wakulla wildlife festival 2009

A Resource Guide produced by

The Wakulla News

InsIde • Informational Articles, Photo Contest Winners

• Schedule of Events

• List of Sponsors

2009 Wakulla Wildlife Festival

Wakulla SpringsApril 2 – 4

Photo By Frank Thornton

W-THE WAKULLA NEWS Wakulla Wildlife Festival Thursday, March 12, 2009

Art on the Terrace is slatedOne of the great social events of the

Festival is the Wildlife Art Grand Opening to be held on Friday , April 3 from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

The Wakulla Springs Lodge welcomes both local visitors and guests from around the nation who appreciate the fine work of our regional artisans. Shell carvings, oil and watercolor paintings, photo art, historic and contemporary clay sculpture and more art work tempt those in attendance to bring a piece of the natural beauty of the area home.

The beguiling jazz of Sammy Tedder will fill the lodge with the musical expression of the festival’s mission. His contemplative Native American flute or soulful sax often mixes with the eclectic voices of the night wilderness. It is a haunting reminder of the

quality of life enjoyed in a region touted as “The Natural Place to Be.”

The silent auction is a favorite way to sup-port the Wakulla Wildlife Festival. It’s also a great way to view samples of the artist’s work and acquire fine art at a consumer de-termined value. Bidding begins at 6:30 p.m. and ends at 9:10 p.m. Winners are welcome to claim their prizes at the end of bidding.

Complementary hors d’ oeuvres and wine punctuate an evening enhanced with fine food designed to tempt the palette. A classic buffet dinner in the Ball Room Restaurant will be available at regular prices and with the ease of reservations made to 926-0700.

Continue to enjoy the Wildlife Art Show on Saturday, April 4 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Normal park entrance fees will apply.

Living history demonstrationsStep back into the not so distant past to

engage the hard working folks of the Big Bend as they labor to live off this bountiful land. You’ll see Native American needle bas-kets constructed by Donna Staryak from St. Andrews State Park. Linda Durat Thompson from Crawfordville spins cotton, wool, and silk into yarn that can be used for weaving. Cecil Lewis, from Wakulla Springs, executes the art of a blacksmith, a tradition handed down from his father.

Using tools and techniques familiar to ancient peoples, Tom Lightsey, a flintknapper of 20 years from Crawfordville, will create and display arrowheads, knife blades, and spear points he has fashioned. Join Joseph Mitchell of St. Joseph State Park as he reenacts moon-shining skills from the 1800s. Allow “U.S. sol-diers” Kevin Patton and Mark Rominger to take you back to the drama of the Seminole Wars. Your $4 vehicle admission to the park will allow you to touch the past at no additional fee.

By KEITH [email protected]

We hope that you enjoy the annual Wakulla Wildlife Festival at Wakulla Springs State Park and many other locations through-out the region Thursday, April 2 through Saturday, April 4.

Wakulla County is fortunate to have a diverse environment which draws many different species of wildlife. We hope that you take advantage of the guided tours, demonstrations, art displays, free shows and

entertanment being presented.Get involved and meet the artists and

guides who call our area home. In addition to The Wakulla News photography contest winners that appear on Pages 6W and 7W, the photographs that are sprinkled through-out this publications were taken by wildlife photograher and Wakulla County educator Frank Thornton.Keith Blackmar is Editor of The Wakulla News, one of several corporate sponsors for this event.

Enjoy our Wildlife Festival

Frank Thornton captured a snapshot of the harder to see wildlife at the springs.

MEMBER FDIC

Wildlife Festival Sponsors

Wakulla.com

Thursday, March 12, 2009 Wakulla Wildlife Festival THE WAKULLA NEWS-W

Descriptions of Premium Guided ToursSpace is limited on many tours, so pre-regis-

tration is required. The cost for premium tours is per person.

It is important to consider travel time be-tween locations when planning your day!

Most Thursday and Friday events are in southern Wakulla County, but there is one activ-ity at Wakulla Springs Thursday night; and four activities at Wakulla Springs Friday night.

Saturday events are at Wakulla Springs State Park including its River Sinks Tract.

