"A Day with the Birds: Community Science & the Audubon Christmas Bird Count"

A traveling exhibit titled, “A Day With the Birds: Community Science & the Audubon Christmas Bird Count” will briefly return to Harvey County, Kansas, in August and September 2026. The exhibit, which celebrates the Audubon Christmas Bird Count, the longest-running community science project in the world, will be located at the Dyck Arboretum of the Plains in the Arboretum’s Prairie Discovery Lab near the greenhouses. It will open to the public on August 3, 2026.

“Ever since we opened the Prairie Discovery Lab in 2018, we have envisioned hosting engaging exhibits in this space, and late summer is a great time to invite our visitors in out of the heat,” said Janelle Flory Schrock, public engagement coordinator at Dyck Arboretum. “This exhibit is a perfect fit for the Arboretum. Along with educational programming designed for a variety of age groups, ‘A Day with the Birds’ will show visitors how everyone can make a difference as a citizen scientist, right here in Harvey County.”  

Created by the exhibits team at Kauffman Museum in North Newton, this exhibit invites visitors of all ages to explore the past, present and future of the National Audubon Christmas Bird Count, which was started in 1900 by Frank Chapman. The exhibit explores the history of community science and conservation in the United States through national and local stories. 

As organizations like the National Audubon Society took a key role in advocating for birds on a national level, small groups of concerned citizens like the Ruth Sisters in Halstead, Kansas, took it upon themselves to spend a day counting birds and reporting what they saw. The exhibit also explores bird population trends and what it takes to become a birder.

“The history and the future of the Audubon Christmas Bird Count are entirely dependent on the community scientists that take it upon themselves to take a stand for birds,” said Lorna Harder, lead curator for “A Day With the Birds. “This exhibit gives us an opportunity to learn about the history of the Audubon Christmas Bird Count, the current state of community science, and to provide inspiration to the next generation of birders.”

“A Day With the Birds: Community Science & the Audubon Christmas Bird Count” will be on exhibit from August 3 through September 22, 2026 at the Dyck Arboretum of the Plains located at 177 West Hickory in Hesston, Kansas. The exhibit is open weekdays from 1 to 4 pm. 

In addition, a line-up of educational programs about birds and birding will take place throughout the exhibition. Visit https://dyckarboretum.org/visitor-information/events/ for updates and event details.

Admission to the exhibit is included in the regular Arboretum admission fee, which is $2 per non-member student/adult, $1 per non-member child (ages 3-12). Children 12 and younger must be accompanied by an adult. Current Arboretum members can present their digital or physical membership card for free admission.

For more information, contact the Dyck Arboretum office at 620-327-8127 or email arboretum@hesston.edu.

Established in 1981 and located on the Hesston College campus in Hesston, Kansas, the Dyck Arboretum of the Plains is a 29-acre public garden that showcases native and adaptable plants of the Great Plains. Through educational programming, community events, and landscape stewardship, the Arboretum’s mission is to cultivate transformative relationships between people and the land. Learn more at dyckarboretum.org.