The Friends of the Erie National Wildlife Refuge will host an owl prowl April 27 at 6:30 p.m.

Meet at refuge headquarters, 11296 Wood Duck Lane, Guys Mills, for an educational program before venturing into the woods with program leader Judy Acker from Audubon Pennsylvania.

Leaders will use recordings of owl calls to try to get a response from the likes of a great horned owl or barred owl, the most common species known to nest on the refuge.

Group size will be limited and preregistration is required. Call (814) 789-3585 to reserve your spot. Dress for the weather, wear suitable footwear for hiking and take a flashlight.

Learn to birdwatch in time for spring migration with a four-week class starting April 3 in Meadville.

Audubon Pennsylvania in Northwestern Pennsylvania will present Birding 101 for beginning birders and those who want to sharpen their skills. Classes will take place on four consectuvie Wednesdays starting April 3 from 7-8 p.m. at 301 Chestnut St.

Preregistration is required, and there is a $10 fee for registration and materials.

Sarah Sargent, an expert birder and ornithologist, will instruct on the use of field guides, common birds, bird songs, identification tips, where to look for birds, habitats, binocular use and more.

Audubon Pennsylvania in Northwestern Pennsylvania also will conduct bird walks at Erie National Wildlife Refuge’s Sugar Lake Division in Guys Mills on April 27, May 4, May 18 and May 25. Expert guest birders will lead the walks on trails at the refuge from 8:30-10:30 a.m Walks are open to the public.

For information, or to register, call Judy Acker at Audubon Pennsylvania, (814) 333-1170.

The Erie National Wildlife Refuge in Crawford County will be closed to all activities on Tuesday and Wednesday because of the storm.

Refuge staff will assess damage to its facilities after the storm and notify the public when activities resume.

GUYS MILLS — An American bald eagle was released Oct. 10 at Erie National Wildlife Refuge after three months of rehabilitation for an injury suffered this past summer.

Robert Angelo, of Skye's Spirit Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, in Harrisville, Venango County, releases an American bald eagle Oct. 10 at Erie National Wildlife Refuge in Guys Mills, Crawford County. Contributed photo.

The Pennsylvania Game Commission said Robert and Maryjane Angelo of Skye’s Spirit Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, in Harrisville, Venango County, released the mature male eagle. Erie National Wildlife Refuge, in Crawford County, was picked as the release site because it features prime eagle habitat and is near the location where the eagle was found.

Wildlife Conservation Officer John McKellop, who is based in Crawford County, responded in July to a phone call from Valerie Tarkowski, whose husband, Tom, found the injured eagle in their driveway.

McKellop transported the eagle to Skye’s Spirit, where the Angelos diagnosed the eagle with severe bruising, possibly caused by collision with a motorized vehicle.

Get in on an owl prowl Oct. 27 at 7 p.m. at the Erie National Wildlife Refuge‘s Sugar Lake Division.

The Friends of Erie National Wildlife Refuge will host the the educational program and walk at the refuge headquarters, 11296 Wood Duck Lane, Guys Mills. Owl call recordings will be used to try to elicit responses, especially from great horned owls and barred owls, the most common species known to nest on the Erie National Wildlife Refuge.

Group size is limited and preregistration is required by calling (814) 789-3585. Dress for the weather, wear suitable footwear for hiking and bring a flashlight.

Erie National Wildlife Refuge is accepting bids for trapping on its two units in Crawford County.

There are nine units available on the Sugar Lake Division in Guys Mills and seven units on the Seneca Division near Cambridge Springs.

Bids are due by Oct. 3 at 1 p.m. at the refuge headquarters, 11296 Wood Duck Lane, Guys Mills. Public bid opening will take place at that time.

Inspection of the bid units is allowed during daylight hours today through Oct. 3.

To submit a bid, complete an application for trapping form online or from the refuge headquarters.

Free but mandatory hunting permits/brochures for Erie National Wildlife Refuge in Crawford County are available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the refuge office, 11296 Wood Duck Lane, Guys Mills. Refuge staff asks that you call (814) 789-3585 before driving to the headquarters, though, just in case hours change that day.

Permits/brochures also are available at four kiosks throughout the refuge and online.

Harvest reports to refuge staff are optional, but they’d like to hear from you.

The Friends of the Erie National Wildlife Refuge are sponsoring a Trash to Treasure contest as part of the refuge’s Summer Fest.

Participants rework items that would normally be recycled or discarded into either useful or artistic creations. Cash prizes will be awarded in both categories and in four age groups — 8 and under, 9-12, 13-16 and 17 and over).

Entry deadline is June 15; winners will be announced June 30 at the Summer
Fest.

For information and contest rules, call the refuge at (814) 789-3585.

Erie National Wildlife Refuge in Crawford County is accepting applications until April 10 for its Youth Conservation Corps program.

Applicants ages 15 to 18 will be randomly selected to fill five to 10 positions.

Participants will work 7 a.m.to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday from June 11 until Aug. 3. Work tasks will include small construction projects, trail maintenance and other outdoor maintenance tasks.

For information and applications, call (814) 789-3585.

Trappers have until Oct. 5 at 1 p.m. to submit applications for trapping units at Erie National Wildlife Refuge in Crawford County.

Nine units are available on the Sugar Lake Division in Guys Mills and seven on the Seneca Division, near Cambridge Springs.

Inspection of units will be allowed during daylight hours through Oct. 5.

Bids, at a minimu of $25 each, are due Oct. 5 at refuge headquarters, 11296 Wood Duck Lane, Guys Mills. The public bid opening will start at 1 p.m.

For information, call Patty Nagel at (814) 789-3585 or e-mail her at patty_nagel@fws.gov.

More:

• Bidding instructions
• Application
• General regulations
• Special regulations