The Weyburn Nature Society has several day trips planned for members this year, including a tour of the Royal Saskatchewan Museum in Regina.

Secretary Val Thomas said members also will take trips to the Khedive, Creelman and Oungre areas, including Dry Lake, to see the wide variety of birds and waterfowl in those areas. Pelicans and rare whooping cranes are among the species known to visit the areas.

The group offers a variety of excursions for members, from five-to-six hours long for some, to shorter trips around the Souris Valley grounds at other times.

Thomas said a representative from the Canadian Wildlife Service, Steve Davis, spoke to the group's annual meeting in January, about grassland birds.

Local member Sid Trepoff spoke to the group about flowers and fauna at its February meeting.

Other speakers are scheduled for the group's regular meetings this spring, to be held once a month at Souris Valley at 7:30 p.m.

Kelly Kozij will talk about owls, hawks and other birds of prey at the society's regular meeting on Wednesday, March 17.

A spokesperson from the Saskatchewan Wetlands Conservation Authority will speak at the Wednesday, April 21 meeting and a spokesman from Saskatchewan Fish and Wildlife will speak on Wednesday, May 19. At the June 16 meeting, the group will host a spokesman from the Saskatchewan Forestry department.

Thomas said the group also will have a booth in the Weyburn Square Mall in early April, during the mall's charity bazaar, to encourage members of the public to take out $5 memberships. The society has about 60 members.

The society is also encouraging people to call Thomas or president Audrey Bennett with unusual bird sightings. Thomas reports bird sightings to Saskatchewan Birders.

In May, the group will direct Grade 4 classes from Weyburn schools on a tour of the Souris Valley grounds. "The children are quite keen on the tour," said Thomas.

Nature society members have raised funds in the past to donate benches, a bridge and a pier in Souris Valley to make the birding experience more enjoyable. Thomas said she's not sure what will happen to those structures if Souris Valley grounds are sold.

With Bennett as the new president, Myrt Thorson is vice president, Thomas is secretary and Fred Garner is treasurer.

Two-year directors are Dick Gutfriend, Fred Garner, Elma McCormick, Lucille Cameron, and Ross Douglas. One-year directors are Sid Trepoff, Val Thomas, Bob Cameron, Leo Belanger and Angela Rosselein.