Community members are invited to join a bird walk at the Denison University Biological Reserve at 8 a.m. on Saturday (June 2). Whitney Stocker, manager of the Bioreserve, will lead the walk, which will emphasize learning to identify birds by their songs. More than 70 species of birds nest at the Bioreserve.

Walkers are advised to bring binoculars, if available, as you will have the opportunity to see as well as hear many of these species. Also, walkers should be prepared to walk in wet grass. The walk, however, will be cancelled if it is raining.

Stocker joined Denison in 1993. A graduate ofHigh School and Ohio State University, he can identify more than 120 bird songs and "dialects." His zoology background led him to the study of crayfish and he is co-author of "The Crayfishes of West Virginia" (1995) with OSU Professor Ray Jezerinac. Stocker participates in the North American Breeding Bird Survey, an all-day effort that takes him on a 24.5 mile route while counting every bird he sees or hears.

The Denison Biological Reserve was established by the University's Board of Trustees in 1966. It encompasses 350 acres with approximately 75 percent of it being beech-maple/mixed mesophytic forest interspersed with old orchards and former plantations of pine spruce, sugar maple and yellow poplar. A well-marked trail system has been established that allows visitors to explore a variety of habitats and terrain. The reserve is open to the public for low-impact activities from dawn to dusk every day and is located on the east side of Rt.661 at 1760 North Street.

Calendar Listing:

CALENDAR LISTING: Denison University, Granville -- Bird Walk guided by Whitney Stocker; 8 a.m., Saturday (June 2), Biological Reserve (1760 North Street). Walkers are advised to be prepared to walk in wet grass and to bring binoculars if available. The walk is cancelled in case of rain. Call 740-587-6359 for more information.

About Denison:

Denison University, founded in 1831, is an independent, residential liberal arts institution located in Granville, Ohio. A highly selective college enrolling 2,100 full-time undergraduate students from all 50 states and dozens of foreign countries, Denison is a place where innovative faculty and motivated students collaborate in rigorous scholarship, civic engagement and the cultivation of independent thinking.

For press inquiries:

Name

Barbara Stambaugh

Position Title

Director, Media Relations

Primary Email

stambaughb@denison.edu

Business Phone

(740) 587-8575