Spring hours begin at Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge

Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge headquarters/visitor contact station will be open on weekends, March 24 through May 27, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. This is in addition to its regular business hours of Monday-Friday 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Flyway Nature Shop, operated by the Friends of Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge, Inc., will also operate during these extended hours.

The extended hours coincide with a series of free nature programs called "Iroquois Observations" presented by the Buffalo Audubon Society each Saturday. On March 17, in addition to a Scope Watch, there will be an owl prowl from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. which will meet at the Kanyoo Trail parking lot. Beginning March 24 additional programs will include "Focus On … " featuring a series of guest speakers, "Hands On … " offering activities or projects for the family, owl prowls, nature walks and canoe treks. For a complete schedule contact the refuge office or log on to: http://www.buffaloaudubon.com and click on the calendar.

Spring is nesting and brood season for hundreds of species of birds at Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge. Three nature trails (Swallow Hollow, Onondaga and Kanyoo), the Feeder Road and four overlooks will be open from sunrise to sunset, seven days a week, for walking and wildlife observation. Visitors must stay on designated trails and overlooks as the rest of the refuge is closed for the nesting season.

For information contact: Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge, 1101 Casey Road, Basom, NY 14013 or call (585) 948-5445 or visit the website: http://iroquoisnwr.fws.gov.

March 11, 2007