Besides planning and designing the Chincoteague Refuge Education and Administrative Center, additional new and exciting events are and will continue to occur at Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge.

Finally, it is spring, and Earth Day will kick-off the year's special events on Saturday, April 22nd at 7:30 am. Join refuge staff for Feathered Whatsits, an introduction to the refuge's feathered residents designed for birders of all ages and skill levels. Dr. Suess's Lorax will be featured in the Refuge Auditorium at 10:00 am and will deliver a message that we all must share in the care of the earth. The environmental education staff will host a variety of activities on the refuge's new environmental education trail from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm.

And speaking of education, there is nothing like thousand of shorebirds flocking to the refuge during the awesome spectacle of spring migration. With this in mind, the refuge will host the sixth annual International Migratory Bird Celebration during Mother's Day weekend, May 12th - 14th.

A variety of family activities, including: workshops; special guided walks; 5K Fun Run / Walk (Saturday only); bird house and bird feeder making; wildlife artists exhibitions; Lighthouse tours; t-shirt printing; children's art contest; wildlife button-making; environmental / conservation group exhibits; and, much, much more! The activities will be conducted from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm on Saturday and Sunday.

A reception at Chincoteague Center, on Friday night, 6:30 pm. ($5/ticket includes food and refreshments) will feature an awe-inspiring slide/music presentation by Jim Clark. This year the event will be held under the refuge's new special events tent which sports the Blue Goose and Fish and Wildlife Service Emblem. It is a definite must see!

National Fishing Week will be celebrated at the refuge June 3rd - I I th. A variety of activities will be conducted throughout the week which will introduce participants to and increase their appreciation of this important resource.

And don't forget to mark your calendars for the second weekend of October (October 7th and 8th) when the refuge will celebrate National Wildlife Refuge Week.

During November, refuge staff will again host the wildly popular Waterfowl Week. From the Saturday before Thanksgiving to the Sunday after Thanksgiving, Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge invites visitors to witness the marvel of migration. For the entire nine days of Waterfowl Week, the Wildlife Loop will be open to vehicular traffic from 9:00 am to dusk. Private vehicles will also be permitted to tour the Service Road from noon to 3:30 PM from Thanksgiving Day to the following Sunday. A variety of guided walks and auditorium programs will also be offered during this time.

We look forward to seeing you at the refuge for one or all of these events!

Angela Tracy
Supervisory Outdoor Recreation Planner, CNWR