Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center is excited to launch two new programs this fall to bring the joy of birds and the season to everyone this October and November. The fun kicks off with SparrowFest, October 24-26, followed by Nocturnal November on Saturday evening, November 15.  

"We have hosted a fall festival of some kind for many years,” says Jason “the Birdnerd”, Spring Creek Prairie’s Sr. Education Manager, “but this year, we wanted to change things up and try something new.” SparrowFest is a weekend-long event with talks, walks, demonstrations, and tons-of-fun learning about sparrows, the underappreciated stars of fall and winter in Nebraska. “We’re thrilled to bring in experts online like Steven Prager from Audubon Southwest,” St. Sauver continued, “as well as local experts like Stephen Brenner, Avian Biologist for Audubon Great Plains, to do a bird banding demonstration.” The weekend will also include a Birds and Brews presentation on Sparrow Sounds by the Birdnerd himself and a Birds and Brunch event including a wagon ride and brunch afterwards from Rutabagas. And while several of these programs may be more adult and for the seasoned birders, the event will also have a Sparrow Sit each morning that is accessible and free for all, plus a special Sparrows & Schoolkids program on Saturday with family-fun activities for all ages, including a live bird presentation!

For a full SparrowFest schedule, go to the Events page on our website below. Tickets on sale Friday, Oct. 3.

Our second new program will be Nocturnal November on Nov. 15. Designed to bring everyone out to explore dusk and dark on the prairie in many ways, this event will start with some owl pellet dissection, booths and games exploring nocturnal wildlife, and a live owl presentation with Raptor Conservation Alliance. This will be followed by two sessions of tours involving nighttime journaling, nighttime photography, and nighttime sights & sounds. Attendees will have the opportunity to choose one or two of the tours to attend, and the evening will end with star gazing with the Prairie Astronomy Club.

For more information, please visit springcreek.audubon.org/events or email scp@audubon.org.