River Life Interpretive Center program will be held Saturday

The life histories of a number of Lower Columbia River birds will be the theme of a program offered on Saturday, February 27 at the River Life Interpretive Center (Redmen Hall) in Skamokawa.

Andrew Emlen will speak about bird species having special stories connected with the Columbia River.The program will begin at 1 p.m., and is co-sponsored by Willapa Hills Audubon Society (WHAS) and Friends of Skamokawa. There will be no charge for admission, although donations to the building upkeep will be appreciated.

Since starting the Wahkiakum Christmas Bird Count circle in 1998 sponsored by WHAS, Mr. Emlen has been the organizer and compiler for this count. He has conducted shorebird census for US Fish and Wildlife, helping to establish the Lower Columbia as a national Important Bird Area, and leads field trips for WHAS, Washington Ornithological Society, and the American Birding Association. He is currently co-owner and guide for Columbia River Kayaking.

Following Mr. Emlen’s program, Keith Hoofnagle, retired chief artist for the National Park Service, will read from his book “ The Story of Linda Lookout.” It is a history of the fire lookouts, originally published in 1965 and re-published recently. Copies will be available for sale after the program, and Mr. Hoofnagle will be signing books.

For parking and accessibility information and directions to the River Life Interpretive Center in Skamokawa’s National Historic District, call 795-3007.