Looking for a family friendly bird festival in an urban area? Check out the Ramsey County Bird Festival next week.
Hikes are scheduled to give a bird's eye view of areas where swans, eagles and loons nest and where migrating warblers feed. Other tours will look at resident birds like cardinals, blue jays and chickadees. A low-cost dinner will feature nationally known bird expert and author Laura Erickson, speaking on "Backyard Birds---Hooooo Gives a Hoot?" Archimedes, an Eastern Screech-Owl, will be along for the fun as Erickson discusses the birds that make our own backyards so interesting, and what we can do to more easily see and enjoy them.
Speaking of owls, Hellziggy got some cute shots of the young great horned owl at Wood Lake.
Practicing flight: flap-flap-flap-flap! The young owl builds up its muscles and walks away from the nest in the brancher stage.
The young owl looks down to its mother as if saying, "Look at me, I'm higher than you, I'm a grown-up." Mom's response? "Yes, dear."