Winter is a great time to go birding because there aren’t as many leaves on the trees. The first Bird Walk of 2026 will be 9 a.m. Saturday Jan. 17 at Sodalis Nature Preserve.

The Bird Walk is part of the nature program series sponsored by Hannibal BASF. The Hannibal Parks & Recreation Department along with members of the Mississippi Hills Master Naturalists hosts nature programs all year long.

Gale Rublee is the Hannibal Parks & Recreation nature interpreter who will lead the program. She said birding in winter means birds are often more visible and species often flock together in winter; so when you find birds, you often find lots of them.

She said, “What are they eating? Where do they take shelter? Dress warm and bring binoculars to see which birds are calling Sodalis home this winter.”

Reservations are required on the Hannibal Parks & Recreation website, www.hannibalparks.org.