Ogden’s Nature Center brings people together with birdhouses

In the middle of the busy industrial area in the north of Ogden lies an almost silent path that leads to the nature center of Ogden.

A princess bird house stands next to the entrance to the path of the Ogden Nature Center. Every year the nature center shows birdhouses from their annual competition. (Sarah Earnshaw / The Signpost) Photo credit: Sarah Earnshaw

The trail is filled with hundreds of birdhouses, indicating to members the purpose of the nature center’s declaration, which is about connecting people with nature. The nature center has been showing these birdhouses for 28 years in conjunction with an annual competition that supports the centre’s mission statement.

This year the event will continue despite the ongoing pandemic. The guidelines for accepted birdhouses and registration forms are available on the centre’s website. Entries for this year’s competition from March 15th to 20th are accepted. Officials require social distancing and masks for delivery, and participants are only allowed to enter one bird house.

Every year the birdhouses taking part in the competition are placed on this path. Many of them are sold by the makers or taken home, but some remain an integral part of the way.

Birdhouses are right on the path of the Ogden Nature Center.  Every year the nature center shows birdhouses from their annual competition.  (Sarah Earnshaw / The Guide)Birdhouses are right on the path of the Ogden Nature Center. Every year the nature center shows birdhouses from their annual competition. (Sarah Earnshaw / The Signpost) Photo credit: Sarah Earnshaw

After you go below the tree line, a sign will appear on the left. This sign explains the purpose of the birdhouses and that most of them are from years gone by. There are four permanent birdhouses around the sign. One of these bird houses is built with license plates and another is covered with mason jar lids.

“There is a great view of the city’s surroundings in the middle of the aviary path,” said Linda Babcock, chairperson of the aviary competition.

The open area of ​​the trail allows visitors to see the mountains surrounding Ogden, including Ben Lomond. Babcock said there are few open areas like this part of the trail that allow people to experience nature in this way in the Ogden area.

Towards the end of the short walk to the nature center, visitors are once again greeted by the competition with more trees and more birdhouses.

“When the schoolchildren walk down the path, they are just fascinated,” said Babcock.

The aviary competition is for all ages, from children to adults.

In normal years there is an award ceremony, but this year the nature center will announce the winners on April 17th via social media.

Birdhouses are right on the path of the Ogden Nature Center.  Every year the nature center shows birdhouses from their annual competition.  (Sarah Earnshaw / The Guide)Birdhouses are right on the path of the Ogden Nature Center. Every year the nature center shows birdhouses from their annual competition. (Sarah Earnshaw / The Signpost) Photo credit: Sarah Earnshaw

“The nature center is one of the few places where people can feel safe as it is an outside activity,” said Brandi Bosworth, the nature center’s public relations officer.

Bosworth said the bird house contest is an activity that people can safely see and perform.

“When kids submit something, it’s cool – grandfathers help their grandchildren or a father and his son – it’s fun to do and get involved,” said Ben Velasquez, who finished second artistically / imaginatively last year, winner.

Last year the event was suspended for some time because of the pandemic.

The entrance to the Ogden Nature Center path leading to the main building.  Birdhouse is right on the way from the Ogden Nature Center to the main building.  Every year the nature center shows birdhouses from their annual competition.  (Sarah Earnshaw / The Guide)The entrance to the Ogden Nature Center path leading to the main building. Birdhouses are right on the way. Every year the nature center shows birdhouses from their annual competition. (Sarah Earnshaw / The Signpost) Photo credit: Sarah Earnshaw

“We were in the middle of it when everything shut down pretty abruptly,” said Bosworth.

Eventually, the competition was able to reopen as knowledge about COVID-19 continued to grow.

The nature center is not concerned that the competition itself poses a threat to the spread of COVID as it is outside and a personal part of the event has been postponed or canceled online.

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