Backyard Adventures

6A PIKE PUBLISHING BACKYARD ADVENTURES 2019 PLANNING AN OUTING FOR FAMILIES For young kids and families, Refuge Volunteer Nan- cy Gehlhausen recommends starting with the handi- cap accessible trails. A good plan for families is to park at the start of Boyd Trail, where the refuge's only restroom is located. The shorter trail is good for small kids, and there's a tree trail brochure that will help the little ones learn to identify what they're seeing. Also at the outset of the Boyd Trail, a volunteer has carved loaner walking sticks children (and adults) can borrow to feel like they're serious hikers. If that trail goes well, or with older/more experi- enced children, adding the Maxey Trail to the Boyd is a good addition. Maxey offers duck boxes to look at and several benches in the mostly wooded area. It also features a pollinator garden of native wildflowers, num- bered for identification that's especially good in July. If the exploring family is just looking for an easy and interesting Sunday drive, Gehlhausen said it's not even necessary to leave the car. Everyone can have their cameras ready, (phone or traditional), and families can see who can get the most interesting pictures. Some nature photographers who visit regularly never leave the actual road, she said. FOR BIRD WATCHERS AND ENDANGERED SPECIES BUFFS Many incredible birds from Central and South America migrate to the refuge, making it a home for birds that can't be seen anywhere else; the refuge boasts 250 bird species to date. There are several nests of bald eagles, for example, and the federally endangered least terns have a nest- ing colony on the refuge at Cain Ridge, where they set up camp about Mother's Day and stay through August. Bird watchers will want to come early to catch birds at their most active, and patient watchers can catch the courtship ritual of the endangered least tern. "It's probably the closest you will ever get to them," Hamilton said, adding during courtship, the male will catch a fish and present it to the female, and she decides whether or not his fish is acceptable enough that she'll mate with him. For those not confident in their ability to spot the species on their own, a program is planned for June 15 that will specifically take those who participate to see these rare birds. TUES-FRI 9-6 • SAT 9-4 812-482-GUNS 317 SOUTHGATE CENTER, JASPER, INDIANA SHARING YOUR PASSION FOR THE CAMPING GEAR COMPOUND & CROSS BOWS OUTDOORS! CLOTHING FIREARMS PLUS: AMMO, SAFES, MUZZLELOADERS AND MORE AND MORE OUTDOORS INDOOR BOW TUNE LANE AUTHORIZED WARRANTY REPAIR CENTER WE HAVE BOW FISHING EQUIPMENT, TOO! 4 8 6 7 NICE SELECTION ◆ Sleeping Bags ◆ Tents and Backpacks ◆ Hydration Packs ◆ Water Filtration ◆ Hiking Boots ◆ Trekking Poles ◆ Hammocks ◆ Cookware ◆ and More STOP BY TODAY! Rough Legged Hawk Short-Eared Owl River Otter

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