Events Central Kentucky Wildlife

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		Central Kentucky Wildlife Refuge


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Events (and Reports)

The Refuge is open to everyone free of charge from dawn to dusk every day. Please watch and enjoy (but do not disturb) the plant and animal life you find here. Hunting, fishing, camping, boating, and recreational vehicles (including bicycles, all-terrain vehicles, etc.) are prohibited on the property. The bird blind is also open year round, but the feeders are stocked October 1 through May 31.

Upcoming Events

Late Summer Doubleheader

Night Sounds Adventure and Meteor Shower Viewing - Thursday, August 12, 2010 - 8:00 pm

When darkness falls at the Central Kentucky Wildlife Refuge, the night sounds begin. Enjoy the concert away from the noise of the city with Rob Pendygraf, Refuge Caretaker, who will help us identify we are hearing. Bring a flashlight and a lawn chair (see below), meet in the parking lot, take a short walk, and listen to the music of nature.

After the walk, assuming a clear sky, we will sit for awhile and watch the Perseid meteor shower, an annual astronomical event that is one of the best to observe, producing up to 60 meteors per hour at its peak. It is so called because most of the "shooting stars" seem to be coming from the constellation Perseus. The thin, crescent moon will be out of the way early, setting the stage for a potentially spectacular show.

Late Summer Stargazing - Saturday, August 28, 2010 - 8:30 pm

Here’s a chance to see the late summer sky away from the light pollution of the city. A spectacular view can be seen in clear weather from the open meadow near Island Pond. In addition to stars, galaxies, and star clusters, we hope to be able to see Jupiter and its moons and Uranus, the blue planet. A telescope and spotting scope will be available, but participants should bring a flashlight with a red filter (plastic secured with a rubber band will work fine). In case of overcast skies, the event will be cancelled.

Cheek Nature Center Open Houses
Saturday, September 4 and 18, 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Saturday, October 9 and 23, 10:00 am - 2:00 pm

The Mary Ashby Cheek Nature 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, and maps. Jane and J. P. Brantley, CKWR's 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. Travel grants of up to $150 are available for school groups that come to the Refuge.

Fall Color Hike - Saturday, October 23 - 10:00 am

Join in the fun for this popular annual event. Led by Rob Pendygraft, CKWR Caretaker, we will walk Circle Trail, the longest trail in the refuge (2.2 miles), which is moderate in difficulty, goes near the peak of Huckleberry Ridge, and will offer many opportunities to examine closely some of the lovely fall colors that make the Knobs so appealing to visitors. Wear sturdy walking shoes or boots and bring your own water.

Reports on Previous Events

Spring Wildflower Walk #2 - Saturday, April 24, 2010 - 10:00 am

Four visitors, led by Dr. Anne Lubbers, saw 30 wildflower species: Bedstraw, Bloodroot, Butterweed (Yellowtop), Canada Violet, Celandine (Wood) Poppy, Chervil, Common Blue Violet, Cream Violet, Dwarf Larkspur, False Rue Anemone, False Solomon’s Seal, Green Violet, Jack-in-the-Pulpit, Jacob’s Ladder, Lavender Waterleaf, Mayapple, Nodding Trillium, Ramp (Wild Leek), Solomon’s Seal, Spring Beauty, Star Chickweed, Stonecrop, Sweet Cicely, Toadshade (Sessile Trillium), Twin Leaf, Two-leaved Toothwort, Valerian, Walking Fern, Wild Geranium, and Wild Ginger. On the two walks combined, visitors saw 42 wildflower species.

Spring Wildflower Walk # 1 - Saturday, April 10, 2010, 10:00 am

Eight visitors enjoyed a clear, crisp morning. Led by Rob Pendygraft, they saw 29 wildflower species: Bloodroot, Butterwort (Ragwort), Celandine (Wood) Poppy, Common Violet, Dutchman's Breeches, False Aloe, False Rue Anemone, Henbit, Jacob's Ladder, Larkspur, Mayapple, Phlox, Ramp (Wild Leek), Rue Anemone, Solomon's Seal, Spring Beauty, Squirrel Corn, Star Chickweed, Stonecrop, Toadshade (Sessile Trillium), Twinleaf, Virginia Bluebells, Virginia Waterleaf, Walking Fern, White Violet, Wild Ginger, Wild Hydrangea, Yellow Corydalis, and Yellow Violet. Following the wildflower walk, a small group pulled Garlic Mustard plants and picked up trash on the roadside between the bridge and the Refuge parking lot entrance.

Fall Color Hike - Saturday, October 10, 2009 - 10:00 am

Seven hikers, led by Rob Pendygraft, hiked the newly reopened Waterfall Trail, Yellow Trail, a good portion of Circle Trail, and Cross Trail. In addition to a variety of colorful late fall wildflowers, mushrooms, and lichens, Rob pointed out many of the changes on and near those trails as a result of the January ice storm, some of which are still occurring. For example, we encountered a large tree that had finally fallen across Cross Trail on Friday night after the heavy rains earlier that day.

Night Sounds Hike - Saturday, August 8, 2009 - 8:30 pm

Twelve people, from teenagers to senior citizens, got to see many bats leaving their daytime perch behind the Education Center, enjoyed a tour of the meadow east of Island Pond noticing several interesting plants with the help of Rob Pendygraft, our guide for the evening, and stood for a good while on the Island Pond dam listening to crickets, frogs, feeding fish, and watching for the beaver that has taken up residence in the pond this summer. After awhile, a smaller group returned to the meadow for some constellation identification on a beautiful, starry night.

Summer Solstice Star Gazing - Saturday, June 20, 2009 - 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.