Upcoming Events
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 caravan to the impoundments to practice their new skills (11:15 鈥� 12:30).
Saturday 9/20/2025 10:00 a.m. 鈥� 11:00 Delaware Native Plants Join Delaware Master Naturalist Sheila Smith for a presentation on the goals of the Delaware Native Species Commission and the small changes that you can make to your landscape that can make a big difference for wildlife.
Saturday, 9/27/2025 Bird Walk with the Delaware Ornithological Society 8:00 am - 10:00 am
This walk will leave from the visitor center and 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.
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.