Come join the staff and Friends of St. Catherine Creek National Wildlife Refuge Saturday to celebrate International Migratory Bird Day and National Trails Day. From 8 a.m. until noon, we will be leading bird walks, canoe trips and children’s activities. All ages and all skill levels are encouraged to participate.

The refuge is home to many breeding birds — warblers, chats, flycatchers and more. Mornings bring a host of sounds as birds announce their presence and redefine their territories.

A guided bird identification walk will begin on the Magnolia National Recreation Trail at 8 a.m. led by local birder Bill McGehee and several staff biologists. They will point out different species of birds while providing identification tips, sounds and life history facts. Information about other wildlife and plants encountered along the trail will also be shared by these knowledgeable guides.

At 10 a.m., refuge staff will guide a canoe trip through flooded forests where paddlers will see birds, fish, maybe an alligator, as well as many of the native species that have adapted to this dynamic system. The refuge has 16 canoes available for paddlers. This is typically a popular event. You are encouraged to call for reservations or bring your own canoe or kayak.

All morning, children will be guided through the “Animal Olympics” trail, discovering the “critters” living in the Hidden Pond. They will also build blue bird nest boxes. The Animal Olympics includes 14 stations for children to be entertained over a half-mile portion of the Magnolia Trail. Each station is a little different, but they can walk like a duck, jump like a grasshopper or run like an alligator as part of the Animal Olympics. Those completing the course will receive a certificate acknowledging their accomplishment.

Children will also be assisted in netting tadpoles and minnows from the pond. A microscope will be set up to see the little “squiggles” not ordinarily seen in the water. They will also be given the opportunity to build a blue bird nest box to take home and, hopefully, start a lifetime of watching birds and contributing to conservation.

This will be a fun morning! Visitors should come enjoy the butterflies in the garden and take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to be introduced to a number of fantastic outdoor recreation activities available at the refuge, which is just 20 minutes from downtown Natchez.

All events will begin at the refuge office located at 21 Pintail Lane. To get there from Natchez, head south on U.S. 61 for about 12 miles, turn right at the brown refuge sign onto York Road for 2 miles, and left on Pintail Lane for about 0.1 mile. The office is on the left. Call 601.442.6696 for information and reservations.

Bob Strader is the St. Catherine Creek National Wildlife Refuge manager.