For the first time since 2019, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s free Migration Celebration – marking the biannual phenomenon of bird migration – is being held as an in-person event.

The celebration will take place Saturday, Sept. 17, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Lab of Ornithology, 159 Sapsucker Woods, Ithaca.

“We’re just so thrilled to be able to welcome people back to this popular event,” said Lisa Kopp, visitor experience manager. “We’re planning interactive exhibits, hands-on activities, live raptor encounters, bird walks along the trails, workshops and more. We can’t wait.”

Visitors can pick up free tickets at the celebration’s welcome table for workshops being offered throughout the day on bird banding and natural history filmmaking. At various exhibits, visitors will learn about feeder bird food choices, where tree swallows spend the winter, how the lab studies animals by sound and how its scientists became interested in their fields of study.

“Most importantly, our visitors will learn more about migration, how our scientists study migration and the ways we can make the long journey safer for birds,” Kopp said.

Migration Celebration also has a virtual component. Starting Sept. 12, two weeks of free webinars will be offered, devoted to such topics as how to use lab resources to make the most of bird migration, tips to help make outdoor spaces safe for birds during migration and even the migration of whales. Check out the webinar schedule and register.

Visit the Migration Celebration website to get the latest information. The lab will be following Cornell’s COVID-19 protocols.

Pat Leonard is a staff writer for the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.