The Friends of Cheyenne Cañon announces a new event at the Starsmore Visitor and Nature Center. The Hummingbird Festival, now the Cheyenne Cañon Hummingbird Experience, is part of the Inaugural Pikes Peak Birding and Nature Festival. http://pikespeakbirdingandnaturefestival.org/

The new event partnership includes Friends of Cheyenne Cañon and the Starsmore Visitor Center staff along with County Parks and Friends groups, Pinello Ranch/Venetucci Farm, Fountain Creek Nature Center, Aiken Audubon Society, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Chico Basin Ranch, and Pikes Peak Community College.

The festival will highlight bird and nature events throughout the region. The Friends of Cheyenne Cañon will host two field trips, with a $20 registration and RSVP required through the Pikes Peak Birding and Nature Festival. There will also be a Saturday agenda chock full of free family oriented events that highlight the hummingbirds that visit the Cañon every year. The Friends group looks forward to refocusing on the natural beauty in North Cheyenne Cañon and invites everyone to join them in kicking off the 2015 Summer Season in the Cañon.

Dates: Saturday, May 9 – Sunday, May 10, 2015

Location: Starsmore Visitor and Nature Center (formerly Starsmore Discovery Center) 2120 North Cheyenne Canyon Road, Colorado Springs, CO 80906

Time: Times vary by event

Events at the Starsmore Visitor and Nature Center in North Cheyenne Cañon include:
SAT MAY 9

6-8am
*Guided Bird Walk with a leader from the Audubon Society
10am-2pm
Mesa Bird Migration Game (ongoing)
10am-2pm
Guided Hikes with North Cheyenne Cañon Park Ambassadors (ongoing)
10am-2pm
Demonstration tents from partner organizations (ongoing)
10-11am
Family Hummingbird Discovery Event
11:30-12:30
Nature photography "how-to" session
1pm-2pm
Family Hummingbird Discovery Event
2pm-3pm
Nature photography "how-to" session"

SUN MAY 10

7am-9:30am
*Hummingbird Banding Session #1

*Registration required for the Guided Bird Walk and the Hummingbird banding sessions. Registration through the Pikes Peak Birding and Nature Festival website. (www.pikespeakbirdingandnaturefestival.org) A $20 festival registration fee covers almost all events for the weekend with the Festival. No registration required for the Saturday 10-3 events.

About the Friends of Cheyenne Cañon
The Friends of Cheyenne Cañon provides financial and volunteer support to help maintain the City's first wilderness park and preserve and operate Starsmore Visitor and Nature Center and Helen Hunt Falls Visitor Center. For more information about great hikes in the Park and the history of the Cañon go to http://cheyennecanon.org/