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A traveling exhibit titled, “A Day With the Birds: Community Science & the Audubon Christmas Bird Count” will come to the Arboretum in August and September 2026. The exhibit, which celebrates the Audubon Christmas Bird Count, the longest-running community science project in the world, will be located in the Prairie Discovery Lab near the greenhouses. It will open to the public between August 3 and September 22, weekdays from 1 to 4 p.m.

The exhibit will be on display in its entirety from August 3 to 30, after which a portion of it will be taken down to make room for our fall plant sale operations. A line-up of special events about birds and birding will accompany the exhibit. See below or click here for the FLYER.

Admission to the exhibit is included in the regular Arboretum admission fee, which is $2 per non-member students/adults, $1 per non-member child (ages 3-12 years old). As always, children 12 years and younger must be accompanied by an adult at the Arboretum.

Current Arboretum members can present their digital or physical membership card for free admission.

Created by the exhibits team at Kauffman Museum at Bethel College in North Newton, this exhibit invites visitors of all ages to explore the past, present and future of the National Audubon Christmas Bird Count, which was started in 1900 by Frank Chapman. The exhibit explores the history of community science and conservation in the United States through national and local stories.

As organizations like the National Audubon Society took a key role in advocating for birds on a national level, small groups of concerned citizens like the Ruth Sisters in Halstead, Kansas, took it upon themselves to spend a day counting birds and reporting what they saw. The exhibit also explores bird population trends and what it takes to become a birder.

“The history and the future of the Audubon Christmas Bird Count are entirely dependent on the community scientists that take it upon themselves to take a stand for birds,” said Lorna Harder, lead curator for “A Day With the Birds. “This exhibit gives us an opportunity to learn about the history of the Audubon Christmas Bird Count, the current state of community science, and to provide inspiration to the next generation of birders.”

AUGUST EVENTS

• THURSDAY, AUGUST 6, 10 AM “Meet the Beak” (ages 7-12 yrs + parents) in the PRAIRIE DISCOVERY LAB
• SATURDAY, AUGUST 8, 7:30 TO 9:30 AM “Birdsong in the Morning”: Birdwalk and program with Exhibit Guest Curator, Lorna Harder (all ages) in the VISITOR CENTER
• SATURDAY, AUGUST 8, 10 AM to 12 PM Chat with the Guest Curator, Lorna Harder in the PRAIRIE DISCOVERY LAB
• MONDAY, AUGUST 10, 10 AM “The Wonder of Feathers” (ages 7-12 yrs + parents) in the PRAIRIE DISCOVERY LAB

SEPTEMBER EVENTS

(all in the VISITOR CENTER, with Lorna Harder; all for families/all ages)

• TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 7 PM “Birds on the Move” program on bird migration
• THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1 PM (during FloraKansas) “Welcoming Birds to Your Garden” program
• SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 9 AM (during FloraKansas) “Welcoming Birds to Your Garden” program
• TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 7 PM “Beaks and Eats” program for families