Bird enthusiasts can bring their binoculars and cameras for another year of migratory bird watching at the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge this Thursday through Saturday.

This year’s Migration Celebration will offer guided bird and nature walks at three different trails in the refuge. Many of the activities of previous Birding Festivals have been removed due to staffing constraints, but the free tours are still expected to draw hundreds of visitors from around the country, with no reservations required.

“We’re trying to do groups of no more than 20 people at a time,” Refuge Manager Chris Lowie said in a phone interview. “That’s optimal for one guide. They’ll get away from the cars, walk and quietly listen and look for birds.”

Visitors can observe hundreds of bird species. The Swainson’s warbler is among the most coveted for birders to mark on their life lists. These tiny, brown-and-white birds are named after William Swainson, an English ornithologist.

“They’re all coming for the Swainson’s warbler,” according to Lowie.

There’s also prothonotary warblers, a bright gold bird with bluish-gray wings and a yellowish-olive back, plus cardinals, robins, Carolina wrens and many more flying from tree to tree.

“We get a lot of different warblers, like 32 or 33 different species during migration,” Don Schwab, retired biologist and refuge volunteer, said in a phone interview. “They’re small birds in all kinds of different colors, and people like them.”

Schwab added that the tours are also great introductions for fledgling bird watchers.

“It’s not a bad experience for first-time birders, because you’re going out there with a guide and there are usually dedicated birders coming along if you have questions,” he said.

Guided bird walks are recommended for adults and will be from 7 to 9:30 a.m. Thursday through Saturday. Groups will meet at Jericho Ditch, 1330 White Marsh Road, and Washington Ditch, 3076 White Marsh Road. Black Bear Trail groups will meet at the Portsmouth Ditch entrance, 3457 Martin Johnson Road. There will also be guided nature walks from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at the Washington Ditch.

Visitors will enter the refuge at the street addresses for each walk and proceed to the parking area to meet the group. Go online to fws.gov/refuge/Great_Dismal_Swamp or call 986-3705 for more information.