Thursday, April 2. 8:30-10 a.m. #1 Bird Watching at Bald Point

State Park - Bald Point is strategically located at the mouth of Ochlockonee Bay. Geographically it is the first landfall for thousands of trans-gulf migrants as they wing their way north. In the right weather circumstances, Bald Point can be covered with birds! Let Alan Knothe of the Apalachicola National Estuarine Reserve open your eyes to the magnificence of migrants! Meet at Bald Point (go through the Bald Point State Park entrance gate and drive to the end of the Bald Point Road). $15 Pre-registration required.

9–1 p.m. #2 Coastal Boat Excursion – Goose Creek Bay – Explore salt marsh, oyster flats, coastal islands, confederate salt works and more in and around Shell Point, Live Oak Island, and Patty’s Island with expert fishing guide and Certified Green Guide Capt. Jody Campbell. (USCG Licensed). See birds, other wildlife and spectacular, unspoiled coastal vistas. $60 per person includes transportation, safety equipment and guide. Bring a box lunch and sun protection. Meet at 34 Connie Drive, Shell Point. Call 926-1173 for directions. $60 Pre-registration required.

9-10:30 a.m. #3 White Squirrels of Ochlock-onee River State Park - Where did they come from? Why are they white? Are they dying out? Let Park Ranger Linda Trice infect you with her love for these beautiful members of

the park’s ecosystem. Bring a camera, you’ll want pictures! Meet at picnic area parking lot, Ochlockonee River State Park, 429 State Park Road (Off Highway 319, 4 miles south of Sopchoppy). 962-2771.$10 Pre-registration required.

1–5 p.m. #4 Wakulla River Guided Canoe/Kayak Tour with TNT Canoe Rentals - Explore the middle section of the Wakulla River with Certified Green Guide and paddle expert Rob-ert Baker. Observe alligators, Suwannee cooters, wading birds and waterfowl, migrating spring warblers and more. Price includes kayak or ca-noe and gear, transportation, and guide. Bring drinking water and sun and bug protection. Meet at T-n-T Hideaway, 6527 Coastal Highway. Call 925-6412 for directions. $45 Pre-registration required.

3-5 p.m. #5 General Photography Session - Mystified by how you can get the most out of your new digital camera? Spend time with Barney Parker, retired FSU biology instructor and nature photographer. “In addition to learn-ing a little natural history, you will learn 10 tips to improve your photography.” Meet at the St. Marks Refuge Visitor Center, 1255 Lighthouse Road; call the Refuge at 925-6121 for detailed directions. $15 Pre-registration required.

6-8 p.m. #6 Red-cockaded Woodpecker & “Gopher-Cam” Tour- Experience a Longleaf Pine Grassland. Peer into a gopher tortoise burrow with “gopher-cam”. Listen for the very melodi-ous song of the longleaf grassland-dependent Bachman’s sparrow. Best of all; observe the red-cockaded woodpeckers return to their cavities for the evening in their fire forest habitat. Meet at the Otter Lake in Panacea. Call the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge at 925-6121 for detailed directions. $15 Pre-registration required.

6:30-8:30 p.m. #7 Lighthouse Twilight Tour and Wildlife Observation - Tour the 175-year-old St. Mark’s Lighthouse at sunset with ranger historian Andrew Edel as he explains some of

the colorful history of the historic landmark. He will detail construction, layout and history of the lighthouse and the lighthouse keepers that lived there. Meet at the St. Marks Refuge Visitor Center, 1255 Lighthouse Road. Call the Refuge at 925-6121 for detailed directions. $15 Pre-registration required.

7–8:30 p.m. #8 Beautiful Bats! Bats are wonders of the animal kingdom. Join Cyn-thia Marks from the Florida Bat Conservancy as she introduces you to these indispensable creatures of the night. Get past the scary folklore and discover how you can encourage these voracious insect eaters to make your yard their habitat. Get a close up view of one of these furry denizens of the night. Meet in the pavilion at Wakulla Springs State Park. $10 Pre-registration required.

