Fish and Wildlife Service
April 13, 1995 Debbie McCrensky 703-358-1744
B/NWR-03 Inez Connor 202-219-3861
Public Affairs Officer
What's going on?
AMERICA'S NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGES
Wheelchair bound? If so, and if you're in the vicinity, plan a
visit to Chautaugua National Wildlife Refuge in Havana, Illinois.
A local Boy Scout troop and the Astoria School System helped the
refuge complete a 1/2-mile, wheelchair-accessible trail in 1993.
Winding through the forest, the trail has three overlooks with
views of the lake and shorebirds. One of the overlooks has
wheelchair-accessible binoculars. Visitors can see waterfowl in
the fall and bald eagles from October through March. This 4,400-
acre refuge, located on Lake Chautaugua, is open year 'round from
sunrise to sunset. For more information, contact Chautaugua NWR,
309-535-2290.
Want to get dirt under your fingernails, work up a sweat, and
feel good about it? Then John Heinz NWR at Tinicum, outside
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the place to be on April 29. It's
the 11th Annual Darby Creek Clean-up and all are invited. Bring
boots and gloves. Lunch will be provided. What a deal! For
more information, contact John Heinz NWR, 215-365-3118.
Into birds? Then a refuge is the place to visit during spring
migration and the 25th anniversary of Earth Day. A sampling of
events in April:
o Minnesota Valley Refuge, Bloomington, Minnesota. Community
volunteers and a local Boy Scout troop will clean the refuge
trails and parking areas on Saturday, April 22, followed by
a cookout at the visitor center. To help out, contact
Minnesota Valley NWR, 612-854-5900.
o Mason Neck Refuge's Woodbridge Facility, Woodbridge,
Virginia. A 2-day extravaganza April 21 and 22 will feature
wildlife demonstrations and environmental education
activities. Eight local schools from the Washington, DC,
area will participate in wildlife habitat activities.
Wildlife demonstrations will include live mist-netting of
songbirds, releasing striped bass into the Potomac River,
and building bird houses. For reservations and more
information, contact Mason Neck NWR, 703-690-1297.
o Iroquois NWR, Alabama, New York, will hold a Spring
Migration open house April 23 with tours, exhibits, and
views by remote video of a pair of nesting bald eagles. Up
to 100,000 geese and 10,000 ducks may also be seen. Contact
Iroquois NWR, 716-948-9154.
o Salt Plains NWR, Jet, Oklahoma. Watchable Wildlife Weekends
are being held throughout April in conjunction with Oklahoma
Department of Natural Resources. Contact Salt Plains NWR,
405-626-4794.
o Santa Ana NWR, McAllen, Texas. This is the place to visit
for the shorebird migration in April if you happen to be
near the Texas Coast down Mexico way. Bird-walking tours
are offered by reservation. Contact Santa Ana NWR at
210-787-3079.
o Grays Harbor NWR, Port Angeles, Washington. Weekend shuttle
buses will take birdwatchers to view upwards of 200,000
shorebirds. Shuttle bus runs on April 22-23 and 29-30.
Contact Grays Harbor NWR, 360-753-9467.
o Snow Goose Festival at Kenai National Wildlife Refuge,
Soldotna, Alaska. Kenai Refuge and the City of Kenai
jointly sponsor a season-long celebration of spring at this
major stopover for migrating snow geese. The main event
will be held Saturday, April 15. Contact Kenai NWR, 907-
262-2021.America's National Wildlife Refuge System is the world's most outstanding collection of lands and waters dedicated to wildlife. Since its beginning in 1903, the refuge system now numbers more than 504 units, with at least one in every state, encompassing 92 million acres. Some 30 million people visit national wildlife refuges every year for wildlife observation, photography, education, to hunt or fish, or just to relax and enjoy nature. Others, more than 21,000 people of all ages and walks of life, make a real commitment by volunteering nearly a million hours each year, valued at $8 million.