August 17, 2023 3;20 a.m.

The Umpqua Valley Audubon Society and the Roseburg Public Library have teamed up to make bird watching an easy and enjoyable activity for all ages.

A City release said Roseburg Public Library cardholders now may check out a “birding bag” complete with tools to make their outdoor bird-watching experiences fun and informative.

UVAS created the bags, which include one pair of binoculars suitable for children and adults, a guide to adjusting the binoculars which is available in English and Spanish, and three publications with information on birding.

UVAS President Diana Wales said, “Umpqua Valley Audubon Society is following the lead of more than 100 other Audubon chapters in partnering with libraries to offer the opportunity to explore birding without the expense of buying binoculars and birding guides”.

Wales said numerous studies have confirmed that spending time outdoors with a pair of binoculars is good for body and soul. Wales said, “Compared to a lot of activities, birding is relatively inexpensive, but we want to give people a chance to try birding at no cost”.

The release said each bag checks out for three weeks with no automatic renewals allowed. There are currently three bags available for checkout with two more planned.

For more information about UVAS, go to: www.umpquaaudubon.org