The Yaquina birders and naturalists invite the public to a informational meeting on Thursday March 16th to take a photographic Journey into the National Wildlife Refuge System. Roy Lowe, former Refuge Manager for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, will share photos he has taken during visits to many National Wildlife Refuges.  The Refuge System is comprised of 566 refuges that  protect 850 million acres of lands and waters.

Administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service these conservation areas occur in all 50 states, the Caribbean and far across the Pacific into the Eastern Hemisphere. In his presentation Roy will highlight the diversity of wildlife that can be observed on refuges along the Oregon Coast as well as refuges in other areas of the country. The meeting will be held at the Central Lincoln PUD meeting room at 7pm.

The public is also welcome to join the Yaquina Birders and Naturalists on a guided bird walk Saturday March 18th to learn about the birds of Alsea Bay & Eckman Lake. Roy Lowe will lead the field trip that begins in Alsea Bay.  The bay provides a wintering area for grebes, loons, great blue herons and a variety of ducks. They willl also look for early arriving pigeon guillemots and osprey.

The group will then travel east to the 50 acre Eckman Lake.  This freshwater lake harbors hundreds of ducks in late winter.  Attendees should dress for variable weather and meet at 9 AM at the Alsea Bay Bridge Interpretative Center parking lot in Waldport.  The field trip will last  two hours.  For more information about either event call 541-961-1307.

Information provided by Dawn Harris YBN Photos by Roy Lowe