Upcoming Events
Free Van Tours -Suspended until further notice.
Bird Walks with the Delaware Ornithological Society 8:00 am - 10:00 am
鈥淭he Delaware Ornithological Society sponsors a monthly bird walk, each month from September through April, which starts 8 am from the visitor center. The walks will utilize the newly completed Forest Discovery Tree Trail (2.7 miles) and last approximately 2 hours. Walks will take place rain-or-shine unless the weather is extreme (check or the DOS Facebook page). Bring sturdy shoes that can stand mud and moisture; water bottle; insect repellent; and, of course, binoculars if you have them (loaners will be available). A hand lens or loupe will also be handy if we stop to examine trees, flowers, mushrooms, lichens etc.鈥�
The actual dates for the walk will be:
- February 22, 2025
- March 22, 2025
- *April 19, 2025
- September 27, 2025
- *October 18, 2025
- November 22, 2025
- December 27, 2025
Saturday, 8/9/2025 11:00 AM All About Tri-State Bird Rescue Tri-State Bird Rescue & Research was founded in 1976 after a series of oil spills in Delaware and other parts of the country. In 1982, Tri-State Bird opened a full-time wildlife rehabilitation and research facility to care for ill, injured, and orphaned wild birds. Tri-State outgrew the original facility due to a rapidly growing caseload and opened a new wildlife facility in 1989. Today, the Frink Center for Wildlife consists of animal care wards, surgery and research labs, outdoor aviaries and pools, and a contaminated wildlife response facility that was built in 2015. Because 80% of the animals treated have been adversely affected by human activity, Tri-State places a large emphasis on educating the public to promote an appreciation of native, wild birds and their habitats, encouraging behaviors that reduce human impact and support conservation efforts. Almost 50 years later, the community continues to rely on Tri-State to give injured native birds a chance to return to the wild.
Saturday, 9/6 2025 10:00 a.m. 鈥� 11:00/noon-? Beginning Birding 鈥� Shorebird Program - Eileen McLellan and Terry Willis will give a presentation about shorebirds, their amazing migrations, and simple identification techniques. After the presentation, participants will take the bus to the impoundments to practice their new skills (11:15 鈥� 12:30). The presentation is open to unlimited participants. The bus is limited to 14 participants, pre-registration is required to reserve your spot. Any un-reserved spots will be available on the day of the event.
Saturday 9/27/2025 1:00 pm Monarch Butterfly Tagging. Terry Willis will give a short explanation of the Monarch Butterfly life cycle before tagging Monarchs. After tagging Monarchs that were raised in captivity, participants will visit the pollinator meadow at the Visitor Center to capture and tag wild Monarchs. Participants should wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts.
Saturday 10/11/2025 Refuge Week Kick Off!
9:00 am The Wonders of Salt Marshes, which would be a lecture with or without a field excursion (Boardwalk Trail and marsh overlooks). It would cover a little bit of everything - marsh formation, birds, plants, how humans benefit from salt marshes.
11:00 am Introduction to Optics Learn how tochoose the right optic, properly adjust and use binoculars and spotting scopes to aid in wildlife observation. How to maintain your optics for a long service life. Strategies for locating wildlife in your optic.
2:00 pm People of the Refuge's past
Join Master Naturalist and History Enthusiast Joseph Blake for a journey through the past to learn about the people who lived and worked on Bombay Hook before it was a wildlife refuge. Discussion will cover the CCC troop that built the refuge, the Whitehall plantation, The Allee family, and the Lenape people who were here before everyone else.
Saturday 11/1/2025 2:00 pm Wildlife Photography; Beyond the Basics. Join wildlife and landscape photographer Terry Willis for a Wildlife/Nature Photography Workshop. Learn how to optimize your camera for photographing wildlife and landscapes. In this workshop we will discuss camera settings, and how to go beyond the 鈥淎uto鈥� setting on your digital camera. We will also begin to delve into editing your photos using software like Adobe Photoshop, beginning with the Raw Image and proceeding to the final version suitable for printing or using on the web. Meet at the Bombay Hook Visitor Center at 2591 Whitehall Neck Road, Smyrna DE 19977.
Saturday 12/13/2025 11:00 am Duck, Duck, Goose Learn about the diversity of ducks and geese and how to identify them. Then take the bus (or carpool) out to Raymond and Shearness pools to observe waterfowl on the refuge.