Auburn University’s Kreher Preserve & Nature Center welcomes the Birmingham Audubon Society for Spring Bird Walk

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The Birmingham Audubon Society is launching a new field trip to visit Auburn University’s Kreher Preserve & Nature Center this spring. The new trip comes after Kreher’s recent addition to the Alabama Birding Trail and as the preserve bolsters its efforts to improve avian habitat and birding opportunities on the property. Kreher offers birding enthusiasts a large diversity of birds and several different bird habitats that are attractive to members of the Birmingham Audubon.

The event is scheduled for Saturday, March 23, from 9-10:30 a.m. and is free to the public. It is being presented by the Birmingham Audubon Society, and those interested in attending can learn more here.

The field trip will be led by birding experts Greg Harber and Linda Neighbors. Participants will arrive at Kreher at 9 a.m. to hear a brief lecture in the amphitheater as Harber and Neighbors introduce visitors to the birds of the Kreher Preserve. The lecture will be followed by guided walks through the forest to listen and watch for permanent avian residents as well as those migrating through. The walks will allow visitors to witness the new birding initiatives and installations at Kreher, made possible by the generous donations to Tiger Giving Day 2019. Visitors will have opportunities to ask the experts for advice on what they can do in their own backyards to attract birds and create excellent bird habitats.

The Kreher Preserve & Nature Center, or "KPNC," is a non-profit, outreach facility of Auburn University's School of Forestry & Wildlife Sciences, offering education, recreation and leisure resources to the communities of Auburn, Opelika, Lee County and the entire region. KPNC facilities include a pavilion, an amphitheater, a nature-based playground, a shaded picnic area, water fountains, restrooms, and two parking lots offering easy access to all the amenities. With almost 120 acres of preserved and managed native forest, the KPNC offers visitors over six miles of hiking and running trails through beautiful woodlands and countless features such as a pond with boardwalk and small pier, 1800s-style homestead site with barn and organic garden, butterfly garden, wildflower meadow, several outdoor classrooms, benches with scenic overlooks and many interpretive and educational kiosks throughout.

Visitors can participate in many events, workshops, and programs throughout the year. Rental opportunities ranging from birthday parties, to family reunions, to weddings are offered and customized for visitors to maximize their experience. Memberships are available that offer many great benefits including free and discounted programs and events, discounts at nature centers across the U.S., eligibility for youth camps, discounts on facility rentals, free gifts and more. And as a non-profit, the operations of the KPNC depend on the generous donations of its patrons and supporters. Donations can be made in person at Auburn University or online at the KPNC website.

The KPNC is located at 2222 N. College St., Auburn, AL 36830, and open every day of the year from dawn to dusk. The website, auburn.edu/preserve, offers detailed information on the history of the property, all of its amenities, events and rental opportunities, as well as an interactive calendar and portal for registration to its many activities. In order to help preserve the natural wildlife of the facility, the KPNC does not allow dogs or other pets, or bikes.

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Auburn University is a nationally ranked land grant institution recognized for its commitment to world-class scholarship, interdisciplinary research with an elite, top-tier Carnegie R1 classification, life-changing outreach with Carnegie’s Community Engagement designation and an undergraduate education experience second to none. Auburn is home to more than 30,000 students, and its faculty and research partners collaborate to develop and deliver meaningful scholarship, science and technology-based advancements that meet pressing regional, national and global needs. Auburn’s commitment to active student engagement, professional success and public/private partnership drives a growing reputation for outreach and extension that delivers broad economic, health and societal impact.