The South Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve August calendar provides a variety of activities.  

*  More than 3.5 miles of trails are open from dawn until dusk daily.  

* Birds on the Estuary will be held from 8 to 10 a.m.  Saturday. Participants will explore the shore in search of winged wildlife. Beginner and intermediate bird enthusiasts are welcome. The center will provide an interpreter, binoculars, spotting scopes and other materials.  All trips will meet at the Charleston Visitor Center. The cost is $1 per person.

* Walkabout along the South Slough Trails with an interpreter from the reserve will be from 1 to 2 p.m. Saturday. On this easy hike, participants will explore South Slough at a less vigorous pace. Those interested should meet at South Slough’s Interpretive Center, four miles south of Charleston on Seven Devils Road and be sure to dress for the weather. There is no charge.

* Explore the Shore will visit the tideflats near Charleston from 10 a.m. to noon Wednesday, Aug. 6. Participants can get a first hand look at a variety of creatures and plants that thrive in the waters where rivers meet the sea, the estuary. Rubber boots or sturdy shoes are recommended. Participants should meet at the Charleston Visitor Center. The cost is $1 per person.

* The next Explore Your Estuary Hike will explore marshes, from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Aug. 9. Participants will help collect observations and data. There is no charge.

* Common Ground, a film about Oregon’s marine heritage, was recently updated to include the marine reserve nomination process happening in Oregon. The 15-minute video will show at 1 and 3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 10, at the South Slough auditorium. There is no charge.

* A crabbing opportunity will be offered from 1 to 3 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 13. Participants will learn about the life cycles of crabs through colorful images and interpretation, and explore the estuary for various species of crabs. Those interested should meet at the Charleston Visitor Center.  The cost is $1 per person.

*  The South Slough and Cape Arago Audubon Society have a combined booth at the Farmer’s Market in Coos Bay from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesdays. Booth staff can give information about South Slough and local birds.  Each week in August, they will focus on a different theme, such as “Herons and Egrets,” “Seafood and Sustainability,” “Hiking and Berries”and “Shorebirds.”  Raffle tickets for a Wavecrest Discoveries Tour and an Audubon bird feeder, a large glass framed painting of a light house or for the guidebook “Mushrooms Demystified” by David Aurora will be for sale for 10 for $5, 5 for $3 or 1 for $1. The drawing will be held at the end of the month.

* An exhibit of mixed media art depicting landscapes, still life and abstract subjects featuring Maggie Karl’s work is on display through Aug. 31 in the South Slough auditorium.

Karl has been an art instructor at Southwestern Oregon University for 15 years and is the former director of the Coos Art Museum. The South Slough Interpretative Center also has interpretive exhibits and a gift shop.

 Registration is required for all programs. For more information and to register, call 888-5558. South Slough Interpretive Center, four miles south of Charleston on Seven Devils Road, is open to the public from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily during the summer. More information also is available at  http://www.southsloughestuary.org.