Friday, April 3. 9–1:00 p.m. #9 Coastal Boat Excursion

– Apalachee Bay – Explore salt marsh, oyster flats, coastal islands, confederate salt works and more in and around Shell Point, Live Oak Island, and Patty’s Island with expert fishing guide and Certified Green Guide Capt. Jody Campbell. (USCG Licensed). See birds, other wildlife and spectacular, unspoiled coastal vistas. $55 per person includes transportation,

safety equipment and guide. Bring a box lunch and sun protection. Meet at 34 Connie Drive, Shell Point. Call 926-1173 for directions. $60 Pre-registration required.

9-11 a.m. #10 Refuge Bird & Wildlife Tour - Enjoy a naturalist-led tour of the St. Marks Ref-uge. Join your guide for a “behind the scenes” tour of the woods, marshes and pools of the St Marks Refuge. Enjoy all the beauty that spring has to offer on one of the nation’s oldest and most diverse National Wildlife Refuges. Meet at the Refuge Visitor Center, 1255 Lighthouse Road. Call the Refuge at 925-6121 for directions. $15 Pre-registration required.

9-noon #11 Herper Heaven! - Herper Heaven! If you’re a reptile and amphibian enthusiast (herper) this tour is a must! Embark on a fas-cinating trip to discover reptiles and amphib-ians in ephemeral ponds. Lots of wading and dip-netting. Bring water, snack, hat, sunscreen, towel, and shoes that can get wet. Dress to be outside regardless of weather. A camera would be magical! Meet at the north end of Publix parking lot on the corner of Capital Circle and US 319 South, where we will carpool for short trip into nearby Apalachicola National Forest. $15 pre-registration required.

Continued on Page 4W

Suwannee Cooter enjoys his perch above the waters of Wakulla Springs.

Located On Scenic Hwy. 98/Coastal Hwy.30 Miles South of Tallahassee

Approx. 10 Miles From Beautiful Wakulla Springs, Beach, Rivers & Short Drive to Wildlife Refuge

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www.wakullainnhotel.comEach Best Western Hotel is Independently Owned & Operated

AAA/AARP/Corporate Rates

850-926-37373292 Coastal Hwy., Crawfordville FL

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R

Special Rates for

• Wakulla Wildlife Festival• Big Bend Green Living Energy Expo & Education Fair

Premium Guided Tours


Continued from Page 3W9–1 p.m. #12 Wakulla River Guided Canoe/

Kayak Tour with TNT Canoe Rentals -Wakulla River Guided Canoe/Kayak Tour with TNT Ca-noe Rentals Explore the middle section of the Wakulla River with Certified Green Guide and paddle expert Robert Baker. This is the same tour offered on Thursday in a serene but subtly dynamic environment. Meet at T-n-T Canoe Rentals. Call 925-6412 for directions. $45 Pre-registration required.

Noon–4 p.m. #13 Glass Bottom Kayak Tour of the Wakulla River - Experience the under-water world of the Wakulla River without even getting wet! Join Green Guide Kent Mayer of Wilderness Coast Ltd. on a glass bottom Kayak tour of the spectacular and usually clear spring-fed water of the Wakulla River. You may encounter manatees, schools of mullet and aquatic turtles as you peer through the glass bottom of your kayak. Don’t miss this rare opportunity! Meet at T-n-T Canoe Rentals. Call 925-6412 for directions. $45 Pre-registra-tion required.

1-4:30 p.m. #14 Shepherd Spring & Cathe-dral of Palms Botanical Hike with renowned FSU botanist Dr. Loran Anderson - Hidden deep in the hardwood forest of the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge lays a jewel among freshwater springs. Along the Florida Trail leading to Shepherd Spring, journey through a surreal land of old-growth cabbage palms-- truly nature’s cathedral! Meet at the Inn at Wildwood. Call 926-4455 for directions. $15 Pre-registration required.

3-5 p.m. #15 Gulf Coast Marine Lab and Coastal Exploration Tour --Pack up your seines and hiking boots for a trip to the nearby marsh. A marine biologist will collect jellyfish, grass shrimp and the juvenile stages of mul-let and blue crabs. Participants are welcome to engage in pulling the nets. Be introduced to the vital role of marshes as nursery habitat and be amazed by the rich diversity of life along the Big Bend’s coast. Meet Gulf Speci-men Marine Lab in Panacea. Call 984-5297 for directions. $17 Pre-registration required.

