Family Days - A Bird Watching Adventure

Are you looking for something the whole family can enjoy together? If you have ever wondered what birdwatching was all about, now is your chance! Family Days. As part of the Monterey Bay Birding Festival, the City's Wetlands of Watsonville Nature Center in Ramsay Park invites you and your children to the free, bilingual "Family Days" on Sept. 15 and 16. Join us for a bird watching adventure along our City trails, or enjoy children's activities at the Nature Center. Feathered fun includes:

- Family birdwatching outings
- Arts and crafts
- Science activities
- Books, games and puppet shows

Come explore the wonders of wetlands with your children and create new adventures together. Every fall the Wetlands of Watsonville's vegetation, beautiful waters and exposed mudflats welcome back thousands of migrating birds passing through on their long journey south. Many even stay for the winter, or raise their chicks here in the spring. With wetlands in California and around the world disappearing, our town's wetlands play an important role in providing bird habitat. Over 200 species of birds depend on the Wetlands of Watsonville.

Experienced, bilingual guides will help you and your children learn the "tricks of the trade" - where to look, what to look for, and how to identify the many species found in our wetlands. Watch giant herons fly overhead, while pink-legged birds search the mudflats for food with their long bills. Walks run Saturday and Sunday at 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. All scheduled walks have 1/2 hour and 1 1/2 hour options.

The "Family Days" event is free of charge and binoculars will be provided. Bring comfortable walking shoes, hats, sunscreen, water, and binoculars if you have them.

For more information on bilingual family bird walks or kids activities call the Wetlands of Watsonville Nature Center at (831) 768-1622.