CALLICOON – The Callicoon Depot Board will host a free event on Saturday, July 18, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. to celebrate native plants and local pollinators at the historic train station located at 40 Lower Main St., Callicoon. 

Activities will include creation of life-size bird sculptures to be used in an environmental art display known as “Bird Collisions in the Anthropocene,” which is designed to increase awareness of birds killed in collisions with buildings. In addition to crafting, attendees will learn ways to reduce collisions. Other activities will include a seed ball workshop, an owl pellet dissection workshop, and crafts to help kids learn more about local birds. 

Activities will be conducted by the Sullivan County Audubon Society, the Delaware Highlands Conservancy, and ENGN. Information about native plants and maintaining healthy local habitats will also be available from Flying Trillium Gardens and Preserve. 

A certified master beekeeper will present information about the importance of pollinators and the difficulties they face; and a honey sommelier will conduct honey tastings and comparisons. Honey products will be available for purchase. A continuous video loop of bird and bee habitats and behaviors from the Cornell Ornithology Lab will be shown inside the Depot. 

The Depot Board is also sponsoring a birdhouse design contest as part of the event. Drop off entries at the depot between 1:00 and 5:00 on Friday, July 17. Entries will be displayed during the event on Saturday and attendees will cast votes to determine the top five entries. The winners will be announced at 4:00 p.m. on July 18. Winning designs will be installed on the depot grounds in the spring of 2027 and remain in place throughout the 2027 season. More information is posted on the Callicoon Depot website or can be requested by emailing allaboard@thecallicoondepot.org. 

The Birds and Bees event is being sponsored by Callicoon Depot Inc. (CDI) and was organized by staff from the Upper Delaware Scenic Byway (UDSB). CDI, UDSB, and Callicoon Business Association volunteers are working to restore the 1896 Depot for re-use as a community hub and Upper Delaware Scenic Byway Visitor Center. For more information, please visit www.thecallicoondepot.org.