The Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge is a fun and educational place to take your kids — or yourself — as the weather warms up to enjoy nature as it’s intended. The refuge boasts abundant and picturesque walking trails centered on integrating oneself with wildlife.  Spring is a prime time for catching a glimpse of the season’s crowned jewel: the yellowthroat songbird.  The songbirds arrive in the spring and use the dried mud flats for breeding and nesting grounds. Bald eagles are also seen in the refuge, arriving in the fall months, typically from northern breeding grounds. In addition to nearly two hundred species of birds, there are twenty five species of reptiles and amphibians among a sea of lovely grasses and other varieties of trees and plants. I went for a walk around the refuge — three miles in all. The path takes you into a beautiful, open meadow where you can hear the ducks splashing in the wetlands nearby. In the center of the refuge is a single tall tree that stands in one of the wet areas. A massive nest rests in the top branches.  I couldn’t make out the specifics, so after the walk-around, I made my way into the refuge’s main building to see if anyone knows what the nest entails. As I walked into the refuge’s main building, a kind volunteer ushered me to the wildlife viewing area, telling me that the huge nest in the tree currently houses a bald eagle. He sets the telescope on the nest for me and lets me take a peek: I see the majestic eagle in the nest, swiveling its head to look for prey. I definitely did not expect to see such a beautiful animal. The picture I took of the eagle magnified by the telescope doesn’t do it justice; I recommend taking a trip and seeing the eagle yourself. In addition to the wildlife viewing area, there is a ton to do inside the refuge’s main building.  An interactive display featuring the different species of animals in the refuge and the Pacific Northwest’s ecosystem is a fun activity, especially for kids. The display looks and feels like you’re in the outdoors, with a life-like stream, meadows and fun info. graphics.   For photography fans, the refuge has a special exhibit on now until August that highlights William Finley, a wildlife photographer who devoted his life to bird photography and conservation efforts. Finley was born in a time when photographing wildlife wasn’t really art; by the 1910’s he changed the way people looked at wildlife photography, capturing the hearts of all who viewed his photographs. Many of his pieces are on display at the refuge.  The William Finley exhibit is open Saturdays and Sundays noon to 4 p.m. through August. The refuge is open daily from dawn to dusk and is located at 19255 SW Pacific Highway in Sherwood. [caption id="attachment_14360" align="aligncenter" width="705"] Rachel Sebastian is a sales assistant at Renaissance Homes.[/caption]