A WILDLIFE PRESENTATION

Last Friday TWRA  with The American Eagle Foundation and private biologists and wildlife experts got together at the Montvale Campground located on Montvale Road just south of Maryville, Tn.  This was the second year of wildlife presentations to kids 8 years of age to around 12 years of age.  Last year was an amazing day. 

This year was an astonishing learning day for the kids as well for just about every other adult present, biologist as well as custodians.  American Eagle Foundation, AEF, presented a male bald eagle, Challenger, an immature bald eagle, a red tail hawk and a turkey vulture.  What a learning experience!  A gentleman named Gerry Middleton is an expert on bats and his presentation was sensational, complete with slides.  I was riveted to the information he presented. 

Lynn McCoy, a certified wildlife rehabilitatior, brought a baby screech owl, a mature screech owl, a great horned owl, a barred owl and examples of their talons used to catch pray by presenting an exhibit of talons  mounted on a viewing board and passed around the room.  

TWRA presented a marvelous display and presentation of the fish and other aquatics that are present throughout the state.  Detailed explanation was handled by Paul Shaw, Reservoir Fisheries - Region IV and he knows his stuff.  Paul spent an enormous amount of time and consideration creating poster sized examples of water creatures for the kids to see first hand what is in the water of the state.  Paul was assisted by John Hammonds, Fisheries Biologist for Region IV.  The kids got the finest information possible.

 Carl Williams, "the" expert on the crayfish and water insects that thrive on our waterways engaged the children in dialog that explained the importance of crayfish in the environment.  There are numerous indigenous species as well as species that have intruded into our waterways from other countries.  

A fishing rod casting competition was held to keep the kids entertained between presentations.  Matt Cameron, TWRA Information and Education (I&E) manager documented the entire procdedure as well as directed the TWRA trailer that was on site to further inform and entertain the children in the ways of the great outdoors.  

All told - it was an amazing day and one I am proud of to have been a part of.  A person could not have bought a wildlife experience like the one we put on for the kids at Montvale.    The three short clips below are just a taste.  I took sample vids from each presentation but don't have time to get them all up here.

Paul setting up the area

Paul and Matt getting the kids together

Kids running off to learn about crayfish

Paul and John getting into the subject of aquatics.

Below:  Paul.  "Ya see kids, its like this."

Off to the bat school with Gerry Middleton

Gerry knows bats and their habits.  The kids listened intently.  I learned things about bats I never dreamed of.  Did you know that bats fly with their young clutched tightly to them?  Neighter did I.

Lynn McCoy held the kids spellbound with her owl presentation.  Everyone likes owls.

Below:  the talon board is passed around so the kids can actually touch the talons of raptors.

Below:  Regurgitated pellets of feather,  fur and bone from owls.

Baby Screech Owl

Adult Screech Owl

Adult screech owl

Below:  Screech Owl Adult

Below:  Barred Owl

Great Horned Owl

And a group shot of the kids after the morning's presentations.

The afternoon round of lectures started with AEF and their guest eagles.

Victoria started the presentation with a red tail hawk

Jenna started her presentations with a turkey vulture

The star of the show was Challenger, the adult bald eagle

Jenna pulled out a very large surprise in the form of an immature bald eagle.

This little, well, big fella was impressive.  I didn't catch the age on him but I'd guess this was his 2nd year.  He's a wow of an eagle.

Just look at him!  Wow!

Looking for and collecting crawfish with Carl

What fun they are having and they are learning things the average kid will not ever hear about.  This enterprise will help them to be sportsmen and women and not just hunters and fishermen and women.

We have an ecology surrounded by habitat and filled with creatures that as a whole, teeters on the edge of disaster due to man's foolish enterprises, and men and women like the ones conducting these presentations are the front line that holds back the impending tragedy.

Tiny crayfish to be studied and returned back into the stream.

Below:  A little lady fishing rod caster.

Posters and memorabilia were handed out and the close as a fine day of enlightenment came to an end.

It has been a privilage to help present and attend this amazing educational function for these kids.  Special thanks to the folks at Montvale and to all who participated.