Outdoor Digest.

Byline: The Register-Guard

FINLEY'S WORK EXHIBITED: William L. Finley has a Willamette Valley national wildlife refuge named after him, but few people probably know why. Now they have a chance to learn quite a bit about the early-day conservationist, thanks to an exhibit of his work on display at Oregon State University's LaSells Stewart Center through the end of May. The joint Oregon Historical Society/OSU Archives exhibit is called "Birds of a Feather: Conservation and Wildlife Photography of William L. Finley and Herman T. Bohlman." (Bohlman was a childhood friend of Finley's who accompanied him on bird-watching and photography trips.) Finley began making motion-picture films of wildlife in the early 1900s. During the 1920s and '30s, his wildlife movies became popular nationwide through a series of lecture tours. The free public exhibit is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and during special events evenings and weekends. The Stewart Center is located at 26th Street and Western Boulevard in Corvallis.

BOATER SAFETY CLASS PLANNED: A "quick course" for boaters who want to qualify for an Oregon Boater Education Card will be offered in the Eugene-Springfield area next month. The four-hour course, offered by the Code 4 Public Safety Education Association, begins at 6 p.m. on May 9. The registration deadline is Wednesday. The course fee is $34. Passing a test at the end of the session will qualify boaters for the Boater Education Card, needed under Oregon's Mandatory Boater Education Program to operate a power boat with a motor rated at 10 horsepower or greater. Boaters under the age of 30 must have the card starting in 2003. The requirement is phased in for older boaters through 2009.

IT RAINS IN SPAIN, AS WELL: A shipment of 29 birds from the Oregon Coast Aquarium is off to Madrid as part of a relocation project at a new animal park in Spain. Six common murres, 12 tufted puffins, six pigeon guillemots, three Caspian terns and two black oystercatchers were flown from Seattle to Luxembourg and then driven to Madrid where they will make their home in the animal park's aviary. No word yet on whether the rain in Spain measures up to what the birds were accustomed to on the Oregon coast.

BIRD PROJECT NEEDS VOLUNTEERS: People who like to watch birds and camp are needed for a volunteer bird conservation study. Being conducted by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology in conjunction with the U.S. Forest Service and the Student Conservation Association, the project involves research on certain forest breeding birds. This national study will investigate effects of habitat change and human recreational activities on breeding forest birds and will assist the Forest Service in managing public lands to protect the birds. While birding experience is a plus, it is not required. Volunteers will receive training, visit an established recreation site at least two times and count forest thrushes during their breeding season. They will also record certain aspects of the vegetation found in the sites. Volunteers must provide their own transportation, although mileage may be paid. For details, call Pat Boleyn [phone] or Ruby Seitz [phone] of the Willamette National Forest.

PARK BANS DOGS FROM TRAIL: Dogs and other domestic animals are once again being banned from Silver Falls State Park's Canyon Trail, also known as the "Trail of Ten Falls." Park officials reinstituted the ban in early April following a 16-month trial suspension of a longstanding park regulation. Dogs are permitted in the rest of the 8,706-acre park, which has nearly 35 miles of trails.

STATE PARKS GUIDEBOOK REVISED: Details on 170 developed state parks, recreation areas and waysides are available in the second edition of `Oregon State Parks,' just issued by The Mountaineers Books (240 pages, $16.95). Author Jan Bannan of Newport includes information about the features of each park, facilities and campground specifications, natural history, and recreation possibilities.