"Hummingbird migration in this area is at its peak in August,” said Nature Station Interpreter Carrie Szwed. 

“A large number of hummingbirds stop here on their journey south to Mexico and Central America.  During this time, up to 200 hummingbirds visit our feeders in a single day.  The festival is an opportunity to be a part of this awesome event.”
 
The main Hummingbird Festival events take place at the Nature Station Saturday 9am-4pm and Sunday 10am-4pm.  Admission to Hummingbird Festival 2012 is $5 ages 13 and up, $3 ages 5-12, and free for children 4 and under.  Visit with the staff and guest exhibitors to learn more about these amazing little birds and how you can help them survive their long migration.  Highlights of the weekend include hummingbird banding demonstrations, a nature photography program, a native plant sale, a honeybee observation hive, activities and games for children, and live animal encounters.  Take-home information will be available about building nest boxes, participating in citizen science projects, downloading nature apps to your smartphones, and more.  Be sure to bring your camera to capture the stars of the weekend, the Ruby-throated hummingbirds. 

Hummingbird banders from Louisville, Kentucky, Brainard Palmer-Ball Jr. and Mark Monroe, will give up close demonstrations throughout the day on the technique of bird banding.  If a hummingbird is recaptured at another study site along its migration route, the leg band number is recorded and added to a database.  Biologists can then look at all the data collected over the years for clues about the habits of these tiny birds and how best to meet their habitat needs.  Visitors can attend ongoing demonstrations and visit other information stations Saturday 9am-4pm and Sunday 10am-4pm. 

Other weekend activities include Dinner with the Hummingbirds on Friday, August 3.  This event requires reservations and full deposits due to limited space.  For complete information or reservations, contact 270-924-2020. 

The following is a list of Nature Station programs for the weekend:
Friday, August 3
· 6-8pm  Dinner with the Hummingbirds
  $20 per person (includes dinner and evening admission)

Saturday, August 4
· 9am-4pm Hummingbird Banding Demonstrations
· 10am Hummingbirds 101
· 11am Hummingbird Photography: The Basics & More
· 12pm Hummingbirds 101
· 1pm Hummingbird Photography: The Basics & More
· 2pm Hummingbirds 101
· 3pm Gardening for Hummingbirds & Butterflies

Sunday, August 5
· 10am-4pm Hummingbird Banding Demonstrations
· 11am Hummingbird Photography: The Basics & More
· 12pm Hummingbirds 101
· 1pm Hummingbird Folklore
· 2pm Hummingbirds 101
· 3pm Hummingbirds for Kids

 
Come Outside and Play at Land Between The Lakes National Recreation Area.  Managed by the Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Land Between The Lakes provides outdoor recreation, lake access, and environmental education for the public to enjoy.  Visitors are encouraged to review LBL’s official website at www.lbl.org often for Calendar of Events, updates on programs and policies, safety information, maps, temporary trail and road closures, and additional LBL information, or call 800-LBL-7077 or 270-924-2000.  Follow LBL on www.Twitter.com/LBLScreechOwl, www.Twitter.com/LandBtwnLakes, or http://landbetweenthelakes.blogspot.com/.