Department of Parks
Kentucky Bluebird Society To Meet At Pennyrile Forest March 10

DAWSON SPRINGS, Ky. – Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park will host the Kentucky Bluebird Society’s annual meeting on March 10 along with several educational events related to this native species.

The event kicks off Saturday at 2 p.m. with “Building for Bluebirds,” where participants will learn how to build a bluebird box with Robert Mitchell.  The materials fee is $5.

A “Bluebird Management” session from 4:30-5 p.m. with Dr. David Pitts, a biology professor at University of Tennessee, will provide information on how to best provide for bluebirds and manage nesting boxes. 

The award-winning “Outdoor Classroom Enrichment Program” for schools will start at 5 p.m. and last until 5:45 p.m.  Ed Ray, the society’s president, said that several teachers have reported incorporating this program into their classroom resulting in improved student grades.

Teachers and students participating in the classroom enrichment program are invited to make short presentations. Schools interested in making a presentation should contact the society. Participating schools receive five free bluebird nesting boxes.

Activities will continue throughout the day until 6:45 p.m. when there will be a drawing for a $220 Kentucky Bluebird Society live cam box and other prizes. The live cam box allows viewers to see and hear nesting bluebirds on a television screen while the birds are inside the box day and night during the nesting season.

Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park is located seven miles south of Dawson Springs. The park has a lodge, cottages and restaurant. Activities include an 18-hole golf course, miniature golf, boating, fishing, nine nature trails covering 23 miles, mountain biking, swimming, and other recreational opportunities.  The park phone number is 1-800-325-1711.

For more information visit the Kentucky Bluebird Society web site at: http://www.biology.eku.edu/kbs/default.html

 or e-mail Ed Ray at edrayosprey@yahoo.com or park naturalist, Rebecca Clark, at rebeccae.clark@ky.gov.

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The Kentucky State Park System is composed of 52 state parks plus an interstate park shared with Virginia. The Department of Parks, an agency of the Commerce Cabinet, operates 17 resort parks with lodges -- more than any other state. Each year, Kentucky parks draw 7 million visitors and contribute $317 million to the economy. For more information on Kentucky parks, visit our Web site at http://www.parks.ky.gov