Taking flight along the Mississippi
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[The art, science and enjoyment of birding in the Mississippi River Valley will be the focus of a new special event, "Birding the Bottomlands," scheduled for Saturday, April 21 along the Mississippi River and at Fort Kaskaskia State Historic Site just off of State Route 3 north of Chester, Illinois. The event is free and open to the public.
The Middle Mississippi River Partnership has teamed up with the Chester Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Bureau, Southern Illinois and Kaskaskia Valley Audubon Societies, Fort Kaskaskia State Historic Site, Clifftop and the Kaskaskia Lock and Dam to host Birding the Bottomlands. The event will highlight the Birding the Bottomlands map, which identifies dozens of public birding locations along the middle Mississippi River, in both Illinois and Missouri.
The birding field session is from 6 to 10 a.m. and will give birders of all ages and experiences a chance to view migratory songbirds in their most vibrant colors. Ten locations highlighted on the birding the bottomlands map, all within a 30 minute drive from Chester, Illinois will be staffed for visitors that day. In addition, two locations will offer canoe birding adventures on a first-come, first-serve basis.
The featured birding sites include the U.S. Forest Service's Oakwood Bottoms, a green tree reservoir legendary for housing migrating waterfowl and numerous migratory bird species. Across the river sits the Missouri Department of Conservation's Seventy Six and Red Rock Landing Conservation Areas where many river corridor species may be observed while listening to wild turkeys in the distance. Also on the list is the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Wilkinson Island Division, which is an area where river dependent species, including eagles, may be observed on a daily basis. Experienced birders will be on hand to provide their expertise. Visitors are welcome to visit these areas during daylight hours seven days a week to view migratory birds on their own. For more information visit www.midmiss.org.
A birding festival will follow from noon to 3 p.m. at Fort Kaskaskia State Historic Site, the location of the fort constructed by the French in 1759 and overlooking what used to be Illinois' first capital. A number of fish and wildlife related demonstrations will take place, including mist-netting and rocket-netting. Law enforcement and fisheries personnel will be available. Free Again Inc. will have live birds of prey including photo opportunities with the birds. Posters and educational items will be available for the first 200 children.
Fort Kaskaskia State Historic Site is administered by the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.