More than 100 people from 15 states and two provinces are making their way to Woodward to participate in the first annual Woodward Lesser Prairie Chicken Festival, which kicks off this evening.
Representatives of the Oklahoma Audubon Council (OAC), which is sponsoring the festival, are pleased with the response.
“I think it’s great,” OAC Chairman John Kennington said of the turnout, “particularly with it being our first year.”
Kennington noted that he is also impressed by the amount of out-of-state interest.
“About half of the participants are from out-of-state,” he said.
Participants are coming from as far away as Alaska, California, Massachusetts, South Carolina, West Virginia and Wisconsin, just to name a few, Kennington said.
What makes it even more impressive is that the event has become international as persons from Alberta and Ontario, Canada, have registered to participate, he said.
Kennington said that participation numbers could potentially increase further as area residents are invited to take part in the festival workshops if they are interested.
Even though the official registration deadline has passed, he said that those who may be interested in listening to some of the festival presenters can still have the opportunity to do so.
To learn more about these presenters and their workshops as well as how you can get involved, feel free to attend the festival’s opening reception at the Northwest Inn this evening from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
A full schedule of events at this year’s festival is listed below.
Friday, April 17:
5 p.m. - 7 p.m. Flock & Mingle Reception, Northwest Inn
7 p.m. - 8 p.m. Opening remarks and Orientation
Saturday, April 18:
4:45 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Lesser prairie chicken viewing, Chuckwagon Brunch and fence marking
6 a.m. - 12 p.m. Harper/Woodward County Birding Trek
8 a.m. - 12 p.m. Prairie Dog Town Birding Trek
2 p.m. - 4:15 p.m. Workshops, Northwest Inn
5:30 p.m. - 8 p.m. Dinner and Keynote address, Josie Adams Cultural Centre
8:30 p.m. - 10 p.m. Owl Prowl and Moth Black Lighting at Selman Ranch
Sunday, April 19:
4:45 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Lesser prairie chicken viewing, Chuckwagon Brunch and fence marking
6 a.m. - 12 p.m. Harper/Woodward County Birding Trek
8 a.m. - 12 p.m. Prairie Dog Town Birding Trek
8 a.m. - 12 p.m. Prairie Bugs and Plants Natural History Trek
2 p.m. - 4:15 p.m. Workshops, Northwest Inn
5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Shattuck Windmill Museum and Dinner
8:30 p.m. - 10 p.m. Owl Prowl and Moth Black Lighting at Boiling Springs
Monday, April 20:
4:45 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Lesser prairie chicken viewing, Chuckwagon Brunch and fence marking
6 a.m. - 10 a.m. Turkey Viewing Trek
7 a.m. - 4 p.m. Four Canyon Preserve Trek
8 a.m. - 12 p.m. Prairie Bugs and Plants Natural History Trek
1 p.m. - 5 p.m. Geocaching at Boiling Springs State Park
1 p.m. - 5 p.m. Alabaster Caverns Trek
6 p.m. - 9 p.m. Dinner and Stargazing at Selman Living Lab
Tuesday, April 21:
6 a.m. - 6 p.m. Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge Trek
7 a.m. Depart for Black Mesa Birding Trek (2 days)
Wednesday, April 22:
7 a.m. - 3 p.m. Hackberry Flat Trek (extension of Wichita Mountains Trek)
8 p.m. Black Mesa Trek arrives back in Woodward
