Notes about your surroundingsShorebirds Talk--Loren Hays of...

Notes about your surroundings

Shorebirds Talk--Loren Hays of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will be the guest speaker at a program and tour at Upper Newport Bay on Saturday.

“Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Shorebirds” will be the topic of Hays’ talk. The program is sponsored by the California Department of Fish and Game and the Orange County Department of Harbors, Beaches and Parks.

The program will start at 9 a.m. at Shellmaker Island. To reach the island, take the Corona del Mar Freeway to the Jamboree Road exit and go south. Take a right on San Joaquin Hills Road, a left on Backbay Drive, and then a right on Shellmaker Road.

The program is free. For more information, call (714) 640-6746.

Hikes for Tykes--The Oak Canyon Nature Center in Anaheim is offering a series of nature programs for preschoolers. Activities will include a talk time with a naturalist and a guided nature walk.

The following is the program schedule:

* Tuesday, 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.--”Colors of Nature,” featuring the blue of a scrub jay, the red of an acorn woodpecker and the purple of a prickly pear.

* Jan. 29, 10 to 11 a.m.--”Textures of Nature,” with deer’s fur, the bark of an oak tree and an opossum’s tail used as learning tools.

* Feb. 11, 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.--”Music in Nature,” with samples of a hummingbird’s “hum” and a white-crowned sparrow’s song.

* Feb. 24, 10 to 11 a.m.--”Fragrances of Nature,” featuring the aromas of wet leaf litter and many wildflowers.

* March 11, 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.--”Nature Is Delicious,” featuring the tastes of native plants used by the early Americans for food.

The fee for each session is $3. Pre-registration is urged because classes fill up quickly.

The center is at 6700 Walnut Canyon Road, Anaheim. Call (714) 998-8380 for more information.