A series of events surrounding annual Wings & Wetlands recognition in Palo Alto County this weekend will allow area residents a variety of opportunities to encounter nature with the guidance of local conservation and wildlife authorities.

Activities will get under way at 11 a.m., Saturday, with a trumpeter swan release which will be conducted at Lost Island Marsh, a half mile north of Lost Island Huston Park off 355th Avenue, north of Ruthven.

Saturday afternoon, from 1:30-4 p.m. will feature a Greenwings & Ringnecks Youth Program at the Lost Island Nature Center. Ross Dirks will serve as the afternoon's guest speaker, and Dirks will present a falcon program with live hawks. During the afternoon, dog and decoy demonstrations, a target shoot, and wood duck house building will take place.

The day will conclude with canoeing at Smith's Slough; reservations for a canoe can be made by calling (712) 837-4866.

Sunday Wings & Wetlands will continue with a Watchable Wildlife Tour getting underway at 1 p.m. Audubon expert Lee Schoenewe will lead a tour visiting unique sites around the region designed to view birds in their natural habitat. The group will meet at the Lost Island Nature Center and carpool to the specific locations including: Dewey's Pasture, a bird conservation area; Kirchner Prairie, a prairie wetland; and Fen Valley.

In addition to the canoeing, both the youth program and Watchable Wildlife Tour require participants to register at (712) 837-4866.