NC Parks Celebrate "The Year of the Birds"

North Carolina's state parks will pay tribute to its winged residents and visitors in 2010 by celebrating the "Year of the Birds," according to the N.C. Division of Parks & Recreation. Throughout the year, birds and bird-watching will be the focus of special programs and activities in the state parks, many of them in partnership with Audubon North Carolina, which works with the state parks system on research and management projects involving bird habitats. The state parks system is also making available a special bandana of some of the signature birds found in the parks. State park educational programs hope to appeal to North Carolina’s bird enthusiasts, as well as inspire new bird-watching families.