Hummingbird Festival scheduled at state forest

A Southern Illinois Hummingbird Festival is planned Saturday, Aug. 5, at the Trail of Tears State Forest in Union County. The event is planned from 9 a.m. to noon.

The large pavilion and white barn along the Trail of Tears Road (northwest of Jonesboro) have been reserved for the event.  

Organizers say that visitors can expect to see dozens of hummingbirds.

Vernon Kleen, a licensed hummingbird bander and president of the Lincoln Land Association of Bird Banders, is scheduled to begin the festival at 9 a.m. with a short discussion about hummingbirds. He also will explain why hummingbirds are banded.

After the discussion, hummingbirds will be captured and banded.

The festival is a family event and there is no admission charge.  

Visitors will have an opportunity to “adopt” birds; although there is no longer a fee for the adoptions, donations to the Lincoln Land Association of Bird Banders would be appreciated.  

Those who adopt a bird will receive a signed certificate. They also may be able to release the bird they adopted, and will be notified if their bird is ever recaptured.

The Lincoln Land Association of Bird Banders is a not-for-profit organization which works to perform sound scientific studies and educational services to monitor, protect and enhance the populations of Illinois’ native birds and their unique environments.