Delight in South Bay Wetlands!

he Imperial Beach Bird Fest is a special event whose goal is to bring attention to the value of nautral areas around Imperial Beach and throughout San Diego County. It is an opportunity to celebrate the richness of our avifauna and the efforts being made to protect them in refuges and reserves. It is a place to learn about issues and concerns ofor local nautre and meet other interested people.

Imperial Beach Bird Fest will take place January 18 & 19, 1997. It will take place at Veteran's Park, at the corner of Imperial Beach Boulevard and 8th Street from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Activities include walks to several popular localities to look at habitats and birds and programs for children at the Tijuana Estuary Nature Center. Several groups will be on hand to distribute information about places in San Diego County to enjoy Nature.

Associated with the Bird Fest are seminars on Saturday, January 18th. Local experts will show slides and speak about native habitats. Three special birding trips are planned on Sunday, January 19th. A car-caravan to the Imperial Valley and Salton Sea, a visit to Santa Maria Valley to observe raptors and a birding boat trip to the Coronado Islands. There is a fee for these trips and space is limited.

On Monday, January 20th, guided nature and bird walks will be given at other localities in nearby communities. These will be free of charge.

For more information or a brochure of the event, call (619) 282-8687.