Christmas for Birds thinks of birds' needs 12/5/2009 11:52 PM
By SUZANNE R. STONE Staff writer
NORTH AUGUSTA -- Fans of wildlife brought the spirit of the season to the Living History Park for Christmas For the Birds.
The Olde Towne Preservation Association, which oversees the park, invited children and parents to the park to help decorate a 14-foot Virginia pine donated by Wright's Tree Farm of Ward.
Children made ornaments of wildlife-friendly materials such as orange and apple slices, cranberries, bagels, popcorn, peanut butter and birdseed and hung them on the tree in the center of the park. In between ornaments, children could enjoy storytime or visit with very special guest St. Nicholas.
"We always have a lot of children come up for this event. It's a wonderful opportunity to teach them with hands-on experience," said park historian Brenda Bancroft. "Our park is a teaching park. For the ornaments we use all edible materials for the wildlife, which includes birds, squirrels, and I've even seen deer here. We are a certified wildlife refuge."
"We brought our three kids today," said parent Rick Brissom. "We thought they'd enjoy it, and we appreciate the fact that it's hands-on activity and outdoors and that St. Nicholas would be here."
The Silver Bluff Audubon Center of Beech Island also had an information booth at the park, to teach participating children about their neighbors with beaks and feathers.
"We've been here since the inaugural Christmas For the Birds, which I believe was four years ago," said Paul Koehler of the Silver Bluff Audubon Center. "We were invited to teach about the birds of this area, so I've brought some information and also a collection of nests, feathers and a stuffed owl so the kids can see what we're talking about. I like this event because it's the time of year people are thinking of other people's needs, and it's a good way to remind people to think of the birds' needs, too."
Contact Suzanne Stone at sstone@aikenstandard.com.
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