Fly Through Bird Banding Demos

Cleveland really is for the birds — warblers, sparrows and thrushes, that is. With its wetland, forest, lake and meadow habitats and location along many migratory routes, the Nature Center at Shaker Lakes draws all types of feathered friends. Discover these myriad species and help the experts collect data with bird-banding demonstrations on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings through June 5. “They get to see the birds up close and personal,” says Julie West, the nature center’s primary bird bander. “I try to help people understand a little bit about the bird — if it’s a migrant or a resident or a breeder.” Likewise, the Shaker Lakes boardwalk birding trail can offer rare views of the birds and emphasizes the importance of such environmental areas. “It’s a stopping point for some birds as part of 1,000-mile migrations,” West says. 2600 S. Park Blvd., Cleveland, 216-321-5935, shakerlakes.org