If you weren’t lucky enough to spot the hawk at the Cash Saver the other week or if you prefer to see birds sitting over a nest of eggs rather than on top shelves of egg cartons, the park rangers at T.O. Fuller State Park can point you in the right direction (and they can teach you a little bit about the birds you see, too).
This Thursday, Park Ranger Jessica Gossett is hosting the park’s third session of her birding series, during which birding beginners can learn about bird conservation, common birds in the Mid-South, and seasonal changes in bird populations, behavior, and appearance. This session is all about winter birds in the wetlands. After learning the ins and outs of the birding life, birders will get a chance to do some birding of their own, documenting the waterfowl and other wildlife in the wetlands along Riverport Road.
“At this moment, I know we have a bunch of starlings, and we do have some Carolina wren, some eastern bluebirds but those are hard to find because they are small and huddle up,” says Park Ranger Decoda Muller. “But mostly right now what you’re gonna find is birds of prey.”
Muller, for his part, is hosting an event of his own this Saturday: the park’s first ever Winter Camporee. The park has already had its annual Camporee, but this one is a bit more tailored to the season, so guests can bundle up and gather around the campfire to roast s’mores and hot dogs and sip on some hot cocoa. Muller has also teased that he will be giving each guest an outdoor-related gift. “It’s going to be a surprise,” he says.
Fees for both the Mid-South Birding 101 and the Winter Camporee will go toward the park’s conservation, programming, and projects. To register or for a schedule of even more upcoming events, visit tnstateparks.com/parks/t-o-fuller. (Next week, the park is hosting a class on making healthy treats for birds.)
Mid-South Birding 101: Winter in the Wetlands, T.O. Fuller State Park, Thursday, December 9th, 9:15-11:15 a.m., $10-$20;
Winter Camporee 2021, Saturday, December 11th, 4:30-7 p.m., $10-$25.
