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Over 25 varieties of common backyard birds can be seen in our area in winter, and there is something very satisfying about feeding these avian friends during the harsh winter months. According to Herb Wilson, ornithologist and Professor Emeritus of Biology at Colby College, “Bird feeding is a two-way street. We feed the birds to help them survive but also feed to lure the birds closer to us so that we may enjoy their beauty and behavior. We can start in 1854 with Henry David Thoreau. In his classic reflection Walden, he writes of tossing half a bushel of unripe corn just outside his cabin and watching the various animals that were attracted to the corn, including Blue Jays and Black-capped Chickadees.” Some species prefer open fields or others, more forested neighborhoods. At this Birds of Winter in Connecticut workshop for kids, Museum Educator Katherine Karlik will talk about identifying local birds that might visit a home feeder. The workshop project is making a birdfeeder using a grapevine ball filled with a mixture of suet, cornmeal and birdseed. Children will help make their own snack.
Suggested for ages 6 – 12. Wilton Historical Society members $10 per child; Non-members $15 per child. Please register: info@wiltonhistorical.org or call 203-762-7257
Did You Know?
In 1934 Roger Tory Peterson published the Field Guide to the Birds and not only promoted birding through feeding but gave people their first portable, easy-to-use, and comprehensive means of identifying the birds they encountered. This helped contribute to the enjoyment of bird feeding as well as the development of species-specific feeding.