Outdoor Digest.

Byline: The Register-Guard

`STAR PARTY' SET FRIDAY: The Eugene Astronomical Society will hold a free "star party" Friday atop College Hill Reservoir at 24th and Lawrence streets in Eugene. Starting at dusk (about 7:30 p.m.), a wide array of telescopes will be available for public viewing of the wonders of the night sky. Friday's night sky will feature a first-quarter moon that will afford excellent views of its mountains and craters. Venus will be in the western sky. Summer constellations will still be high in the sky, allowing society members to train their telescopes on such wonders as the great star cluster in Hercules, the beautiful double star Alberio and the Ring Nebula. This is a good opportunity for people considering a telescope purchase to compare various telescopes. Also, society members will be available to help new telescope owners with the set-up and alignment of their instruments. A program on "Tools for Finding Your Way in the Night Sky," will be presented by Larry Deckman. For information about other Astronomical Society events and activities, call Jean Grendler (683-9382) or visit the club's Web site, www.eugeneastro.org.

BID THE SWIFTS BON VOYAGE: The Lane County Audubon Society will hold a "Bon Voyage for the Swifts" event in Eugene at sunset on each of the next two Fridays. Society members will be set up outside Agate Hall on the University of Oregon campus - where huge numbers of Vaux's swifts roost in the chimney as they gather for their annual southern migration - with informational hand-outs explaining the phenomenon. Look for the Audubon Society banner.

TRAIL RUN, WALK PLANNED: The second annual "Bristow Challenge" trail run and walk will be held Saturday at Elijah Bristow State Park, just off Highway 58 near Dexter. The event is intended to promote public awareness of the Eugene to Pacific Crest Trail, a 108-mile trail that passes through Bristow Park, and to generate funds and volunteers for the management and maintenance of the trail. The 15-kilometer (9-mile) run begins at 9 a.m. and the 3.5-mile walk starts at 9:15. Race day registration begins at 7:45 a.m. and costs $18 with a commemorative T-shirt, $13 without. Save $3 by registering in advance at REI or Pace Setter Athletics. The goal of the event is to promote public awareness of the EPCT. Details: Deb Harvey, 937-1080.

BEAR CREEK FISH PASSAGE DISCUSSED: The Oregon Department of Transportation will host a meeting in Leaburg next week to brief the public on its plans to improve passage for migrating fish in Bear Creek, a tributary to the McKenzie River. The department plans to replace an old concrete box culvert beneath Highway 126 with a new bridge. The work will be done in the summer of 2003. Project details, including how traffic on Oregon Highway 126 may be affected during construction, will be discussed. The meeting is scheduled for 6 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Old McKenzie Fish Hatchery, 44643 McKenzie Highway, Leaburg.

TRIO OF `TREE WALKS' SCHEDULED: The Eugene Tree Foundation plans a series of three "Living With Trees" interpretive walks in three diverse urban settings this fall. Naturalist Dennis Lueck will lead the two-hour Saturday outings, each of which begins at 1 p.m. The first walk will be Sept. 21 and will cover trees in the University of Oregon campus area (meet at the Pioneer Mother statue, south of Johnson Hall). On Oct. 19, the focus will be on trees in the Hendricks Park area (meet at the picnic shelter at the top of Summit Drive). The final outing will be held Nov. 2 and will look at trees in one of Eugene's newest neighborhoods, Mangan Park (meet at the picnic area in the northwest corner of the park, located north of Barger Avenue between Highway 99 and Beltline.) A $5 donation is requested.

CATCH LIMITS DROPPED AT RESERVOIR: The state has temporarily waived daily catch and possession limits on fishing in Rock Creek Reservoir because the lake will be drained for repairs. The lake is located 10 miles west of Tygh Valley in the Mt. Hood National Forest.