Ornithologist and conservationist David Yeany II will present a program on Maryland’s Marsh Bird Survey April 10 at 6:30 p.m. at the  Seneca Rocks Audubon Society meeting in the Clarion Free Library, 644 Main St., Clarion.

The meeting is free and open to the public.

From a news release: “Atlantic tidal marshes have one of the highest rates of endemic vertebrate species, most of which are birds. In 2012, the Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program coordinated Maryland’s portion of the Saltmarsh Habitat and Avian Research Program to help determine status and distribution of saltmarsh birds across the northeast.”

Yeany, a Forest County native, is an ornithologist and conservation planning specialist for the PNHP in the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy Pittsburgh office.

Rob Potter, of Erie, shot a 17-point deer this season in Clarion County.

Rob Potter of Erie

The Clarion Chapter of the North Country Trail Association will have its monthly hike and a picnic Oct. 13.

Meet at 9 a.m. at the Uni-Mart at the intersection of routes 66 and 36 in Leeper. The hike will go from the trailhead on Route 66 to the north end of Forest Drive in Cook Forest State Park, approximately 4.5 miles. Halfway through the hike will stop at the North Country Trail’s newest overnight hiking shelter in the Maple Creek area for a picnic. Clarion Chapter will supply hot dogs, beverages and other light picnic food.

If you plan to attend, contact Devin Callihan at (814) 319-5058 or cla@northcountrytrail.org.

The Clarion Chapter of the North Country Trail Association, in conjunction with the Clarion County Trails Association, will have its monthly hike July 7 at 10 a.m.

Meet at Foxburg Wine Cellars at 10.

Two hikes will be available: 7 miles along a section of the North Country National Scenic Trail and through the RiverStone Estate‘s 1,200-acre property, or an easy route along the North Country National Scenic Trail/Allegheny River Trail from Foxburg to Parker and back. Both hikes return to Foxburg Wine Cellars, where Clarion County Trails Association will have a cookout for those who make a donation

Interested? Contact Devin Callihan at (814) 319-5058 or cla@northcountrytrail.org.

The Clarion Chapter of the North Country Trail will have a grand opening of the Wild Flower Walk feature of the North Country Trail June 23 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

A table with information about the North Country Trail and the Wild Flower Walk section will located where the North Country Trail crosses Route 322 near the Clarion River Bridge at the bottom of River Hill. Hike leaders will be available to give guided tours of the Wild Flower Walk.

The Wild Flower Walk is a three-quarters mile section of trail made possible by donations of topsoil and flowers from area residents.

TAB Construction will start milling on East Branch Dam Road May 22.

The road will remain milled until the fall when it will be resurfaced. The road is being widened as part of the site development contract so that equipment can be moved in to begin repairs on the East Branch Dam, where a cutoff wall be constructed.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said the work should not affect traffic during Memorial Day weekend but that there will be some traffic restrictions in the future.

Get in on National Trails Day June 2 with the help of the Clarion Chapter of the North Country Trail Association and the Clarion County Trails Association.

The organizations will host a hike from the Cook Forest Fire Tower in Cook Forest State Park to the trail head on Highland Drive. Meet at the Cook Forest Fire Tower/Seneca Point parking lot in Cook Forest State Park at 9 a.m.for the 6 1/2-mile hike over varied terrain.

Want to attend? Call Devin Callihan at (814) 319-5058 or call him at cla@northcountrytrail.org.

Take a hike Saturday with the members of the Clarion Chapter of the North Country Trail Association.

Meet at 9 a.m. at the Country Fair at the intersection of Routes 322 and 66 at 9 a.m. The designed hike is from Van to Fern Road.

Interested in hiking? Contact Devin Callihan at (814) 319-5058 or cla@northcountrytrail.org.

A public meeting is scheduled for April 18 at 7 p.m. at the Johnsonburg High School Auditorium at which the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will discuss progress and activities of its East Branch Dam Safety Modification Project.

A stakeholders meeting will take place that day at 10:30 a.m. at the East Branch Dam Maintenance Building.

The Corps’ Pittsburgh District opened a dam safety investigation in 2008 into seepage concerns at East Branch Clarion River Lake. It resulted in increased monitoring, 24/7 staffing, updated emergency action plans and reduced water levels in the reservoir to ease pressure on the 60-year-old dam. A Dam Safety Modification Study completed in October 2010 recommends a cutoff wall inside the dam for long-term safety. Construction approval came in August 2011, and the first contract was awarded this past September.

The Clarion Chapter of the North Country Trail Association will have its monthly hike March 10 at 9 a.m.

We will be hiking from Kiser-Wagner Road to Breniman Road. Meet at the Country Fair at the intersection of Routes 322 and 66 at 9 a.m.

Interested in hiking? Contact Devin Callihan at (814) 319-5058 or cla@northcountrytrail.org.