Outdoor notes

BIRD CENTER PLANS PARTY

LAYTON — The Layton Wild Bird Center (WBC) celebrates its ninth anniversary on, Saturday, Oct. 16.

All nature and wildlife enthusiasts are invited to a free anniversary celebration that day from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the WBC, located in the Layton Market Center, 1860 N. 1000 West, near exit 332 Antelope Drive off I-15.

Hawk Watch International, the Ogden Nature Center and Sky Masters will be exhibiting eagles, owls, hawks and falcons. Interested persons are encouraged to bring a camera and photograph a raptor. The Wasatch and Great Salt Lake Audubon Chapters, The Utah Nature Conservancy and the Division of Wildlife Resources, Farmington Bay Nature Center, Great Salt Lake Bird Festival and Friends of Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge will be joining the celebration with exhibits.

The Wild Bird Center is a community resource with a national and international award-winning outreach program recognizing the efforts of its owner, Bill Fenimore. The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources' late director, Kevin Conway, and current director Jim Karpowitz have each presented Fenimore with the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources Partnership Award.

The WBC expert staff makes educational nature presentations to scouting groups, schools, senior centers, garden clubs, conservation groups and many other organizations throughout Utah. There will be refreshments, snacks, door prizes and a drawing for a free spotting scope, as well as other surprises for those joining in the Oct. 16 festivities.

For information, call the Wild Bird Center at 801-525-8400 or log onto its web site atwww.wildbird.com/layton for information.

ELK FESTIVAL ON SATURDAY

HYRUM — Several outdoor activities will be available at the Elk Festival at the Hardware Ranch Wildlife Management Area on Saturday, Oct. 9, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The festival is free of charge. The ranch may be reached by traveling 18 miles east of Hyrum on state Route 101.

Nature-related activities include a free wagon ride, painting pumpkins, turning balloons into antlers, and shooting pellet guns at targets. And if the weather turns cold, it's possible some elk might be seen.

"We have not seen any elk in the meadow yet," Marni Lee, assistant manager of the Hardware Ranch WMA, said recently. "Right now, the elk are at higher elevations. But we're hoping some of them will come into the meadow before the festival starts."