Residents are encouraged to join the Global Big Day on Saturday, May 10, dedicated to the enjoyment of birdwatching. This event, organized by the Village and community partners, offers educational exhibits, activities, and recreational programming for participants.
Birdwatching activities will be available throughout the day, where participants are encouraged to spend as little as five minutes observing birds and logging their sightings on eBird.org. Experts will be present to provide tips and guidance on navigating Riverside’s Important Birding Area.
A guided bird walk is scheduled from 9 A.M. to 11 A.M., starting at Riverside Public Library, located at 1 Burling Road. Vinod Babu, a Chicago Ornithological Society Board Member, will lead the walk. He is an experienced birder who started his journey in Atlanta over a decade ago and has continued to explore the bird diversity in Chicago’s prairie and forest preserves. Babu highlights the significance of the region’s location along the Mississippi flyway, enhancing the spring birdwatching experience.
The Riverside Parks and Recreation Global BIG Day program will run from 10:30 A.M. to Noon. Participants can engage in various activities, such as making birdhouses, bird feeders, binoculars, and bird masks. There will also be a bird-themed scavenger hunt around the Scout Cabin at 417 Fairbank Road. All activities are offered free of charge.
