“Birds” is this week’s Summer at Crossroads theme, and this time of year, our skies, forests and shorelines are alive with activity as resident and migratory birds feed, nest and raise their young.
Door County sits along a major migratory flyway, making early summer an especially rich time to observe species that rely on a remarkable suite of adaptations, including lightweight hollow bones, powerful flight muscles and feathers uniquely designed for both lift and insulation.
The week starts with a Tale at 2 p.m. Monday, July 6, when Door County Librarian Beth Lokken will read the storybook “The Birdwatchers” by Simon James. For those who cannot make the story time, the pages of the book will be posted on the Trail Tales storybook walk, which starts at the West Trailhead.
Journeys with Joan, the weekly family program, will explore Fantastic Flyers at 1 p.m. Tuesday, July 7. Participants will learn how wing shape influences flight, including broad wings for soaring hawks and pointed wings for swift, agile swallows.
Hikers participating in Wandering Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 8, will observe birds and learn how each species fills its own ecological niche.
For the 2 p.m. Thursday Talk, presenter Paige Witek of the Door County Land Trust will introduce participants to a variety of local bird species and highlight the strategies they use to attract mates, build nests and help their chicks survive, from elaborate courtship displays to carefully constructed nests that regulate temperature and protect fragile eggs.
Throughout the week and the rest of summer, visitors can stop by during open hours, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, for Tinkers, self-led, hands-on activities designed for curious minds. Participants can take part in a bird scavenger hunt, explore how different beak shapes are adapted to specific diets and create their own binocular craft.
The week wraps up with an opportunity to contribute to real science. Join Crossroads’ bio-inventory efforts to document bird species at Ida Bay Preserve as part of ongoing restoration work. Participants will help conduct standardized point counts following Wisconsin Breeding Bird Atlas protocol, recording birds seen and heard within a fixed time and distance to help track species presence and abundance.
Thanks to the generosity of donors, Crossroads trails are open all day, every day, free of charge.
Monday, July 6
2 p.m. Tale: “The Birdwatchers”
Join Door County Librarian Beth Lokken as she reads the weekly tale, “The Birdwatchers” by Simon James.
Jess and Grandad return in this follow-up to “The Wild Woods.” Free and open to the public. Meet in front of the Collins Learning Center, Crossroads at Big Creek, 2041 Michigan St., Sturgeon Bay.
Tuesday, July 7
1 p.m. Journeys with Joan: Fantastic Flyers
Join naturalist Joan Wilkie for free family-oriented activities exploring nature. Experience the mysteries of migration in the fields and woodlands. Some creatures travel 10,000 miles or more to make it to the preserve. Suitable for all ages. Registration is not required. Free and open to the public. Meet at the Collins Learning Center, Crossroads at Big Creek, 2041 Michigan St., Sturgeon Bay.
6 p.m. Door County Well Monitoring Program Results
The University of Wisconsin Oshkosh Environmental Research and Innovation Center, in collaboration with the Door County Department of Public Health, will share findings from the ongoing well monitoring program that started in 2019. Event organizers will discuss the latest results, comparisons to previous years and new initiatives. There will be time for questions and discussion. Free and open to the public. Registration is not required. Meet at the Collins Learning Center, Crossroads at Big Creek, 2041 Michigan St., Sturgeon Bay.
Wednesday, July 8
1:30 p.m. Wandering Wednesday
Join a naturalist-led hike. Easy walking. About an hour. Well-behaved dogs are allowed on leash. Registration is not required. Free and open to the public. Meet at the Collins Learning Center, Crossroads at Big Creek, 2041 Michigan St., Sturgeon Bay.
Thursday, July 9
2 p.m. Talk: Bird Breeding Behaviors
Experience the wonders of the breeding season through the eyes and songs of Door County’s birds. Join Paige Witek of the Door County Land Trust for an insightful guided hike exploring the complex and captivating behaviors birds display as they court, nest, raise young and defend their territories.
Free and open to the public. Meet at the Collins Learning Center, Crossroads at Big Creek, 2041 Michigan St., Sturgeon Bay.
Friday, July 10
5 a.m. Bird Survey
Join Crossroads’ bio-inventory efforts to document bird species at Ida Bay Preserve as part of ongoing restoration work. Participants will perform three point counts throughout the summer following Breeding Bird Atlas protocols.
Participants should dress for the weather and have the Merlin Bird ID app downloaded on their phones. Registration is not required. Meet in the parking lot at 1195 Canal Road. Participants will then be staged throughout Ida Bay Preserve to record birds they see and hear.
