Dept. of Game, Fish and Parks
For Immediate Release: Tuesday, May 8, 2001
For more information: Doug Backlund, 773-4345

INTERNATIONAL MIGRATORY BIRD DAY EVENTS OFFERED MAY 12 IN PIERRE

PIERRE -- Two events will be held in Pierre to celebrate International Migratory Bird Day (IMBD) on Saturday, May 12. The South Dakota Game, Fish, and Parks Dept. will offer mist-netting and bird-banding demonstrations at Farm Island State Recreation Area between 7 a.m. and 12 p.m., weather permitting. Farm Island State Recreation Area is located about 2 miles east of Pierre on Highway 34. The banding demonstration will be at the entrance to the Farm Island hiking trail. This event will offer nature enthusiasts a rare opportunity to view a variety of birds in the hand. After the bird-banding demonstration, participants can enjoy the surrounding nature trails. Park entrance is free for those with a South Dakota Parks Pass, otherwise it is $3 per person or $5 per car.

In addition, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will have an information table at Pier 347, at 347 S. Pierre St. between 7 a.m. and 1 p.m. Visitors can enjoy great food and drink from Pier 347 while learning about migratory birds. There will also be opportunities to win bird identification guides.

IMBD is an annual event focusing attention on the nearly 350 species of migratory birds that travel between wintering grounds in Mexico, South and Central America, and the Caribbean, and nesting habitats in North America. It is sponsored by Partners in Flight, an international coalition created in 1990 that includes the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, other federal and state wildlife agencies, conservation groups, academic institutions, corporations, and private citizens dedicated to reversing the declines in many migratory bird populations.

Those interested in either events can call (605) 224-8693, ext. 31. Many other events will be held throughout the United States and many of these can be found in a registry on the IMBD website at http://birds.fws.gov/imbd.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal Federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 94-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System which encompasses more than 535 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 70 national fish hatcheries, 64 fishery resource offices and 78 ecological services field stations. The agency enforces Federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Aid program that distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies. 

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