Spring hours begin at Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge

Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge headquarters, located in the Towns of Shelby and Alabama, will be open on weekends through the end of May from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. This is in addition to its regular business hours of Monday through 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 hours.

These extended hours coincide with series of free nature programs called Iroquois Observations which will be presented by the Buffalo Audubon Society each Saturday. Visitors may take advantage of a self-guided driving tour to popular birding spots from 10 a.m. to noon, or stop by the Cayuga Overlook to see what's happening on the marsh. The Audubon Society will provide spotting scopes and expertise to identify birds in the area, including nesting bald eagles. The "Focus on ..." series will feature a different subject in the afternoon. As the weather improves there will be guided birding walks, wildflower walks, owl prowls, canoe treks, and other special "family day" programs. For a complete schedule contact the refuge office or log on to: www.wildeyes.com/iroquois/schedule.htm.