Hiking, birding, sky-viewing: It's a busy summer weekend at state parks

Minneopa State Park, 1-2 p.m. Saturday

Learn how to use a digital camera, which will be provided. Sign up at the park office (prior reservation required). Meet at the waterfalls area. (1-507-384-8890, mndnr.gov)

Heritage weekend

St. Croix State Park, Saturday

Dive into local history at the park's annual event. Use hand tools to help carve a canoe paddle. Watch a blacksmith shape metal. Learn about Ojibwe and Dakota constellations in the night sky (1-3 p.m.) and how the Native Skywatchers program preserves Indian culture by sharing its star knowledge (5-6 p.m.). (1-320-384-6591, mndnr.gov)

Sibley State Park, 9-10 p.m. Saturday

Patrick Thibault has been an amateur astronomer for the last 30 years. He was the co-founder of the Willmar Area Astronomy Club. He has been published in "Sky and Telescope," "Night Sky" and "Mercury" magazines. He enjoys showing the public the beauty of the night sky through binoculars and small telescopes. View Saturn via telescope. Meet at Mount Tom. This parking lot and trail are not lit, so bring flashlights for safety. (1-320-354-2055, mndnr.gov)

Bird banding

Whitewater State Park, 12:30-2 p.m. Sunday

Join master bird bander Greg Munson at the visitor center bird feeders. Participants will have the opportunity to handle and release birds after they have been caught in nets, studied, observed and banded with an aluminum tag. The program will be canceled in the event of rain. (1-507-312-2300, mndnr.gov)

Monarch tagging

Lowry Nature Center, 1-2:30 p.m. Saturday

Catch and tag monarchs preparing for their 2,000-mile journey to Mexico. See them in different life stages and learn about tagging research. Cost is $5. (763-694-7650, threeriversparks.org)

About peregrines

Whitewater State Park, 6-7 p.m. Sunday

Where 40 years ago there were none, today more than 200 nesting pairs of peregrine falcons make their home in the Midwest. A member of the Midwest Peregrine Society will have a falcon there. (1-507-312-2300, mndnr.gov)

Fossil hike

Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park, 10 a.m.-noon Sunday

We are expecting a good yield of 450 million-year-old brachiopods on this fossil collecting field trip. Meet at the amphitheater. Participants must drive their own vehicle from the meeting location to the collection site outside the park. (1-507-312-2300, mndnr.gov)