The 9th Annual Adirondack Habitat Awareness Day will take place on Sunday, September 4th, at the Adirondack Wildlife Refuge, at 977 Springfield Road in Wilmington, and it’s all about change in the Adirondacks: changing climate, changing wildlife and changing realities.

Visitors will be able to meet and learn about gray wolves, coywolves, coyotes, fox, bobcat, fisher, and porcupines, along with bald eagles, hawks, falcons and owls. Professor Curt Stager of Paul Smiths College, an accomplished ecologist, paleoclimatologist, and author of Deep Future and Field Notes from the Northern Forest, and more, will be keynote speaker, and will team with Paul Smiths’ students for other educational opportunites.

Mark Manske of Adirondack Raptors will close the afternoon by demonstrating bird banding and its importance to understanding ecological health, and will preside over the release of raptors rehabbed at Adirondack Wildlife. Other speakers include John and Pat Thaxton of Adirondack Birding Tours, Brandon Wiltse of Ausable River Association, Russ Crispell of University of Buffalo Outdoor Pursuits, and Steve and Wendy Hall of Adirondack Wildlife Refuge.

Adirondack Habitat Awareness Day runs from 10 am to 4 pm, and features child friendly exhibits, a silent auction, refreshments, and  great wildlife photo opportunities.

While there is no admission fee, donations help the Adirondack Wildlife Refuge in rehabbing and releasing Adirondack wildlife.

The Adirondack Wildlife Refuge is open daily, except Tuesdays and Wednesdays, from 10 am to 4 pm, and in addition to exhibiting Adirondack wildlife, the Refuge features two miles of family friendly hiking trails with graphic narrative signs, and places to picnic. For more information, call 914-772-5983 or click here.

Photos: Wolf by Terry Hawthorne, bald eagle by Deb Mackenzie, and bull moose by Steve Hall.