Thursday, July 17, 2014, 9:00 am - 10:30 am
Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge
26010 S. Smith Rd., Cheney, WA
This tour is guided by Joyce, an avian expert from the Audubon Society. You will walk a 1 mile loop trail that includes the 4 different habitats found at Turnbull. You will look and listen for birds and learn about the habitats and how different birds and animals are suited to each. You will learn to identify some basic plants too. You will be outside the whole time. This tour will not be cancelled for any weather reasons so come well prepared for the morning's weather.
Joyce strongly encourages you to attend the Neighborhood Birds Presentation on Monday, July 14, 2014, 10:30 am - 11:30 am prior to this Bird Walk.
- Kids who didn't get to go on the Turnbull field trip in June but wanted to.
- Kids who have never been to Turnbull.
- Kids who have been to Turnbull and want to go again with a bird expert, a member from the Audubon Society.
- Kids who are registered for the bird presentation by the Audubon Society.
- Kids who can't attend the bird presentation by the Audubon Society but want to.
About Turnbull: Turnbull NWR is located on the eastern edge of the Columbia River Basin, known as the Channeled Scablands. This rugged terrain supports an unusual pattern of wetlands, rock, ponderosa pine and aspen forests, grassland, and shrub-steppe habitat. Located within the Pacific Flyway, the refuge includes deep permanent sloughs, semi-permanent potholes, and seasonal wetlands. This mosaic provides important habitat for migrating and breeding waterfowl and other water birds. The upland habitat, primarily ponderosa pine/grassland mixed with exposed basalt cliffs and areas of meadow and shrub-steppe, supports a large variety of wildlife. More than 200 different kinds of birds have been recorded in this area. Mammals include elk, mule and white-tailed deer, coyote, badger, porcupine, muskrat, beaver, and 10 species of bats. Turnbull's environmental education (EE) program promotes the development of an educated and informed constituency, pro-active in protecting and restoring natural ecosystems. Each spring, in-classroom activities, aquatic ecology studies, and guided nature walks are provided for school groups. The Refuge has an indoor classroom facility that serves as both a museum and an education center. Visitors can view mounted birds and mammals and other natural history exhibits. The field trip is a wonderful opportunity for students and teachers to learn about the ecology and natural history of eastern Washington and to experience wildlife in a way that only the National Wildlife Refuge System can offer.
Directions/Parking: Don't follow your GPS! The refuge is south of Cheney, WA. You can reach the public use area by driving 4 miles south from Highway 904 in Cheney on the Cheney-Plaza Road. The refuge entrance is marked by a large entrance sign and arrow pointing down Smith Road. Drive about 2 miles east on Smith Road to reach the refuge headquarters and public use area. The environmental education classroom is located at the refuge headquarters. Parking is free for our group.
What to bring: camera, comfortable walking shoes, weather appropriate clothes, water bottle, sunscreen, umbrella, bug and tick repellant.
About ticks, which are common at Turnbull:
Tick bite prevention. From the Spokane Regional Health District about ticks in our area.
Ages: Kids in grades 1 - 12
Tour limit: 25 people