Everyone is invited to attend “Habitat Day 2004” from 12-4 p.m. Saturday, April 3. This year’s event has even more to offer to anyone interested in wildlife and habitat of our area, and everyone is welcome. There is no admission charge. Spring is just around the corner, and it won’t be long before wood ducks and blue birds return to the area in search of nesting sites. If you have good habitat areas for nesting houses for these species, free, pre-cut bird house kits will be available for assembly on site (one of each per family). All necessary tools to assemble the houses will be provided, and staff from the Fish and Wildlife Service along with volunteers will be on hand to provide assistance with the project. Information will be provided on wood ducks and bluebirds and how best to place the nesting houses. Come build a house anytime between noon and 4 p.m. The Raptor Center of St. Paul will be on hand with live birds including a bald eagle. Meet some of Minnesota’s raptors, or birds of prey, in person and learn how their role in the environment is important to us all. Programs will be given at noon and 3 p.m., and the education specialists will be available to answer questions about the birds from 1-3 p.m., with the birds available for viewing. At 1 and 2 p.m., a program on Minnesota mammals and their relationship to our local habitat will be given. At 1:30 and 2:30 p.m., a program on native prairie plants will be presented. Plan to attend one or both of these programs. A special guest throughout the event will be a Wildlife Wizard who will quiz children and adults on wildlife and habitat of the area. Several displays will be available throughout the event. One display will include several different types of bird houses, bird feeders and bat houses. Plans will be available to build these houses or feeders on your own. Additional displays will include topics on water quality issues, wetland and upland restoration programs, and native prairie plants. Habitat Day 2004 is open to everyone, and is free of charge. The event will be held at the headquarters of the Litchfield Wetland Management District, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. To get to the site, take Highway 22 (Sibley Avenue) to the south edge of Litchfield and turn west on South Ripley Drive (along the southeast shore of Lake Ripley). Go 2.3 miles south on South Ripley Drive/615th Avenue and enter at the headquarter’s second gate. There will be signs posted. For further information you may call (320) 693-2849. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. For further information about programs and activities of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, visit their Web site at midwest.fws.gov.
