a walk along the nature trail.
Multiple activities are planned for the day, including supervised play, crafts and special displays from the Department of Natural Resources. [DNAinfo/Linze Rice]
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