Crossroads Hosts Christmas Bird Count Sampler

Last Saturday at the Crossroads Maintenance Building, volunteers from the Door County Silent Sports Alliance unpacked their new skies and checked the straps on the snowshoes in anticipation of the time when snow is deep enough to groom and the start of the Ski For Free program.

Since there isn’t any snow yet, take part in the 2015 Sturgeon Bay Christmas Bird Count Sampler on Dec. 19. For those who want to see what it is like to conduct a bird census, one-and-a-half hour sessions will be offered. Participants will keep the records and there will be hot chocolate and coffee. Two sessions will be held, from 9 – 10:30 am and 1:30 – 3 pm. Birders should meet at the Collins Learning Center; it’s free and open to the public.

This year on Dec. 21 at 10:49 pm, the North Pole will be tilted farther away from the Sun than at any other time of the year. In other words, Monday will have the longest night of the year, but long winter nights are meant for sleeping, so Crossroads will offer the Winter Solstice Hike (if there’s snow, then a snowshoe hike) at the Ida Bay Preserve at 10:49 am to celebrate sunlight and that the hours of daylight will gradually increase from then until June 21. Meet at the Zenith Street entrance.

The Collins Learning Center, located at 2041 Michigan in Sturgeon Bay, is open daily 2 – 4:30 pm and during scheduled activities. Until snow is adequate for grooming, all trails at Crossroads, Big Creek Cove and the Ida Bay Preserve are open for hiking, free of charge. For more information visit crossroadsatbigcreek.com.