Visitor Center Reopening Celebration

All Ages

Partnering and sharing knowledge with a growing group of global and local scientists is a central tenet of conservation bioacoustics. Collaboration with local partners and experts develops locally relevant and community-driven approaches to bioacoustics research. Meet a group of collaborators who are applying the power of conservation bioacoustics to conservation needs in Southeast Asia and Central Africa.

10:30–11:15AM

Stories from the People of the Longhouse

All Ages

Stories are an essential part of any culture and a wonderful way to learn about others. Join us as we welcome Perry Ground, a Turtle Clan member of the Onondaga Nation of the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) and Cornell alumnus. Perry has been a storyteller and educator for over 25 years and uses vivid descriptions, his rhythmic voice, audience interaction, and an active stage presence to bring stories to life. Perry will recount traditional Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) legends, featuring some favorite birds, that have been told for hundreds of years and showcase the beliefs, customs, and history of the Haudenosaunee people.

12:00–12:45PM

Merlin Bird ID Trivia Game

All Ages

In this fun and interactive trivia game, the Merlin Bird ID app, developed by the Cornell Lab and powered by machine learning, will be put to the test. Can the app outperform an experienced birder and you, our live audience? We’ll use photos and sounds to determine who can accurately identify the most northeastern bird species. All ages welcome!

12:30–1:15PM

Stories from the People of the Longhouse

All Ages

1:00–2:30PM

Film Screening and Q&A with Cornell Lab Conservation Media

Location: Theater

All Ages

Conservation Media team members will discuss the goals and strategies for creating impactful conservation media. Excerpts from Conservation Media pieces will be screened followed by a Q&A.

Workshops

For each event, note the color coded location and meet at the matching color on the location map.

11:30AM–12:15PM

Nature Journaling

Ages 13+. Limited to 20 attendees. Arrive early.

Connect with your creative side in this gentle introduction to nature journaling. Breathe, relax, and use all your senses to take in your surroundings. Then express them on a page with your sketches and words. Supplies provided. Guided by Marla Coppolino, Cornell Lab Bird Academy course developer and illustrator. Adult and teen artists, writers, and artistically curious beginners are welcome.

2:30–3:15PM

DIY Workshop: How to Make Windows Safer for Birds

All ages. Limited to 35 attendees. Arrive early.

Learn how you can make your windows bird friendly and prevent bird collisions. This hands-on workshop will present options and show you how to make Acopian BirdSavers from paracord, similar to the ones hanging on the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s windows.

Author Talks and Readings

For each event, note the color coded location and meet at the matching color on the location map.

11:00–11:45AM

How To Love a Forest

Ages 13+

What does it mean to love a forest? Join Ethan Tapper, an Audubon-endorsed forester, author, and content creator from Vermont, for an author talk and reading from his new book How to Love a Forest: The Bittersweet Work of Tending a Changing World. The book is a reimagining of forests and our relationship with ecosystems, a new land ethic for the modern world. It has been endorsed by nature authors including Bill McKibben, Doug Tallamy, Ben Goldfarb, Tom Wessels and more.

1:00–1:45PM

Bird Love: Why Identify with Birds

Ages 13+

Birds exhibit a wide array of behaviors—from sabotaging budding romances to outsourcing childcare duties. Why do they behave as they do? Using diverse examples from around the world, Dr. Wenfei Tong will present vignettes about the private lives of birds in an evolutionary context, to show the science behind how much humans and birds have in common. She will discuss stories from her books Bird Love and Understanding Bird Behavior that highlight the work of participatory scientists and female or minority biologists, and illustrate the talk with her art and photographs.

1:30–2:15PM

Night Owl Night Storytime

All ages

Children’s author Susan Edwards Richmond will read her book Night Owl Night in this interactive storytime. Learn fun facts about northern forest owls and try out your owl voices. Then immerse yourself in Maribel Lechuga’s beautiful illustrations as you join main characters Sova and her scientist mother on a Saw-whet Owl banding adventure, where patience and persistence reap big rewards.

Walks and Tours

For each event, note the color coded location and meet at the matching color on the location map.

8:30–10:00AM

Guided Bird Walk with Cayuga Bird Club

All ages

Get an early start to the reopening celebration with a walk led by members of the Cayuga Bird Club. Walk the trails at Sapsuckers Woods looking and listening for birds. Binoculars available to borrow. Please note the Reopening Celebration does not officially kick off until 10AM.

10:00–11:00AM

Guided Bird Walk

All ages

Walk the trails at Sapsuckers Woods looking and listening for birds. Binoculars available to borrow.

10:30–11:15AM

Behind the Scenes: Cornell University Museum of Vertebrates

All ages. Limited to 15 attendees. Arrive early.

Birds, reptiles, amphibians, fishes, and mammals! Take an intimate look at feathers, fins, scales, and bones. Experience how research museums operate, and understand the expanding role they serve in a changing world.

11:00AM–12:00 noon

Guided Bird Walk

All ages

Walk the trails at Sapsuckers Woods looking and listening for birds. Binoculars available to borrow.

11:30AM– 12:15PM

Behind the Scenes: Cornell University Museum of Vertebrates

All ages. Limited to 15 attendees. Arrive early.

12:00–1:00PM

Native Plants and Home Habitat Ideas

All ages

There are many actions we can take at home to support birds and biodiversity. We’ll walk around Sapsucker Woods and share ideas. Leave with native plant suggestions and habitat features to consider.

1:00–2:00PM

Managing Forests for Birds

Ages 13+

Join Ethan Tapper, an Audubon-endorsed forester, author, and content creator from Vermont for a walk where he’ll discuss managing forests for bird habitat. Ethan, a nationally recognized forester, conservationist, and author of How to Love a Forest, will cover topics including managing forests for birds, climate resilience, biodiversity, renewable resources and more!

1:30–2:15PM

Behind the Scenes: Cornell University Museum of Vertebrates