Dancing Birds and Starry Skies

Join the Louisville Audubon Society and the Louisville Astronomical Society for a special off-site educational nature event, hosted by the Louisville Free Public Library at E.P. Tom Sawyer Park. This event offers participants the chance to see the mating rituals of the American Woodcock, followed by guided night-sky observing with members and their telescopes.

Louisville Audubon volunteers will lead participants to an area in E.P. Tom Sawyer Park where American Woodcocks are likely to perform their “sky dances.” In this elaborate mating ritual, the male woodcock twitters and calls continuously before taking flight in a large spiral, rising several hundred feet in the air before returning to the ground in a series of swooping dives.

About 30 minutes after sunset (~8:15 p.m.), the Louisville Astronomical Society will offer telescope views of the night sky, featuring targets such as the Orion Nebula, galaxies, visible planets, and other evening deep sky objects. Viewing will take place in the grassy area in front of the park’s activities building, which has ample parking and room to enjoy the night sky.  

Please arrive in the main parking lot off Freys Hill Road between 7:00-7:15 p.m. We will depart the lot promptly at 7:15 p.m.  Dress for the weather!

Space is limited and this program is weather permitting.  In order to receive updates registration is required.