Open House at Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in Alabama, NY, will be Saturday, April 28 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Scheduled activities will be on-going at the refuge headquarters on Casey Road and at Kanyoo Nature Trail, and Cayuga Overlook on Route 77 - rain or shine (unless it's a severe thunderstorm).

Guided bus/van tours, guided walks and "Kid's Stuff" (crafts and activities for the younger set) are planned as part of the day's free activities. Guided trail walks on Kanyoo Nature Trail will begin at 11 a.m. with the last walk leaving at 3 p.m. Walks will last approximately 45 minutes. Meet at the trail head on Route 77, one mile north of Casey Road. Bus and van tours will leave from the refuge office at 1101 Casey Road and will last approximately 45 minutes. Tours and trail walks will be on a first-come, first-served basis. No reservations are required.

Other exhibitors include: the New York Bluebird Society, the Institute for Environmental Learning with "Liberty" the bald eagle, Roy-Hart Middle School with G.L.O.B.E. (Global Learning through Observation to Benefit the Environment), Ron Kleiber, wildlife artist, the Niagara Co. Trappers Federation, Ducks Unlimited, Doug Domedion, wildlife photographer, wildlife and nature products by Dave Seyler, the Iroquois Job Corps Center, and the Friends of Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge, Inc. Also, the Buffalo Audubon Society will have spotting scopes set up at Cayuga Overlook on Route 77 from noon until 6 p.m. to assist visitors in spotting and identifying birds on the marsh.

As spring migration of waterfowl wanes, there will still be plenty of birds and other wildlife to see. Nesting birds will be hatching out and warblers and other songbirds will begin to move in. Mammals, frogs and other resident wildlife will be more active.

The two nature trails and four overlooks remain open year-round from sunrise to sunset, but the remainder of the refuge is closed to public access during the spring migration and nesting season, March 1 to July 14. Swallow Hollow Nature Trail is closed for repairs. The refuge office/visitor center is open Monday through Friday 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. year-round and weekends 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., except holidays. Weekend hours run through the month of May. Fishing and canoeing access is also restricted; check at the office for a map. Photography blinds are available with a Special Use Permit for which there is a fee.

For information contact: Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge, 1101 Casey Road, Basom, NY 14013 or call (716) 948-5445.