A good environment
BRADY TWP — Jennings Environmental Education Center has three upcoming programs.
• The center will provide an indoor observation station for the annual Butler County Christmas bird count from 10 a.m. to noon Dec. 15.
This is a free, informal birding session. Jennings staff and representatives of the Bartramian Audubon Society will explain observing and recording procedures.
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• There will be an owl prowl at 7 p.m. Dec. 16.
Participants can discover why owls’ nocturnal habits, silent flight and ghostly appearances have fascinated people for centuries. Following a brief indoor presentation, guests will take a guided walk along Jennings’ darkened forest trails.
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A prairie improvement day is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 19.
Jennings has the only preserved prairie in Pennsylvania. A unique ecosystem, it is home to the massasauga rattlesnake and wildflowers, including the blazing star.
A variety of management techniques are used to preserve this habitat. One such technique is to clip and remove the woody invaders that may eventually out-compete native flowers and grasses. This activity is best accomplished in winter when the soil is frozen and vegetation is reduced.
Participants will spend the morning outdoors working on the prairie. For lunch, local restaurants will provide soup. Each participant will receive a commemorative soup mug as a thank-you.
Participants must be 12 or older and should dress for the weather. Registration deadline for the Prairie Improvement Day is Jan. 11. Call Miranda Crotsley at 724-794-6011.
Jennings is on Route 528 near the intersection of Routes 8 and 173. It is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays and on weekends as scheduled. The trails are open daily from sunrise to sunset.
For information, call 724-794-6011 or e-mail jenningssp@pa.gov.
