Celebrate International Migratory Bird Day in Yellowstone with free programs Saturday.

Yellowstone National Park and the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center will celebrate International Migratory Bird Day with free public programs and a field trip, according to the National Park Service.

A bird-watching car caravan is set for from 8 a.m. to noon inside the park. Those interested in participating should meet at the Madison Junction picnic area. Although the program is free, entrance to the park is not.

The Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center in West Yellowstone, Montana, will host a live raptor program and a presentation on common birds of the area from 1-4 p.m. Saturday.

Children of all ages can participate in a variety of programs, crafts and activities, including making bird masks, origami and a migration game called “It’s a Risky Journey.”  

Many migratory birds arrive in the park this time of year. The Yellowstone bird program monitors this flurry of activity. Since record keeping began in 1872, nearly 300 bird species have been sighted including warblers, flycatchers and some sparrows. Many species use the protected habitat in the park as part of their migration route. Data from 1999-2014 is available at go.nps.gov/yellbirdreports.

While bird-watching, remember to view birds from a distance. Getting too close can stress a bird and sometimes cause it to abandon its nest. The use of audio bird calls or any other wildlife call is illegal in the park.

For further information, call Katy Duffy, National Park Service volunteer, at 307-699-2696.