5-7:30 p.m. #16 Evening Light Photogra-

phy Tour—Join photographer, naturalist and author Doug Alderson as you explore the use of late afternoon light in nature photography. Glide down the Wakulla River in a tour boat to use this remarkable setting and its nearby wildlife as subjects with which to practice newly developed skills. Be sure to bring your camera to be able to join in the fun! Meet in the pavilion at Wakulla Springs State Park. $15 Pre-registration required.

6-8 p.m. #17 Endangered Species Experi-ence Join Chuck Hess (biologist with the Apalachicola National Forest) on a quest to band red-cockaded woodpeckers in the longleaf pine ecosystem north of Woodville. A great opportunity for a unique adventure as you check this rare bird off your life list! Meet at the north end of Publix parking lot on the corner of Capital Circle and US 319 S. $15 Pre-registration required.

7-9 p.m. #18 Spiders Up Close and in the Dark - Spiders are fascinating, and the webs they weave are incredible in architecture, engineering and design. Join Spider expert Dave Gowan for a detailed presentation about our spiders and go out in the dark to actually find them. Bring a flashlight or headlamp for each person, any spiders from home you’d like identified and a clear plastic container with lid. Presentation begins in the pavilion at Wakulla Springs State Park. $10 Pre-registra-tion required.

7:30-9 p.m. #19 Owl Prowl- Join Marvin Collins of Apalachee Audubon, to get to know owls and night birds. After a brief introduction to the natural histories of the various species of owls and nightjars in our area, take a short journey around the lodge to call in and observe the owls present. Meet in the Ed Ball Room on the second floor of the Wakulla Springs Lodge. $10 Pre-registra-tion required.

8-9:30 p.m. #20 Sounds of the Night - Wakulla River Boat Tour - A unique op-portunity to join FPS Biologist Dana Bryan as you voyage the Wakulla River on a rare night cruise. Give ear to the night’s symphony which may include frogs, toads, cicadas, owls,

and perhaps even a gator bellow. Shine for bright red gator eyes. Bring bug repellent and a strong flashlight. Meet at Wakulla Springs State Park, waterfront building at the boat docks. $15 Pre-registration required.

Saturday, April 4.

7-8:30 a.m. #21 Sunrise Serenity Cruise - Join FPS Biologist Dana Bryan on a dawn Wakulla Springs boat tour. A new moon rises 30 minutes before the sun. Savor the tranquility as the early morning light awak-ens the songsters, waders, and divers of the river. Meet at the Wakulla Springs State Park, waterfront building at the boat docks. $15 Pre-registration required.

8:30-9:30 a.m. #22 Songbird Tour - Wakulla Springs is a Mecca for returning songbirds. Join an experienced guide from Apalachee Audu-bon to meet the new spring arrivals. Meet at the Tour Headquarters, Wakulla Springs State Park. $5 Pre-registration required

8:45-10:45 a.m. #23 River Road Neo-tropical Birding Tour - Enter an untouched old growth southern forest with birder Robert Henderson. He will guide a small group of birders on a two-hour trip along the River Road which is accessible only on guided tours. The group will look for those hard to find species typi-cally found in this extraordinary environment. This will be a special opportunity. Space is limited so sign up early. Meet at the Tour Headquarters, Wakulla Springs State Park. $15 Pre-registration required.

9-11:30 a.m. #24 “Liquid Gems” —The Sinks of the Wakulla - Explore the unique geologi-cal wonderland of northern Wakulla county.

Follow Cal Jamison, DEP’s Springs Ambassa-dor, on an unforgettable journey to explore the beautiful sinks that are so special to this area. The tour will begin at the River Sink parking lot and take you across the Wakulla Springs recharge area. Visit an area where few eyes have seen and discover how these “windows” on the aquifer impact our lives. Meet in the parking lot of the River Sinks Tract just south of the Leon/Wakulla County line at the southeast corner of U.S. Highway 319 and C.J. Spears Road (go through open gate 100 feet on dirt road to gravel parking lot).$15 Pre-registration required.

