SAINT PAUL - Saint Paul has the perfect opportunity to get in touch with nature this summer and fall to learn about the variety of birdlife that lives along the Mississippi River.
  The Mississippi National River and Recreation Area, a unit of the National Park Service, is offering public trips aboard the Birding Boat Sunday, Aug. 10, and Wednesday, Sept. 24, departing at 8 a.m. from Harriet Island. Another trip will depart on Wednesday, Aug. 13, and depart at 10 a.m. from Harriet Island.
  The trip promises to be fun and educational for birders of all ages and abilities. Each passenger receives a complimentary Birding Boat Field Guide, can visit the five learning stations on the boat, and be entertained by Mississippi River songs sung by the The Singing Ranger at the start of each excursion.
  The educational opportunities on the boat abound, explains Park Ranger Charlie MacGuire. "Which is longer, the length of your arms or the wingspan of an eagle? What does the call of a turkey vulture sound like? Why do peregrine falcons live on power plant smokestacks? For the answers to these questions and more, grab your binoculars and join us on the National Park Service Birding Boat tours," said MacGuire.
  "What a great opportunity for summer. These kinds of activities that take advantage of our unique location, right along the Mississippi River, make Saint Paul a great place to be for the entire family," said Brad Toll, vice president of tourism for the Saint Paul Convention and Visitors Bureau. "Many visitors are surprised to learn that Saint Paul is located in the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area and is a great place to go birding and enjoy nature."
  For more information, National Park Ranger Charlie Maguire is available at (651) 290-3030, ext. 230, as well as the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area at www.nps.gov/miss. For reservations, call the Padelford Packet Boat Company at (651) 227-1100.
  More events along the river are planned for the grand opening of the Mississippi River Visitor Center on Aug. 9-10. The center is located within the Science Museum of Minnesota, downtown Saint Paul. It is the National Park Service?s first staffed visitor center within the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area.
  The Mississippi National River and Recreation Area is a narrow corridor of land on either side of the Mississippi River extending from Dayton, Minn. on the north boundary through the Minneapolis/St. Paul area and downstream to Hastings, Minn.
  The Saint Paul Convention and Visitors Bureau markets the greater Saint Paul area to out-of-town visitors, advocates for visitor needs and links our community with visitors.