OFF THE BEAT= EN PATH
Friends of Dunbar Cave Newsletter	APRIL 2007

OFF THE BEAT= EN PATH

Friends of Dunbar Cave Newsletter

APRIL 2007

UPCOMING MEETING:

THURSDAY, APRIL 19^TH, 2007, AT 6:00PM, DUNBAR CAVE STATE NATURAL AREA VISITOR CENTER. GUEST SPEAKER: GREGG BIGGS ON CLARKSVILLE AND ITS ROLE IN THE CONFEDE= RATE WEST

NEWs from dunbar= cave

= Amy Wallace, Adam Neblett and David Britton went to a week of Interpretive Training at Henry Horton State Park. We got a lot of great information = and inspiration for doing programs this year.

The staff did 41 progra= ms for 388 persons in March.

= A student of Dr. Jan Simek went into cave twice as part of the on-going study of prehistoric cave art.

Planet Smoothie used the park to film a promotional video for their website. Since we weren’= ;t allowed to talk on camera for legal reasons, we appreciate David Boen taking the time to come out and speak to them ab= out the park.

The APSU bat study in the cave continues.

= We want to thank all the Friends who came out on a wonderful day to spread the mulch – David Boen, Debbie Boen, Jill Eichhorn, Barr= y Kitterman, and Norbert Puszkar, as well as the scouts and others who worked so hard. It looks great!<= /p>

We still have white-throated sparrows, and have heard the first blue-gray gnatcatchers of= the year recently. Today (4/3) we= had nine blue-winged teal on the lake. &n= bsp; Jack-in-the-pulpit, shooting star, larkspur, pennywort, wood sorrel, false garlic, dwarf crested iris, fire pink, rue anemone, bellwort, wild ginger, wild blue hyacinth and may apple are blooming, among other flowers – and the dogwoods are wonderful right now.

Birding Workshop

TWRA and Dunbar Cave will have a BE= YOND BOW BIRDING WORKSHOP at Dunbar Cave State Natrual Area on Saturday, May 12 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. If you are 18 or older and want to= learn to identify birds by sight and sound (or even if you already know your birds but want to have a good time), we invite you to sign up for this workshop.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> We will begin the day with slides = and vocalizations of birds, then take a bird walk. We will also be banding birds caug= ht in mist nets. After lunch (which= is included in your registration fee) there will be a backyard habitat class. A limited number of loaner binoculars will be available if you don’t ha= ve your own.

This is our second annual workshop, and last year was wonderful – good people, go= od food, good birds and good freebies and door prizes as well! The fee is $20, which TWRA is gene= rous enough to give to Dunbar for use in programming, so it benefits your Natural Area. Stop by the Visitor Center for a registration form, or call and we will mail you one. Space is limited, so act quickly i= f you are interested. Any questions= , call Don Hosse at (615)781-6541.

UPCOMING events:<= o:p>

SPRING FLING 2007, STEVE HAMILTON

The Friends of Dunbar Cave will co-sponsor the eighth spring celebration at Dunbar Cave on April 28. Originally spons= ored in 1998 by Warioto Chapter of the National Audu= bon Society under the moniker “Wings of Spring,” an Audubon Society spring celebration, the program has developed into a much anticipated spring event at Dunbar Cave. This years celebration is later th= an in past years, and thank goodness as we would have been celebrating “dog= wood winter” if we held it the same time as last year! This year’s events will foll= ow very closely the events of recent years although I have not been able to ad= d a wildlife program as in recent years. I am still working to fill those two spots in the program, but the r= est appears to be ready to go. Pl= ease join us to help out with events and to simple enjoy the activities. This event is co-sponsored by Warioto Audubon, the Clarksville Chapter of Tennessee Trails Association and Tennessee Wildlife Agency’s Non-game Program.<= span style=3D'color:blue'>

all activiti= es begin at the visitor center and are free= of charge.

some programs may overlap times; event will be held rain or shine.

Children m= ust be supervised by an adult.

7:00-8:30 am – Early Morning Bi= rd Hike = &nb= sp; =

Hike the trails at the park; watch and identify birds with members of the Warioto Audu= bon Chapter. Bring binoculars and= field guides if you have them.

8:45-9:45 am – Backpacking with= JR Tate and Tennessee Trail Assoc.=

JR “Model T” Tate, a long-distance hiker (including the multiple tips on the Appalachian Trail),= will demonstrate the needed equipment for backpacking, day hiking and camping.

8:45-9:45 am – Bluebirds in your Backyard

Duane Rice, local Audubon Society leader = and bluebird expert will talk about how to host Eastern Bluebirds around your h= ome and property.

9:45-11:15 am – Wildflower/Plant Walk

Amy Wallace, the park’s naturalist, will lead you on a hike to appreciate the abundant wild flowers & other plants found on the park.

10:= 00-11:00 am – Raptors with SOAR, Inc.

Save Our American Raptors will give an educational program showing various birds of prey. They will tell about each bird and its personal history, descri= be its species and how it fits into the natural world. Several of the bi= rds are flighted which should make for some lively audience encounters.

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11:15 am-12:15 pm – Snakes and Reptiles      &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;          =

Reptiliacs Sherry & Donny Ho= well and Logan Snyder show you native and exotic snakes and other reptiles. Learn why these gentle creatures a= re so important to our ecology as well as the techniques and responsibilities of keeping them as pets.

12:30-1:30 pm – Native Amphibians and Reptile

Nathan Park= er, APSU naturalist, will present a fascinating program on some of our local na= tive salamanders, frogs and snakes.

12:30-1:30 pm – Raptors with SOAR, Inc.

Save Our American Raptors will provide an educational program showi= ng a various birds of prey (repeat of 10:00 a.m. program).

1:45-2:45 pm – Snakes and Repti= les         &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;

Sherry and Donny Howell and Logan Snyder, local reptile experts, show you native and exotic snakes and other reptiles.

1:45-2:45 pm – Native Amphibians and Reptile

Nathan Park= er, APSU naturalist, will present a fascinating program on some of our local na= tive salamanders, frogs and snakes.

2:45-3:45 pm – Trail Hike with Suva Bastin=

Suva Bastin, = member of Clarksville’s Tennessee Trails Association, will lead us on a hike on the park’s trails.   She can provide valuable pointers for day-hiking in our region.

2:45-4:45 pm – Canoeing        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;

Under the experienced guidance of local canoeing experts, enjoy beautiful Swan Lake and Dunbar Cave State Natural Area from a canoe. Canoes, paddle and life jackets provided.

For More Information Contact: Steve & Debbie Hamilton, 645-8= 092 or David Boen, 648-5115