9:30 a.m.-noon #25 Nature Photography Class/Boat Photo Tour - This workshop looks at different types of camera equipment and accessories, but the main focus is on devel-oping a “photographic eye.” Bring some of your photos for “show and tell,” either in print form or in a format for showing with a PowerPoint projector (five maximum). View slides, judge winning photos, and embark on a slower than usual Wakulla River boat cruise to take some of your own photographs. Bring any type of camera, but you’ll have more fun with a zoom or telephoto lens. Workshop leaders are Lou and Betsy Kellenberger. Meet upstairs in the ball room in the Wakulla Lodge, Wakulla Springs State Park. $15 Pre-registration required.

10-11 a.m. #26 Songbird Tour - Songbird Tour Same as the 8:30-9:30 a.m. Birding Tour. Meet at the Tour Headquarters, Wakulla Springs State Park. $5 Pre-registration re-quired.

Continued on Page 5W

Wakulla Springs Anhinga spears a meal in the waters of the state park.

Wildlife photographs that appear in the Wakulla Wildlife Festival special section were shot at Wakulla Springs State Park by Wakulla County educator Frank Thornton. The cover photo was also taken by Thorn-

ton. The photographs that appear on Pages 6W and 7W were submitted as part of The Wakulla News photography contest. Those photographs were the top submissions in the contest. -Editor.

Photographs by Frank Thornton


Premium Guided ToursContinued from Page 4W

10 a.m.-noon #27 Champion Tree and Plant Tour - Van and walking tour - Go where few people get a chance to explore. Enter this mature hardwood hammock in normally off-limits areas of the park with Master Wildlife Conservationists George Apthorp and Connie Bersok. Be impressed by the giants. Many of the trees you see will be either the challengers or the champions for their species in the State of Florida. Meet

at the Tour Headquarters, Wakulla Springs State Park. $10 Pre-registration required

11-12:30 p.m. #28 Butterflies of Wakulla Springs -- Butterflies are more than just part of the landscape at Wakulla Springs. They and their caterpillars are locked in a life and death drama everyday. Join Dean and Sally Jue, butterfly experts extraordinaire, as they introduce you to these remarkable ambassadors of the insect kingdom. Bring a camera and binoculars to make the most

of your opportunities. Meet at the Tour Headquarters, Wakulla Springs State Park. $10 Pre-registration required

12:30-1:30 p.m. #29 Medicinal Plant Tour - Walk with a Park Ranger into the woods of Wakulla Springs State Park to discover plants with healing properties. Learn the lore of the past along with the understandings of the present as you seek out and distinguish these soothing members of the forest com-munity. Meet at the Tour Headquarters,

Wakulla Springs State Park. $5 Pre-registra-tion required.

1-3 p.m. #30 Champion Tree and Plant Tour - Van and walking tour - Enjoy another opportunity to visit the giants in the heart of the park’s sanctuary. Visit the site of an old Indian mound few have ever seen. This tour is the same as the one offered at 10 a.m. Meet at the Tour Headquarters, Wakulla Springs State Park. $10 Pre-registra-tion required.

Wood ducklings begin to learn their way around Wakulla Springs.

Adult wood ducks keep their eyes on their surroundings.Workshops

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For more information visit www.greenlivingenergyexpo.com or www.sustainablebigbend.org.

Co-sponsored by:

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Saturday, March 21, 20099:00 A.M. – 4:00 P.M.Riversprings Middle School, 800 Spring Creek Highway, Crawfordville, FL 32327 in Wakulla County

FREEAdmission!

W - The Wakulla News Wakulla Wildlife Festival Thursday, March 12, 2009

Congratulations Winners!!!of The Wakulla News’ 2009 Wakulla Wildlife Photography Contest.

All entries will be on display at the Wakulla Springs Lodge during the festival and in a slideshow on our website: www.thewakullanews.com

Photographer Shannon Mills

Photographer Lee McHugh

Photographer Natalie Whaley (Age 4)

MEMBER FDICProud Supporter of

The 2009 Wakulla Wildlife Festival

Thursday, March 12, 2009 Wakulla Wildlife Festival The Wakulla News - W

Congratulations Winners!!!of The Wakulla News’ 2009 Wakulla Wildlife Photography Contest.

