The South Hadley Conservation Commission is hosting the fourth lecture of the Growing Wild initiative at 6:00pm on Wednesday, January 31, 2024 at 6:oopm at the South Hadley Library.

Have you ever seen a strange colorful bird singing in your back yard in the spring? Have you wondered where that bird came from or maybe where it might be headed? Did you wonder why you were so lucky to have it in your backyard? Bill DeLuca, PhD is a Senior Migration Ecologist with the National Audubon Society where he provides a migratory bird perspective to Audubon’s Conservation Science across the Western Hemisphere. 

In this presentation, DeLuca will tell the story, using examples of hundreds of tracked migratory birds, of how South Hadley birds travel across hemispheres and what you can do in your own yard to help them on their journeys. He will talk about the science behind growing your yard wild to benefit birds throughout the year. Regardless of how big or small your yard might be, there are things we can all do, from turning off our lights at night, to maintaining brush piles and keeping sources of water available. 

There will be plenty of time for questions and answers on these and other related topics. This event will be informative whether you are a beginner or expert birder, home gardener, property manager, urban landscape designer or just someone looking for something different to do on a Wednesday night in the middle of the New England winter.

The Conservation Commission will have all sorts of fun prizes to give away including bird houses, field guides and books about bird migration. No registration is required. 

For information about the South Hadley Growing Wild initiative, visit: https://www.southhadley.org/1345/Growing-Wild

Growing Wild for Birds: January 31 at South Hadley Library