Wings over Weston fest devoted to birds and birding

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News from the region
Kansas City
Northwest
Published Date
05/03/2012
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Wild birds make remarkable journeys, sometimes between continents, or they endure the weather extremes as year-round residents. That they do so in various colors and sizes, and with ingenious adaptive survival skills, is remarkable.

The annual Wings over Weston festival will celebrate birds and watching them from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 12, at Weston Bend State Park, 16600 Highway 45 North in Platte County. Art, games, crafts, live bird exhibits, bird banding, educational programs and bluegrass music will be among the activities.

Weston Bend State Park, near the community of Weston, includes woodlands in the bluffs overlooking the Missouri River. Across the river at Fort Leavenworth is one of the largest intact bottomland forests in the river valley. Woodlands survive on private lands in the area, too. Together they provide critical habitat for migrating and resident woodland birds. Conservation groups have designated the corridor as an Important Bird Area.

The free festival offers a chance to learn about birds and nature with family-friendly activities that accommodate children. There will be 22 stations for visitors to peruse and each offers an interactive way to learn about birds and their habitats.

Burroughs Audubon Society and various non-profit groups and public agencies are sponsoring the event, including the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) and the Missouri Department of Nature Resources. For more information, contact the park at 816-640-5443.