All entries will be on display at the Wakulla Springs Lodge during the festival and in a slideshow on our website: www.thewakullanews.com

Honorable Mention

Photographer Lee McHugh

Photographer Ron Piasecki

Photographer JoAnn Palmer

MEMBER FDICProud Supporter of

The 2009 Wakulla Wildlife Festival


‘Edutainment’ and free activities set Saturday, April 4• 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Bird Banding Encoun-

ter - Come and go as you please during this two and a half hour event to gather informa-tion on some of the songbirds at Wakulla Springs. Meet Jim Cox with Tall Timbers Research Station as he demonstrates bird banding and the information that can only be gathered with a bird in the hand. Get up close and personal with winged wonders and learn how bird banding has unveiled the mys-teries of migration and survival in the avian realm. Meet behind the concession building at Wakulla Springs State Park.

• 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. “Flying Flowers” of the Florida Panhandle - Get to know the common butterflies that thrive in the Florida Panhan-dle. Let Bill Boothe, a local naturalist, writer,

wildlife photographer, and president of the North American Butterfly Association, open your eyes to the joy of inviting these “flying flowers” to your back yard. Meet in pavilion building, Wakulla Springs State Park.

• 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Reptile/Amphib-ian Show – Join Steve Hein and Clint Collins of the Center for Wildlife Education, Georgia Southern University, for an exciting show. Be mesmerized as you discover the mysterious vital role snakes and lizards play in our world. Observe the reptile experts as they handle both native and exotic species. Participate in a hands-on reptile encounter! You can also witness various creepy crawlers, such as giant hissing cockroaches and centipedes! Meet in the outdoor amphitheatre by the picnic area

in Wakulla Springs State Park.• 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Trumpets in Your

Garden - Create a spectacle in your garden with the trumpet –shaped leaves of pitcher plants which are native to North Florida. Let local expert and propagator Jimmy Bone open your eyes to the stunning color and fascinat-ing natural history of these easy-to-grow natural wonders. He’ll also introduce you to the lovely dew-drop laced leaves of sundews and the eloquent snare of the venus flytrap. Discover how easy it is to add these unusual and spectacular plants to your garden. Meet in pavilion building, Wakulla Springs State Park.

• 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Birds of Prey/Rap-tor Show - Steve Hein and Clint Collins of the Center for Wildlife Education, Georgia South-ern University, bring their expertise to the Park to perform fascinating flight demonstra-tions of various raptors. Eagles, hawks and owls swoop overhead while Steve and David present predator/prey relations and raptors as indicators of environmental health. There will be considerable audience participation as they offer opportunities to get up close and personal with their feathered ambassadors. Meet in the outdoor amphitheatre by the picnic area in Wakulla Springs State Park.

• 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Reptile/Amphibian Show - Steve Hein and Clint Collins of the Center for Wildlife Education, Georgia Southern Uni-versity, return for a second show, same as the 10:30 a.m. presentation above.

• 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Birding in Your Backyard - Turn your backyard into a vibrant habitat for wildlife. Use the techniques offered

to choose the wildlife you would like to invite into your backyard. Apalachee Audubon will cover feeding and watering stations, nesting boxes and habitat enrichment. Meet at the pa-vilion building, Wakulla Springs State Park.

• 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. The Waku l l a Springs Cave System - Casey McKinlay, Project Director of the Woodville Karst Plain Project covers the ongoing exploration and research within the watery caves hundreds of feet beneath us. Join project divers on a video excursion into a dangerous and hauntingly beautiful world as they work to explore and protect the longest submerged cave system in the United States. Meet at the pavilion building, Wakulla Springs State Park.

• 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Birds of Prey/Raptor Show - Steve Hein and Clint Collins of the Center for Wildlife Education at Georgia Southern repeat the raptor show. Same as 11:30 a.m. show above.

