Oatland Island: International Migratory Bird Day, Saturday

SAVANNAH, GA - Celebrate International Migratory Bird Day on May 8th at Oatland Island Wildlife Center from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Students from Windsor Forest Elementary will be on hand at various “Information Stations” along the trail from 10:30 until 12:30 to teach visitors about birds. An owl talk will take place at the picnic pavilion at 1:30. Early risers can participate in a special Audubon Guided walk from 8:30-10:30. Typical bird counts total about 35 species. Bring bug spray and binoculars with your field guide. This walk takes place prior to opening so a RSVP (912-395-1500) is required with a $10.00 fee which covers the daily admission.

Savannah, International Migratory Bird Day (IMBD) is celebrated to raise awareness of the plight of some 350 migratory bird species, many of which are neotropical songbirds. Neotropical songbirds are those species that spend approximately eight months of the year wintering in Central and South America and the remaining months on their breeding grounds in North America's temperate latitudes. Currently, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service classifies 11 of the 96 Neotropical songbird species (12%) as endangered, threatened, or being of management concern and another 65 Neotropical songbird species (68%) show measurable population declines (Degraaf and Rappole, 1995).

The Center is a unit of the Savannah-Chatham County School System and serves as a field study site for students throughout the region. It features the 2 mile “Native Animal Nature Trail” that winds through maritime forest, freshwater wetlands and salt marsh habitats and links many native animal exhibits such as wolves, alligator and cougar. Oatland is located 5 miles east of Savannah off Islands Expressway and is open daily to the public for self guided tours from 10:00-4:00, except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years. For more information call 912-395-1500, or visit www.oatlandisland.org.