Vicki Barber shows the contents of an Adventurepack following a program on March 30 at the La Cygne Library (Submitted photo)
LA CYGNE – Linn County libraries will soon have kits for birdwatching in a program developed by public libraries, Audubon of Kansas (AOK) and the Burroughs Audubon Society of Greater Kansas City.
And two libraries – Pleasanton and Mound City – will host introductory birdwatching presentation beginning this week.
Mike Brown, a master naturalist with the Johnson County Extension service will be presenting Birdwatching 101 at the Pleasanton Library at 6 p.m. this Wednesday, April 12. To reserve a spot, drop by the library or call (913) 352-8554.
Brown will also be giving talks on beginning birdwatching during both an afternoon and an evening session on Thursday, April 20 at the Mound City Library. The afternoon session begins at 2 p.m., and the evening session starts at 6 p.m. To register, stop by the library or call (913) 795-2788.
AOK is expanding its "Adventurepack" program throughout the state. AOK, with support from the Burroughs Audubon, is providing libraries in Linn and Miami Counties with Nature Adventurepacks, a backpack containing adult and children’s binoculars and identification guides for birds, butterflies, and the moon.
Janet Reynolds with the La Cygne Library and Jackie Augustine, executive director for Audubon of Kansas, show the Adventurepacks that will be available at libraries across the county this spring. (Submitted photo)
Two Adventurepacks will be delivered to Janet Reynolds at La Cygne Public Library last month. Reynolds is also coordinating the dispersal of additional 10 Adventurepacks to libraries in Louisburg, Osawatomie, Paola, Blue Mound, Mound City, Parker, Pleasanton, and Prescott.
The packs will be distributed as soon as the maps of the area arrive, according to Reynolds.
The idea for the Adventurepacks came when Stevens County, Kan., librarian Laurie Crawford contacted AOK Executive Director Jackie Augustine and requested help and a partnership was born.
All backpacks should be available for check out soon– just in time for spring bird migration.
Adventurepacks have also been distributed to southwest Kansas with support from a Chickadee Checkoff grant. AOK’s goal is to have backpacks available in all 105 counties in the state. For a complete list of counties and libraries, visit https://www.audubonofkansas.org/aok-nature-adventurepacks.