• 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. Mysterious Waters, Dis-covering Connections in the Woodville Karst Plain - Meet the expert, Dr. Todd Kincaid, as he shares our current understanding of the groundwater/surface water flow through the Woodville Karst Plain (our sinkhole and tun-nel-riddled limestone bedrock). He will pres-ent how groundwater tracing studies are be-ing used to identify the connections between surface water runoff and spring discharge. Water quality and quantity at Wakulla Springs and in the Floridan aquifer affect animal, plant and human life throughout Wakulla County and the Apalachee Bay. Ask questions and be informed. Meet at the pavilion building, Wakulla Springs State Park.

The wood duck appears to be keeping an eye on the alligator. Alligator warns park visitors not to come too close.


Meet the Artists at Wakulla Springs State Park• Grady Smith (www.creekcarver.com) has

long been moved from within to communicate his rich Native American heritage through the creation of resplendent shell carvings. The carvings take the form of gorgets, intended to be worn on a necklace. Each piece is unique. Its character is determined by the shell used and how it speaks to the artist. Often Grady’s work encompasses ancient Southeastern Native American symbols such as the spider or alliga-tor. His work has earned high praise having received many awards including Best of Show at the 2006 Thunderbird Intertribal Powwow.

• Carole Robertson ( www.robertsonar-tgallery.com) uses a very different medium to express her visions. She is a photo artist. Her goal is to do more than just capture an image on paper. Her vision moves her to find the moment, the design, and the light that expresses a positive emotional reaction. Her nature portraits are her first love. They are an effort to transport the viewer into the secret and private world of her subjects. Carole’s work can be found in magazine, book, and calendar print. She regularly attends juried art shows and has won numerous awards. • Win Conger is a self-taught artist born in Holland. She teaches art in her studio along the Coastal Highway in Crawfordville. She enjoys acrylic paintings, prints and miniatures. She has her work displayed at Posh in Sopchoppy, My Secret Garden and Art Warehouse in Craw-fordville. Win’s art in miniature and murals are enjoyed internationally and throughout the U.S. • When she was 10 years old, Judith Penning-ton discovered that she could turn a photo into a drawing. Since then, she has utilized her talent in “painting” with black and colored pencil. Her work has won first place ribbons at the North Florida Fair. Recently, she has enjoyed drawing the wildlife of Florida. Her love for the environment and especially those species at risk is conveyed in her much lauded work. • The unique 3-D mixed media work of Bruce Cook is rooted in rare and unusual materials from the natural world. His custom wooden artwork and decorative signs are often created from antique pine salvaged from the bottom of the Suwannee River. This old growth wood preserved by the water’s tannins was originally harvested in the Civil War era. Bruce incorpo-rates other materials such as glass, precious metals and exotic minerals into his imaginative creations. He makes every effort to use non-tox-ic stains and adhesives and protects his work with a remarkably beautiful and durable resin

finish. His creations are designed to last and re-main family heirlooms for generations to come. Bruce recently displayed his work at the Princ-eton Unversity Medical Center and for the NFL Players Association in Tampa. You can enjoy a preview of his work by visiting www.southern-artistry.org, search Florida and find Bruce Cook. • For James Callis, photographing Florida’s wildlife has become a recent joy. Many of his 35 mm or digital stills lend themselves to being printed on watercolor paper rather than the traditional photo paper. His creative choices offer yet another way to enjoy the wonders of Florida’s environment.

• Laura Schrier Coe turned to photography as her media of choice when her attempts to paint and draw resulted in variations on a theme of stick people and creatures. Inspired by artist Fay Sirkis, she was inspired to use her computer monitor and keyboard as her canvas. Her striking digital photographs take on new life as they are manipulated by Laura’s desire to enhance reality. Enter her world by visiting www.reality-enhanced.com.

