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A redbellied woodpecker is one of the birds that enjoy visiting a feeder at the Fred¿Loetscher Bird Blind at the Central Kentucky Wildlife Refuge. (Photo submitted / November 9, 2012) |
The Central Kentucky Wildlife Refuge will host two events Saturday. Beginning “Birding in the Blind” will be at 9 a.m. in the Fred Loetscher Bird Blind. An open house will be 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Mary Ashby Cheek Nature Center.
Birding in the Blind gives participants a chance to view birds that frequent the area “up close and personal” through a one-way glass in the comfort of the blind, heated, if necessary. Because most of the leaves are gone from the trees this time of year, the birds will be easier to spot. Typical visitors to the blind this time of year are goldfinches, chickadees, titmice, nuthatches and two or three species of woodpeckers. The session will be led by Jane Brantley, the refuge education director. Binoculars are welcome but not required to enjoy the birds and “loaners” will be available. Meet at the refuge parking lot.
The Nature Center houses samples of and information about plants, animals and geology that may be seen at the refuge, including examples of bird feathers and nests, rocks, an insect display, educational materials for teachers, posters and maps. J.P. Brantley, education director, will be on hand from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to answer questions about the refuge. Teachers, home schoolers and other group leaders considering field trips to the Refuge are encouraged to visit and preview the educational materials and the trails prior to scheduling their visits. Travel grants of up to $150 are available for school groups.
The bird blind is named for Fred Loetscher, who was a professor of biology at Centre College for 33 years, a widely renowned ornithologist, and an important early supporter of the Central Kentucky Wildlife Refuge. The bird blind, built in 1975, was named for him in 2009. There is stadium-style seating with a large window outfitted with one-way glass. A large group of feeders with different openings for different birds sits in front of the window where visitors can watch the various species feeding there year round.
Mary Ashby Cheek, for whom the Nature Center is named, was a distinguished educator, long-time resident of Danville, and also an early supporter of the creation of the Central Kentucky Wildlife Refuge in the mid-1960s. The Nature Center, dedicated in 1999, was made possible by a generous gift from Annette Cheek, one of her nieces.
The Central Kentucky Wildlife Refuge is a 500-acre preserve, located 13 miles from Danville (on Carpenter Creek Road just off Ky. 37) in the Parksville knob land and bordering a stretch of the North Rolling Fork. It includes 10 trails, ranging from .4 to 2.2 miles in length, one of which goes over Huckleberry Ridge; another that has a spur to the North Rolling Fork River; four ponds; a bird blind; the Mary Ashby Cheek Education Center, and the Benjamin Bright Moran Shelter.
The refuge is a non-profit organization and relies on donations and volunteers for upkeep. For more information about the Refuge, go to www.ckwr.org.
