OFF THE BEAT= EN PATH
Friends of Dunbar Cave Newsletter	APRIL 2008

UPCOMING MEETIN= G:

THURSDAY APRIL 17^T=
H, AT 6:00 PM, DUNBAR CAVE STATE NATURAL AREA VISITOR CENTER. =

NEWs from dunbar cave:

Spring is here! Our wildflowers are a bit later to= bloom than they were last year. Our= Barn Swallows returned on March 25^th. Some birds are arriving for the summer, some have been here for the winter and will be leaving soon. We saw our first Blue-gray Gnatcatcher of the year on March 27^th, also a Brown Creeper that has not yet left. Our pair of Gadwalls is still here as of April 1^st. We had three Blue-winged Tea= l (two male, one female) visit the lake on the 27^thof March as well.

&= nbsp; The beavers have been active – we know this partly because two recently m= et their demise on Dunbar Cav= e Road, unfortunately. Be careful whe= n you drive by – you never know what might be out there.

We have received several applications for our vacant Clerk position, and hope to have it fil= led soon. In the meantime, Connie Crenshaw, the Middle Tennessee Regional Administrative Services Assistant, = is working in the office three days a week and helping with paying bills, bank deposits, answering the phone – all the fun stuff! Stop in and see her wh= en you come to the park.

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Next month’s meeting:

THURSDAY, MAY 15^th AT 6PM, DUNBAR CAVE STATE NATURAL AREA VISITOR CENTER.<= /span>

UPCOMING Events= :

"Dunbar Cave: A Change of Seasons" by Greg Williamson will run April 24 through June= 29 in Heritage Hall at the Customs House Museum.

Spring Fling, Saturday, April 26^th.

Save the date! May 17!

     =
            &nb=
sp;  Dunbar and TWRA  (Po=
lly Rooker and Susan Lanier) are hosting our third annual=
 birding workshop this May.  S=
everal of the Friends have participated in the last two, and we would love =
to have any of the Friends of Dunbar Cave involved this year.  It is always a lot of fun. Here is the inf=
ormation-

     =
            &nb=
sp;  Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and Dunbar Cave State Natural Area present our "Be=
yond BOW Birding Workshop" Saturday, May 17 from 9 am to 3 pm.  For ages 18 and older.  This is part of the Becoming an Outdoors W=
oman program, but we won't discriminate against any men who want to partici=
pate.  Learn to identify birds=
 by sight and sound, take a bird walk through a variety of habitats, see a =
bird banding demonstration, and learn about backyard bird habitat basics.  Fee is $20, which goes to Dunbar Cave to be used for educational m=
aterials.  Lunch is included i=
n the fee.  In the past, parti=
cipants have received educational materials and freebies such as T-shirts, =
mugs, bird call CD's, Birds of ennessee laminated i.d. f=
olders, and other items.  Stop=
 by the Visitor Center and pick up a registration =
form, or call 931-648-5526 or e-mail amy.wallace@state.tn.us if you =
would like to be mailed a form.  Call Don Hosse of TWRA at (615)781-6541 if you have any questi=
ons.  <=
/o:p>

MEETING NOTES:<= /span>

Members prese= nt &= nbsp;

Minutes approved for February:

Budget Report:&n= bsp; $23,610.00 &= nbsp; &nbs= p;

&nbs= p; &= nbsp;

Treasurer: Ron Hunter.

Current Business

All the mulch on the dam needs to be finished.

Spring Fling poster/schedule

New business

Building a shed, so we won’t have to pay for sto= rage

Spring Fling

at Dunbar Cave State Park, Saturda= y, April 26, 2008

Tennessee Trails Association Tenn= essee Wildlife Resources Agency

all activities begin at the visitor center and are free of charge.

some programs may overlap times; event will be he= ld rain or shine.

Child= ren must be supervised by an adult.

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

Hike the trails = at the park; watch and identify birds with members of the War= ioto Audubon Chapter. Bring binocu= lars and field guides if you have them. <= /span>

8:45-9:45 am – Backpacking with Tennessee Trail Association

Merri Hinton, an experienced backpacker and long-distance hiker, will demonstrate= the needed equipment for backpacking, day hiking and camping.

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

Duane Rice, local Audubon So= ciety leader and bluebird expert will talk about how to host Eastern Bluebirds ar= ound your home 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 in the park.

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

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

11:15 am-12:15 pm –<= /span> Native Amphibians and Rept= ile

Nathan Parker, APSU naturali= st, will present a program on some of our local native salamanders, frogs and snakes= .

12:30-1:30 pm – Urban Wildlife

Walden’s Puddle will discuss some of the animals that you will find living in your town or community. Live animals will be displayed.

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

Save = Our American Raptors will provide an educational program showing a various bird= s of prey.

1:45-2:45 pm – Snakes and Reptiles &= nbsp;

Sherry and Donny Howell, local reptile experts, show you native and exotic snakes and other reptiles. Learn why these gentle creatures a= re so important to our ecology.

1:45-2:45 pm – Urban Wildlife

Walden’s Puddle will discuss some of the animals that you will find living in your town or community.

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

Suva Bastin, member of Clarksville<= /st1:place>’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; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp;

Enjoy the beauty of Swan Lake and Dunbar Cave State Natural Area from a canoe. Canoes, paddle and life jackets pr= ovided for brief excursions on the lake.

For More Information Contact: David Boen, 648-5115

Sponsored by: Friends of = Dunbar Cave Warioto Audubon Chapter

Tennessee Trails Association Tenn= essee Wildlife Resources Agency

Child= ren must be supervised by an adult.