SESSION TIME AND INFORMATION

​

Birding Walk & Talk

May 23, 2026  I 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM  I Seven Islands State Birding Park

​

Join the East TN Young Birders Club at Seven Islands State birding park during spring migration! Over two hours, you'll observe warblers, vireos, sparrows, and more migratory species as they fly through the meadows and forests. You'll also get to meet Seven Island's new American Kestrel, Captain Jack Sparrowhawk!

​

 

Bird Banding at Ijams Nature Center

June 13, 2026  I 8:30 AM - 10:30 AM  I Ijams Nature Center

​

Join the Ijams Community Science team for a day of bird banding, getting an intimate look at migratory and resident songbirds as they're safely captured, banded, and released after the banding team collects necessary data to help better understand the health and productivity of birds in our vicinity. Participants will have the opportunity to see these birds up close, release them after banding, and join the team on net runs to see what birds have been caught before being brought to the banding table. 

 

Ijams Nature Center's bird banding station began its operation in early 2025, created to better understand how resident and migratory songbirds utilize fruiting plants throughout the year. For this project, the banding team is especially interested in the consumption and dispersal of native vs. non-native invasive plant species. By looking at various sites across Ijams, they’ll track how songbirds use and influence specific habitats before and after active invasive species management!

​

​

Owl Ridge Raptor Center Tour

July 17, 2026  I 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM  I Owl Ridge Raptor Center

​

Owl Ridge Raptor Center is a nonprofit dedicated to rescuing, rehabilitating, and releasing injured and orphaned birds of prey, including owls, hawks, falcons, and eagles. They partner with local veterinarians, the UT Veterinary Hospital, and a network of rehabbers to give every bird the best chance at recovery and return to the wild. 

Each person is asked to please bring a donation of $10 for this event. Every donation directly supports the housing, feeding, and medical care of these remarkable animals. If this cost prohibits you from joining the tour, please email publicprograms.org directly to subsidize this cost. Thank you!

​

​

Birding Walk & Talk 

August 16, 2026  I 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM  I Ijams Nature Center

 

Join the East TN Young Birders Club at Ijams Nature Center for a morning of birding, naturalizing, and fun! Over two hours, you'll observe migratory species on their breeding grounds before they head off during Fall migration. You'll also meet an Ijams animal ambassador!

 

​

Bird Banding at Seven Islands

September 27, 2026  I 8:00 AM - 10:30 AM  I Seven Islands State Birding Park

 

Experience bird research up close during our Bird Banding Program! Watch as trained biologists and volunteers carefully capture, band, and release birds as part of ongoing efforts to monitor bird populations and migration. Learn why bird banding is important, what data is collected, and how this research helps protect birds and their habitats. This is a unique opportunity to see birds in the hand and gain a deeper appreciation for our feathered friends.

​

Be prepared to walk up to 1 mile on mostly flat, unpaved trails. For more details about the route we will take, read the Essential Eligibility Criteria. The program will last approximately 2.5 hours and includes both walking and stationary observation time at the banding station. Please remain with your guide, as he/she will be available to answer any questions that you may have and ensure that bird safety is maintained.

​​​

​

Bird Nerd Trivia

October 09, 2026  I 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM  I Ijams Nature Center

 

Calling all bird nerds! Join us at Ijams Nature Center for a night of trivia all about birds and nature. This family-friendly event will be lots of fun, and you'll come away with silly facts and knowledge galore!​

​

​

Community Crafting to Save Birds - Bird Collisions in the Anthropocene 

November 07, 2026  I 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM  I Ijams Nature Center

 

Every year, billions of birds are killed in collisions with human-made structures—especially glass. This workshop explores why birds collide with buildings, how factors like artificial light, reflective surfaces, and urban design contribute to the issue, and what it means for bird populations at local and global scales.

​

We're partnering with Bird Collisions in the Anthropocene, a Chicago-based nonprofit crowd-sourcing the handcrafting of 10,836 birds to match the number found in 2023 by the Chicago Bird Collision Monitors after they hit windows.

Each participant will be given a fabric bird base, a bio of a real bird, and everything needed to craft your bird. Finished birds will be tagged with the artist’s name and donated to the project.

​​

​

Bird Feeder Building

December 05, 2026  I Time TBD  I Museum of Infinite Outcomes

 

Get prepared for the winter season by making your own bird feeder! Under the amazing artists from the Museum of Infinite Outcomes, you'll come away with newfound knowledge of winter birds, what to feed them, and the perfect gift ahead of the holiday season (for yourself or someone else!)