JEFFERSON COUNTY - To a birder, there’s no better time of year than the month of May.

As part of that sentiment, in conjunction with the group “Birdability”, Nebraska Game and Parks is holding a free bird walk this weekend at Rock Creek Station in rural Jefferson County. Cassandra Dean is Birdability Captain for Nebraska and will lead the walk this Saturday. She talked about the Birdability organization.

“Birdability is a 501 C-3 organization,” Dean said. “It was founded in 2018 by Virginia Rose in Austin, TX. and, as a captain, I am to bring accessible birding outings to the state of Nebraska and we’re doing a walk this Saturday.”

Birdability is open to all birders, but brings access to birders who have a disability such as mobility challenges, blind or deafness, or any HEALTH concern, with the goal being to make birding an activity for everyone. The walk being held in mid-May is no coincidence as spring migrants pass through, and summer breeding birds begin to make the area home. Some local breeding birds on Rock Creek property include a variety of flycatchers and swallows, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, Bluebirds, and a wide range of songbirds.

“When Rock Creek reached out to me, they said they wanted to do something for May, national bird month, and I said that’s great,” Dean said.

Saturday is also free park entry day for Game and Parks. Park superintendent Jeff Bargar says this kind of event is also a way for Rock Creek to showcase themselves and the birding they have to offer.

“It’s just another avenue of advertising that shows folks we are here and events like these are available,” Bargar said. “We’ve also acquired some birding grants which helped us to buy the bird feeders behind us, we have miles of hiking trails, and we did get some binoculars and monoculars that can be rented out all year long.”

The walk begins at 1:30 on Saturday afternoon. Those attending can meet at the visitors center.