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Night Sounds Hike
Saturday, August 8 - 8:30 pm
When darkness falls at the
Central Kentucky Wildlife Refuge in the summer,
the night sounds begin. You can enjoy the
concert away from the noise of the city at the
Refuge’s Night Sounds Adventure. Rob Pendygraft
will help us identify the wildlife we are
hearing. Bring a flashlight, meet in the parking
lot, take a short walk, and listen to the music
of nature.
Education Center Open House
Saturday, September 12 - 10:00 am - 2:00
pm
The Mary Ashby Cheek Education
Center houses information about plants and
animals that may be seen at the Refuge,
including examples of bird feathers and nests,
rocks, an insect display, educational materials
for teachers, posters, maps, etc. Jane and J. P.
Brantley, Education Directors, will be on hand
to answer questions about the Refuge. Teachers,
home schoolers and other group leaders
considering field trips to the Refuge are
encouraged to come and preview the educational
materials and the trails prior to scheduling
their visits.
Fall Color Hike
Saturday, October 10 - 10:00 am
Rob Pendygraft will lead us on Circle Trail, the
longest trail in the refuge (2.6 miles), which
offers many opportunities to examine closely
some of the lovely fall colors that make the
Knobs so appealing to visitors. Photographers
are especially encouraged to join us. The trail
is moderate in difficulty (goes near the top of
a ridge), so wear sturdy walking shoes or boots
and bring your own water.
Education Center Open House
Saturday, October 24 - 10:00 am - 2:00
pm
The Mary Ashby Cheek Education
Center houses information about plants and
animals that may be seen at the Refuge,
including examples of bird feathers and nests,
rocks, an insect display, educational materials
for teachers, posters, maps, etc. Jane and J. P.
Brantley, Education Directors, will be on hand
to answer questions about the Refuge. Teachers,
home schoolers and other group leaders
considering field trips to the Refuge are
encouraged to come and preview the educational
materials and the trails prior to scheduling
their visits.
CKWR Double Header
Saturday, November 24
Birding in the Blind, 9:00 am -
Education Center Open House, 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Visit the Fred Loetscher Bird
Blind and get "up close and personal" views
through one-way glass of birds that frequent the
area and, maybe, a few late migrants. Jane
Brantley will help us with identification. Birds
we are likely to see include cardinals,
chickadees, finches, juncos, nuthatches,
sparrows, and woodpeckers. Binoculars are
welcome but not required to enjoy the birds.
Then come by the Mary Ashby Cheek Education
Center for information about plants and animals
that may be seen at the Refuge, including
examples of bird feathers and nests, rocks, an
insect display, educational materials for
teachers, posters, maps, etc. Jane and J. P.
Brantley, Education Directors, will be on hand
to answer questions about the Refuge and the
travel grants available to school groups.
Teachers, home schoolers and other group leaders
considering field trips to the Refuge are
encouraged to preview the educational materials
and the Refuge's trails prior to scheduling
their visits.
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Reports
on Previous Events
Summer Solstice Star Gazing - Saturday,
June 20 - 9:00 pm
Four observers, guided by Tom Bryant and his
telescope, enjoyed an intermittently overcast
evening and were able to see Saturn and its
rings, the globular cluster M-13, the red
super-giant Antares, and two double stars: Mizar
and Alcor in the Big Dipper and Albireo, a
yellow and blue-green pair in the Northern
Cross.
Spring Birding Hike - Saturday,
April 18 - 9:00 am
5 hikers spent two hours in the
Refuge and sighted 21 species, the
most exciting of which were three
pair of Blue-winged Teal on Green
Heron Pond and a Ruby-throated
Hummingbird. Other species were
Eastern Bluebird, Northern Cardinal,
Brown-headed Cowbird, Mourning Dove,
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, American
Goldfinch, Canada Goose, Common
Grackle, Blue Jay, Belted
Kingfisher, White-breasted Nuthatch,
Eastern Phoebe, American Robin,
White-throated Sparrow, Tufted
Titmouse, Turkey Vulture, Downy
Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, and
Red-bellied Woodpecker.
Spring Wildflower Walk
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Saturday, April 11 - 10:00 am
24 guests enjoyed a cool, clear
morning on the Martha Clay
Wildflower Trail. Led by Dr. Anne
Lubbers, the group saw 23 species of
wildflowers: Bloodroot, Blue Phlox,
Common Blue Violet, Cream Violet,
Cutleaf Toothwort, Downy Violet,
Dutchman's-Breeches, False Rue
Anemone, Hepatica, Jacob's Ladder,
Larkspur, May Apple, Ramp (Wild
Leek), Rue Anemone, Spring Beauty,
Squirrel Corn, Toadshade Trillium,
Trout Lily, Twinleaf, Virginia
Bluebells, Walking Fern, Wild
Ginger, and Wood Poppy .
Birding in the Blind
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Saturday, March 21 - 9:00 am
Four participants joined Jane
Brantley, enjoyed a crisp, mostly
clear morning, and saw 16 species:
Red-winged Blackbird, Northern
Cardinal, Brown-headed Cowbird,
Carolina Chickadee, Mourning Dove,
American Goldfinch, Purple Finch,
Blue Jay, Dark-eyed Junco,
White-breasted Nuthatch, Pine
Siskin, White-throated Sparrow,
Tufted Titmouse, Downy Woodpecker,
Hairy Woodpecker, and Red-bellied
Woodpecker.
Great Backyard Bird Count 2009 -
February 13-16
Friday, February 13 - 14 species,
including 3 Red-bellied Woodpeckers
(at once!)
Saturday, February
14 - 21 species, including 75(!)
American Goldfinches and a
side-by-side view of a male House
Finch and a male Purple Finch.
Sunday, February 15 - 12 species,
including 30(!) Mourning Doves
Monday, February 16 -
16
species, including a Carolina Wren
(the only one seen during the four
days)
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Birding in the
Blind - Saturday,
January 17
Despite temperatures in
the teens, eight
participants, several of
whom were first-time
visitors to the Refuge
and the Fred Loetscher
Bird Blind, saw 15
species: Blue Jay,
Northern Cardinal,
Carolina Chickadee,
Mourning Dove, Purple
Finch, American
Goldfinch, Dark-eyed
Junco, White-breasted
Nuthatch, Song Sparrow,
White-throated Sparrow,
Tufted Titmouse, Downy
Woodpecker, Hairy
Woodpecker, Red-bellied
Woodpecker, and Carolina
Wren.
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