GILEAD – In honor of International Migratory Bird Day, wildlife biologist Lesley Rowse of the White Mountain National Forest will lead a two-hour bird walk on Saturday.

Barring rain, which will postpone the activity to Sunday, May 11, participants should gather prior to 7:15 a.m. at the junction of Route 113 and Wild River Road. That’s three miles south of Route 2 in Gilead at the WMNF gate across Route 113.

Birders of all ages and experience are invited to join Rowse and learn to identify birds by sight and song, WMNF spokeswoman Pat Nasta stated last week in a report.

“It’s really a good time,” Nasta said by phone on Wednesday afternoon in Bethel. “Come dressed for the weather with comfortable shoes for walking on easy terrain. Bring binoculars and your sense of discovery.”

The free event celebrates the return of migrating birds as they complete their journey from the tropics to their summer habitat in New England.

“Migratory birds are some of the most beautiful and observable wildlife species sharing our world. They travel from Central America, South America, Mexico, and the Caribbean to find nesting habitat across North America,” Nasta said.

“We usually see several warblers, like Blackburnian and Parula – they’re really beautiful,” Rowse said by phone on Wednesday afternoon in Gorham, N.H.

Among other birds normally seen or heard during the walk from Wild River Road to Moose Pond and back, are chipping sparrows, winter wrens, possibly red-eyed and solitary vireos, some woodpeckers, tree swallows, common yellow-throated warblers, and hermit thrushes.

“If we’re lucky, we might see a common merganser at the pond and we could always see a moose, too. Most years, it’s been really fun, nice and relaxed and fun,” Rowse said.

To learn more about International Migratory Bird Day, traditionally held on the second Saturday in May, visit www.birdday.org or call Rowse at the WMNF Androscoggin Ranger Station in Gorham, N.H., at 603-466-2713 ext. 231 or [email protected].

If it’s raining on the morning of the walk, call Rowse’s number after 6 a.m. on Saturday to learn of possible postponement.