The group painting program, Paint on the Platte, starts at 2 pm next Saturday

In 1918, an avian flu virus became a devastating human contagion. Scientist studying shorebirds and waterfowl are hoping they can foresee such events and possibly even prevent them.

From scavenger hunts to a seasonal calendar and a technique called cyanotype, there are so many ways to get creative.

As a COVID-19 precaution, the Iain Nicolson Audubon Center at Rowe Sanctuary will host A River Runs Through It, the annual fundraising event, virtually this year. The event will feature an online auction that opens at 6 pm CT on Thursday, October 1, plus a special video presentation at 6 pm on Saturday, October 3.

The Monarch Watch tagging event on September 12 is the first in-person program the Iain Nicolson Audubon Center at Rowe Sanctuary will host since March. The event consists of three tagging sessions from 1 to 4 pm with openings for 12 people per session; registration is required.

In a major victory for conservation groups, a federal judge ruled that the Migratory Bird Treaty Act covers unintentional but avoidable avian deaths.

Also this month: How did Hawaii get its owls? And who is the best ear birder Kenn's ever met?

Sales are through the roof for seed suppliers, birdhouse builders, and small businesses helping people connect with the nature in their backyards.