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HomeArts/LeisureDunbar Cave's Spring Fling Schedule Announced

Dunbar Cave’s Spring Fling Schedule Announced

Dunbar Cave State Natural AreaClarksville, TN – The Friends of Dunbar Cave have finalized the schedule for this year’s Spring Fling slated to take place rain or shine on Saturday, May 4th.

Come out and enjoy a day of free, family fun.  A bird hikes with the Warioto Audubon  Society, wild flower hike led by APSU botanist Rob Shepard and a trail hike led by Suva Batsin from our local chapter of the Tennessee Trails Association.

Reptiliacs at Dunbar Cave's Spring Fling
Reptiliacs at Dunbar Cave’s Spring Fling

See a wide variety of raptors up close and overhead with the educational program put on by SOAR (Save Our American Raptors.)  See reptiles up close with APSU Biologist Micheal Fulbright discussing native fish, salamanders, frogs and snakes.  Crowd favorite, Sherry and Donny Howell, are local reptile experts that always draw a crowd with their exotic and native snakes.

As always, the Spring Fling is the only opportunity the public has to canoe the lake.  Get their early to sign up for this once a year opportunity.

Spring Fling – Dunbar Cave State Park

Saturday, May 4th, 2013

Sponsored by: Friends of Dunbar Cave, Warioto Audubon Chapter, Tennessee Trails Association, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and Tennessee State Parks

All Activities Begin at the Visitor Center and are Free of Charge.

Event Will be Held Rain or Shine
Children must be supervised by an adult.

Spring Fling Event Schedule
8:15am-9:30am – Morning Bird Watching Hike
Hike the trails at the park; watch & identify birds with members of Warioto Audubon Chapter. Bring binoculars & field guides if you have them.(NOTE: This program overlaps with the Wildflower/Plant Walk)
8:45am-10:15am – Wildflower/Plant Walk
Austin Peay State University botanist Rob Shepard will lead you on a hike to appreciate the abundant wild flowers & other plants found in the park.(NOTE: This program overlaps with the 1st raptor program, but there is a 2nd)
10:00am-10:50am – Raptors with Wings to Soar
Wings to Soar (formerly SOAR) will give an educational program showing various native birds of prey. They will tell about each bird & its personal history, describe its species & how it fits into the natural world. Several of the birds are flighted which should make for some lively audience encounters.(Program repeated at 12:40pm)
11:00am-11:45am – Cold-blooded Critters
Michael Fulbright, APSU biologist, talks about & shows some local native fishes, salamanders, frogs and snakes.
11:45am-12:30pm – Urban Wildlife
Carolyn Pendarvis from Walden’s Puddle Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Center will discuss some of the animals that you will find living in town. Live animals commonly found in urban settings will be displayed.(Will be cancelled if weather is rainy.)
12:40pm-1:30pm – Raptors with SOAR, Inc.
Save Our American Raptors will provide an educational program showing various birds of prey.
1:45pm-2:35pm – Snakes and Reptiles
Sherry & Donny Howell, local reptile experts, & their Reptiliac friends show you native & exotic snakes & other reptiles. Learn why these gentle creatures are so important to our ecology.
2:45pm-3:45pm – 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.
2:45pm-4:45 pm – Canoeing
Enjoy the beauty of Swan Lake and Dunbar Cave State Natural Area from a canoe. Canoes, paddle and life jackets provided for brief excursions on the lake. Sign-up will begin earlier in the day.

 

Exhibits and Demonstrations
Backpacking with Tennessee Trail Association (TTA)
Clarksville Chapter of TTA will demonstrate needed equipment for backpacking, day hiking and camping.
Bats and White-nose Syndrome
Researchers from Austin Peay State University will discuss issues of bats, caves and the White-nose Syndrome.
Birds in Your Backyard
This TWRA-sponsored exhibit covers how to make your place friendly to birds and other wildlife.
Renewable Energy
Students Organization to Advance Renewable Energy from Austin Peay State University will discuss and demonstrate ways to conserve energy and employ renewable sources of energy.

 

The Friends of Dunbar Cave is a non-profit dedicated to preserving and protecting the park while enhancing park visitor’s experience.  If you use the park, we could use you.  A membership booth will be set up so you can join up a fast growing and active community group.

Spring Fling 2013 flyer

For additional information see the following websites

www.dunbarcave.org

http://www.soarsouth.org/Home.html

Blayne Clements
Blayne Clements
I am a 30 something graduate from Austin Peay State University, where I graduated in 1997 with two majors (Accounting and Finance). I am a very happily married man, with one beautiful daughter. I enjoy a professional life of public service and a personal life of travel, reading, music, and always trying to learn from others.
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