A couple of nice events this weekend at the Wild Center. It starts on Saturday with a new “Walking With Wild Birds” series. Designed for beginners and experts alike, these morning walks will explore mountain and boreal bird habitat as well as introduce people to bird watching. Then on Father’s Day, Sunday, the center is pulling together a fly-fishing program with local experts and hands-on opportunities to learn to tie flies and improve your casting skills.

Here are the details from the Wild Center:

On Saturday June 20th , enjoy a morning walk – “Adirondack Birding Basics” at The Wild Center with Summer Naturalist and Northern New York Audubon Intern April Costa. Learn the basics of birding – identification, using a field guide as well as how to attract birds to your own back yard. A spotting scope will be used to view birds on the Raquette River from Oxbow Overlooks. Please be prepared with sturdy walking shoes, binoculars/field guides (we have some for use), appropriate outdoor clothing, bug spray, and water. Meet at 8:30 a.m. at The Wild Center public parking Lot. The walk will last approximately 2 hours.

Sunday, June 21st from 12 p.m. – 4 p.m. for a day of everything Fly Fishing. We have many activities to choose from for anyone in the family. Learn how to tie your own fly from Chuck Blankenship, Tri-Lakes Trout Unlimited associate and learn how to cast it on our fully stocked trout pond. Or you could watch a short film on what inspires Rachel Finn, a professional guide, to fly fish in Flammer Theater. And along the way, if you have any questions you can ask the trout fishing experts from Jones Outfitters. They will be available to show you everything you might need to get out on the water. And, for the young ones, we will have an fish printing art project from 1p.m.- 3 p.m. Children will get an opportunity to pick a fish from our collection of models, paint it then press it on to a sheet of paper so they can remember their day. All this will be happening amongst our collections of wild animals on exhibit throughout the day. Free for members or with paid admission.

On Thursday, June 25th, join April for a morning “Boreal Birds and Bogs” walk at Bloomingdale Bog. This is great habitat for boreal species such as boreal chickadee, gray jay, and black-backed woodpecker. The area encompasses a large bog wetland area and cedar woods with sedge marsh and coniferous woods. Easy walking along an old rail-road bed. Please be prepared with sturdy walking shoes, binoculars/field guides, appropriate outdoor clothing, bug spray and water. Directions: Meet at 8:30 a.m. at trailhead/railroad bed on County Road 55 in Bloomingdale NY. The walk will last approximately 2 hrs.

On Saturday, June 27th in cooperation with ORDA, the morning hike will focus on mountain habitats and birds on Whiteface Mountain. We will stop along the way to look at the forest types and transition as we go up the mountain. At the summit, be prepared for a short hike ~ ¾ mile. This is a great opportunity to check out the alpine ecosystem as well as maybe see or hear the rare Bicknell’s Thrush. Directions: Meet in Wilmington at 8:30 a.m. at The Candy Man and from there, carpool to the summit via the toll road.

The birding programs are free and open to the public but registration is required. For more information, directions and to register, please call Sally Gross at 359-7800 x116 or email sgross@wildcenter.org

To see a full list of our summer “Walking with Wild Birds” series visit www.wildcenter.org