Birds of Prey at Prairie Overlook

Saturday, February 7th 3:00pm - 5:00pm Prairie Overlook at William L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge

Take part in guided and self-guided nature activities with your family! Join us for crafts, activities, and bird identification. 

Observe and learn about the different types of birds of prey of Prairie Overlook! Binoculars will be available to borrow during the program.

No Registration Needed. Adult Supervision Required.

Additional Dates – 2/13, 2/21, 2/27  (all 3:00pm to 5:00pm)

¡Participa en actividades de naturaleza guiadas y autoguiadas con tu familia! Únase con nosotros para manualidades, actividades e identificación de aves.

¡Observa y aprena sobre los diferentes tipos de aves rapaces en Prairie Overlook! Binoculares seran disponibles durante el programa.

No es necesario registrarse. Se requiere supervisión de un adulto.

Fechas adicionales: 13 de febrero, 21 de febrero, 27 de febrero (todas de 15:00 a 17:00).

Meet Our “Ancient Neighbor” the native Pacific Lamprey

Saturday, February 28th 10:00am - 11:00am Mark Gehlar Hall Ankeny Hill Nature Center 130 Ankeny Hill Road SE Jefferson, OR

Is it an eel or a fish? Where does it live? How long does it live? Discover why it is like a shark and a salmon. Learn why the Pacific Lamprey is important culturally and spiritually for many regional tribes and how it helps the environment. Crafts and giveaways while supplies last. All are welcome!

¿Es una anguila o un pez? ¿Dónde vive? ¿Cuánto tiempo vive? Descubre por qué se parece a un tiburón y a un salmón. Aprende por qué la Lamprea del Pacífico es importante culturalmente y espiritualmente para muchas tribus de la región y cómo contribuye al medio ambiente. Habrá manualidades y premios hasta agotar existencias. ¡Todos son bienvenidos!

For More Information/Para Más Información:

www.ankenyhillnaturecenter.org

541-760-3036 programs@ankenyhillnaturecenter.org

Lamprey Event Flyer

The Mighty Beaver, North America's Great Engineer

Saturday, March 21st 10:00 am – 11:30 am Mark Gehlar Hall Ankeny Hill Nature Center 130 Ankeny Hill Road SE Jefferson, OR

Join us for this family friendly, interactive program. Learn how beavers, like humans, change the world around them. Discover why they are Oregon’s state animal, why they are on the state flag and how they build communities.

The Mighty Beaver Presentation Flyer

For more information about the Friends of the Willamette Valley National
Wildlife Refuge Complex visit: https://friendswvnwrc.org/

Nature Journaling Bird Songs - Ankeny A Different Way to Listen to Nature

Saturday, May 23rd 9:00 am – 11:00 am Mark Gehlar, Hall Ankeny Hill Nature Center, 130 Ankeny Hill Road SE, Jefferson, OR

Have fun! No experience journaling, drawing or identifying bird songs required! No registration required.

What you need to bring:
 binoculars
 a small sketch book or journal
 pencil
 folding stool or chair
 smart phone with Merlin Ap (if have), camera optional

What to expect:
 Introductions
 Handouts for information included on journal page.
 Handouts for bird song phonetics and diagrams.
 Example of journaling a bird song
 Participants select a spot to listen to bird songs, silently,
for 5 minutes.
 Participants choose a song they hear and try to describe
it in their journal.
 If participants cannot ID the song, they will use the
Merlin Ap. If they do not have the Merlin Ap. Delores will
help them using her phone.
 Participants can draw the bird or take a photograph for
their journal.

 At about ½ hour before ending we will meet together and
lay our journals on a table for everyone to look at. We
will discuss what worked, didn’t work and point out good
ideas that others had.

About the presenter: Delores Porch serves as the Secretary for the Board of the
Friends group. She is hooked on birds! Learn more about her on the Friends website.

A Sample Journal

PresentationFlyer_NatureJournalingBirdSongsMay-Jun2026Final

Nature Journaling Bird Songs - Snag Boat Bend A Different Way to Listen to Nature

Saturday, June 6th 9:00 am – 11:00 am Snag Boat Bend Unit: on Peoria Road approximately 10.6 miles south of Highway 34 and immediately south of the town of Peoria.

Have fun! No experience journaling, drawing or identifying bird songs required! No registration required.

What you need to bring:
 binoculars
 a small sketch book or journal
 pencil
 folding stool or chair
 smart phone with Merlin Ap (if have), camera optional

What to expect:
 Introductions
 Handouts for information included on journal page.
 Handouts for bird song phonetics and diagrams.
 Example of journaling a bird song
 Participants select a spot to listen to bird songs, silently,
for 5 minutes.
 Participants choose a song they hear and try to describe
it in their journal.
 If participants cannot ID the song, they will use the
Merlin Ap. If they do not have the Merlin Ap. Delores will
help them using her phone.
 Participants can draw the bird or take a photograph for
their journal.

 At about ½ hour before ending we will meet together and
lay our journals on a table for everyone to look at. We
will discuss what worked, didn’t work and point out good
ideas that others had.

About the presenter: Delores Porch serves as the Secretary for the Board of the
Friends group. She is hooked on birds! Learn more about her on the Friends website.

A Sample Journal

PresentationFlyer_NatureJournalingBirdSongsMay-Jun2026Final

Driving Directions: Drive I-5 south to Exit 228 for Highway 34, Lebanon, and Corvallis. Turn right after exiting for Linn-Benton Community College, Corvallis, and Albany.

Drive 8.7 miles and turn left onto Peoria Road for Peoria and Harrisburg.

Drive south on this road for 10.6 miles and, after passing through Peoria, turn right at the sign for the Snag Boat Bend Unit.

Drive 0.1 miles and pull into the parking area on the right.

Nature Journaling Bird Songs - Woodpecker Loop A Different Way to Listen to Nature

Saturday, June 27th 9:00 am – 11:00 am Woodpecker Loop at William L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge. Corvallis, OR

Have fun! No experience journaling, drawing or identifying bird songs required! No registration required.

What you need to bring:
 binoculars
 a small sketch book or journal
 pencil
 folding stool or chair
 smart phone with Merlin Ap (if have), camera optional

What to expect:
 Introductions
 Handouts for information included on journal page.
 Handouts for bird song phonetics and diagrams.
 Example of journaling a bird song
 Participants select a spot to listen to bird songs, silently,
for 5 minutes.
 Participants choose a song they hear and try to describe
it in their journal.
 If participants cannot ID the song, they will use the
Merlin Ap. If they do not have the Merlin Ap. Delores will
help them using her phone.
 Participants can draw the bird or take a photograph for
their journal.

 At about ½ hour before ending we will meet together and
lay our journals on a table for everyone to look at. We
will discuss what worked, didn’t work and point out good
ideas that others had.

About the presenter: Delores Porch serves as the Secretary for the Board of the
Friends group. She is hooked on birds! Learn more about her on the Friends website.

A Sample Journal

PresentationFlyer_NatureJournalingBirdSongsMay-Jun2026Final

Community Volunteer Days at Ankeny Hill Nature Center

3rd Saturday of the Month, 10:00AM to 12:00PM Ankeny Hill Nature Center, 130 Ankeny Hill Road, Jefferson, OR

No sign-up required and no experience or tools needed!  We have all you need and plenty of projects we need help with.  You’ll help with everything from weeding, water and mulching to interpretation, brochure folding and event support.