This Eurasian Eagle Owl, one of the largest owls in the world, is part of the live birds show on Sunday afternoon, April 25, 2010, at the Heron Festival in Kelseyville, Calif. Photo by Lake County photographer Tracy Taylor.
KELSEYVILLE – Children and their parents will find many free activities designed just for them at this year’s Heron Festival on April 24 and 25 at Clear Lake State Park.
Although both days offer many kids activities, Sunday is considered Family Day because of two free special events.
“We want to encourage families to spend fun time together outdoors with nature, and the festival is a great time to do that,” said Joyce Anderson, education chair for Redbud Audubon Society.
Returning for the third year is the very popular “Raptor Speak” with live owls and birds of prey. This show offers an opportunity to see raptor behavior up close. Learn about these lively non-releasable birds in a fun and informative talk and bird demonstration.
More than 200 people in all attended this show last year, which again will be at 1 p.m. Sunday in the Big Tent outside the Visitor Center. Because of its popularity, the show is repeated at 2 p.m.
New this year is a sing-along puppet show “Salty’s Search for a Habitat.” Enjoy watching how Salty the salt marsh harvest mouse tries to find a good home. A San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge ranger brings to life the critters that live in marshes, and leads an interactive Mucky Marsh Music sing-along.
This show for kids (and for grown-ups if they promise to sing) is at 11:30 a.m. and repeated at 3:15 p.m. on Sunday.
On both Saturday and Sunday during a one-hour family nature walk at 11 a.m., kids can learn from park docents about the birds, animals and plants in the park. Susie Kaplar leads the Saturday walk, and Tom and Val Nixon lead it on Sunday.
All weekend at the Children’s Activities Area near the Big Tent, kids can make small birdfeeders by spreading peanut butter and seeds on mini-bagels, create owl masks to wear, and take home a window decal to discourage birds from flying into glass windows.
They also can create their own art designs by gluing assorted beans on paper. Volunteers working with the children are from Redbud Audubon Society and the Children’s Museum of Art and Science (CMAS).
A children’s My Audubon Bird Journal will be available for kids to record the birds they see as they walk around the park. Those who bring back a completed journal will be awarded bird stickers for their booklets.
Children’s artwork from several local public schools will be displayed in the Children’s Activities area. The creative drawings feature herons and local birds.
Besides all these special children’s activities, the Heron Festival offers pontoon boat tours on Clear Lake, an omelet brunch, nature walks, speakers, and more.
To see the full schedule of activities, go to www.heronfestival.org, or call 707-263-8030. Except for the Wildflower Brunch and the pontoon boat tours, all other activities are free, as is entrance to the park for festival attendees.
This 16th annual Heron Festival is co-sponsored by Redbud Audubon Society and Clear Lake State Park Interpretive Association.
