The Birds Are Coming – Flock To Niagara, Ontario’s Ball’s Falls Conservation Centre’s ‘Our Feathered Friends’ Exhibit

“I hope you love birds too. It is economical. It saves going to heaven.”
–    the 19th Century poet Emily Dickinson

“I realized that if I had to choose, I would rather have birds than airplanes.”
– Charles Lindbergh, firs person to cross the Atlantic Ocean in an airplane shortly before his death in 1974

By Doug Draper

Think of what this world would be like without the sight and songs of birds.  Far less vibrant of life, of course.

The presence of birds speak to the diversity of life on this planet and speak to the quality of the water, air and other natural resources necessary for sustaining the life of us all. On this Earth Day, we would do well to remember that if something goes wrong for the proverbial ‘canary in the coal mine’, we may all be in serious trouble.

We humans love to think of ourselves as the cleverest species on this planet – we can always find a fix for the oil spills, nuclear leaks and other messes we have unleashed through lack of foresight, shoddy regulations, etc., can’t we? But at the end of the day, the quality of our lives and our very existence depends on the same air, water, tree cover and other natural features birds and other creatures on this earth need to survive.

So be mindful to the lives of birds among us and learn more about them a special traveling exhibit from the Canadian Museum of Nature that is coming to the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority’s Ball’s Falls Conservation Park, beginning this April and running through Sept. 5 of this year.
Niagara At Large is posting the details below from a Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority media release.

MEDIA RELEASE

Feathered Friends’ flocking to Ball’s Falls
Centre for Conservation

What are feathers used for? They’re more than just plumage and hat decorations. They’re an integral part of Our Feathered Friends, a traveling exhibition from Ottawa’s Canadian Museum of Nature.

The exhibition really ‘takes off’ at the Centre for Conservation from April 30 to September 5, 2011.

Discover the keys to Bird watching by learning what birds are, how to identify them and where feathers grow. This exhibit includes a scavenger hunt, craft and activity station to engage all ages in bird life.

There have been 50 species of migrant birds and 162 kinds of nesting birds sited at Ball’s Falls Conservation Area.  Discover these hidden gems in our forest with the new bird sleuthing skills learned from the exhibit.  Forest, field and water birds can be seen throughout the conservation area.

Soar to great heights as a birdwatcher by visiting Our Feathered Friends and check our website for special programs and hikes in conjunction with this exhibit.  This exhibit was assisted by a grant from the Museum Assistance Program of Canadian Heritage.

For more information: Ball’s Falls Centre for Conservation; 3292 6th Ave. W., Jordan, ON
L0R 1S0, Phone: 905-562-5235, ext 0; or visit http://www.ballsfalls.ca
Open daily from 9am to 4pm; Admission: Adults: $5.75, Children/Seniors: $4:25.

(Visit Niagara At Large at www.niagaraatlarge.com for more news and commentary on matters of interest and concern to our greater Niagara region and beyond.)