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Whitewater State Park Naturalist Programs
July 31 and August 6-7, 2004
All programs, unless otherwise noted, begin at the Whitewater Valley Visitor Center (Park Office).
Saturday July 31
6-7:30p.m. Early Evening Bird Walk (or Feeder Watch) - Join Andy and Joyce Buggs on this leisurely evening walk in search of Whitewater's birds including orioles, hummingbirds, scarlet tanagers, and rose-breasted grosbeaks. Families are welcome. Binoculars and bird brochures will be available. Bring transportation, as we will drive a short distance to the trailhead. (If it is raining, and/or too hot, a feeder watch activity in the visitor center will be substituted for the walk.)
Friday August 6
8-9p.m. Snakes of the Blufflands - Sixteen of Minnesota's seventeen kinds of snakes live in the Blufflands. Learn how we can live, work and recreate in the Blufflands and still conserve these awesome creatures. A slide show about area snakes and live snake program will be given. A bullsnake and a timber rattlesnake will be on hand, literally! Bring your camera for a picture of a bullsnake wrapped around your loved one's neck.
Saturday, August 7
3-4p.m. Go in Seine at the Beach - Many small creatures live in Whitewater's cold water streams and at the beach. Come get wet and wild as we use a seine (net) to search for some of Whitewater's miniature water monsters! Find out about the interesting critters we share the swimming hole with. How does life in the stream differ from live in the beach pool? Meet at the beach.
6-7p.m. Bluebirds - How long has it been since you've seen a bluebird? During this activity you will! After viewing a short slide show we'll take a leisurely walk around the visitor center to see bluebird moms, dads and the kids in or near nest boxes. Discover the conservation success story of how people brought bluebirds back from very low numbers!
8:30-10p.m. Perseid Meteor Shower - Experience "meteor whiplash" during the best meteor shower of the year! Members of the Hiawatha Valley Astronomical Society will provide telescopes, expertise and slides introducing our solar system, galaxy, and beyond! There will be a program rain or shine.
These programs are provided free of charge, but state park vehicle permits are required. In addition to attending programs, you are invited to use the park's self-guided interpretive services, including visitor center exhibits and self-guided trails. See the new beaver exhibit. A number of history and nature related videos are available for free viewing in the visitor center.
You can help support Minnesota State Parks Interpretive and Resource Management Programs by shopping at the Nature Store. The Nature Store, _ mile south of the visitor center on Highway 74, offers books, post cards, T-shirts, mugs, wildlife posters, relaxation tapes and much more. The Nature Store will be open the following hours: Tuesday - Sunday 9a.m.- 4:30 p.m.
The park's staff hopes you enjoy the Blufflands' resources of Whitewater State Park!
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