Burden Museum & Gardens will host the grand opening of the Birding Loops at Burden at the Rural Life Museum.

The opening includes guided bird watching along the loops, a dedication ceremony of the trail loops, and a series of short presentations on birds and bird watching.

**Pre-Registration Required. Limited Tickets Available**

Masks will be required inside the museum. Wearing a mask and social distancing outside are both courteous and appreciated.

The schedule is as follows:

7:30 AM – Registration; enter at Rural Life Museum’s Visitors Center; register at front desk

8:00 AM – Birding Walks; meet your guide in the Connecting Garden; Guides Dr. Luke Laborde, Dr. Ashley Long, Dr. Kevin Ringelman, Vitek Jirinek

9:30 AM – Ceremony for Grand Opening in RLM Viewing Room; Bill Stark, Director LSU Rural Life Museum and Jeff Kuehny, Director LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens; presentations immediately following

9:45 AM – Audubon Louisiana Conservation Programs by Katie Percy, Avian Biologist for Audubon Louisiana

10:15 AM – Waterfowl Ecology by Dr. Kevin Ringelman, Assistant Professor in School of Renewable and Natural Resources

10:45 AM – Barred Owls in Urban Habitats by Dr. Sabrina Taylor, Associate Professor in School of Renewable and Natural Resources

11:15 AM – Conclusion of program

Burden is an excellent location for both beginning and advanced bird enthusiasts to spread their wings! Over 320 species of birds have been recorded in and around Burden, including common species, such as northern mockingbirds and ruby-throated hummingbirds, seven different woodpeckers, waterfowl and wading birds, and a variety of resident migratory songbirds.