• Maria Cobian is a Spanish teacher at SAIL High School and a dedicated volunteer for a cooperative of indigenous women from the Amazon of Ecuador in the Pastaza region. One hundred percent of the profits from the sale of the arts and crafts created by “Coop-erativa de mujeres amazonicas en defense de la ‘Allpamama’ ” represent an effort to establish an eco-sustainable income for their makers. In addition some of the funds raised are used to educate their people regarding the imminent threat of development and destruction of their way of life. Alternatives to development include reforestation and restoration of endangered plants to the region. Support of the cooperative’s indigenous art makes their work and way of life possible. • “Nature has always inspired and informed my work,” confesses Nancy Jefferson. Nancy began working in clay at the University of Kentucky, and furthered her studies at the Penland School of Crafts in Penland, N.C. and at Haystack in Deer Isle, Maine. With techniques that include high fire porcelain, raku (clay) and sawdust firings she strives to interpret the forms, colors, and textures of the environment. For 20 years, she owned a studio and gallery in the Florida Keys, but now lives, works, and learns in Wakulla County. Having recently be-come a Certified Green Guide, her experiences have given birth to new inspirations as she incorporates them into the spontaneous nature

of the clay with which she works. • Marty Haythorn (www.ancienthands.com)

has produced and taught pottery for more than 35 years. His interest in Native American pottery began in childhood as his parents trav-eled the Southwest. In the 1970s, he worked on creating museum-quality reproductions of Southeastern pre-Colombian pottery. His work now includes original pieces in the Southeast-ern tradition and an expanding collection of reproductions.

• Mark Atwater resides in rural Seminole County in Southwest Georgia where he has

lived for more than 20 years. His work as a botanist in wildlife habitat restoration and invasive plant management has provided him an abundance of opportunities to capture many unique and pristine properties in his photog-raphy. Mark’s unique perspective allows him to see and capture beauty which surrounds us all but which most scarcely notice. “God paints it and I just try to frame it,” he said. He has been an ardent photographer for more than 24 years since being introduced to photography in graduate school. See his work by visiting www.upclosenature.com.

Anhinga picks the perfect spot to dry off.


Adults and youths can enjoy festival togetherMore than 30 exhibitors expected to be part of festival

Interact with the more than 30 exhibitors who are the heart and soul of the Wakulla Wildlife Festival. Get to meet wildlife rehabilitators and some of the magnificent creatures in their care. Meet the members of local nature centers and museums. Let representatives of our public lands inform you of recreational opportunities and management responsibili-ties. All are friendly and sincerely helpful. Make the time to meet and greet them!

Children’s activities are a big part of the Wildlife Festival

Wildlife and a child’s curiosity are a natural combination. Besides the shows and ex-hibitors designed to captivate young minds, children can participate in a wildlife related game, crafts and/or face painting at the children’s table located among the exhibitors.

Youth Geocashe scavenger hunt set in the woods of park

Don’t miss the “Youth Geocache Scavenger Hunt” sponsored by the Get Outdoors Florida Coalition and St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge. Come by the photo club booth and sign out a GPS and document camera. You will begin a journey through the woods of Wakulla Springs searching and documenting clues, bio facts, and artifacts. The St. Marks Refuge Photo Club will print your favorite photo from the excursion.

Birds of prey and reptile shows have been popular

Join the Center for Wildlife Education, Georgia Southern University, for four exciting shows. Be mesmerized as you discover the mysterious vital role snakes and lizards play in our world. Eagles, hawks and owls swoop overhead while Steve and David present predator/prey relations and raptors as indicators of environmental health. There will be considerable audience participation.

Manatees have remained at Wakulla Springs all year.

Least Bittern pokes his head out of the natural growth at Wakulla Springs.

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Wakulla Wildlife Festival has something for everyoneArt on the Terrace Saturday, April 4

Wakulla Springs State ParkLocal wildlife and nature artists will

continue to exhibit their art throughout Saturday. Come in and enjoy the beauty of fine art including watercolors, photography, shell-carvings and more .

Toe Tapping Entertainment 10:30 a.m. Hot Pepper Steppers- Appalachian Clogging. 11:00 a.m. Pickin’ & Grinnin’- Bluegrass. 12 p.m. Scrub Oaks- Traditional Music. 1 p.m. Coon Bottom Creek- Bluegrass.2 p.m. Jonny Lipford- Native American Flute.

RegistrationNormal park admission fees allow access

to all of the Festival’s free activities.The $4 per vehicle Wakulla Springs State

Park admission fee on Saturday, April 4, includes access to Art on the Terrace, pre-sentations and exhibits, children’s activities, live bluegrass musicians and living history demonstrators.

Additional fees apply to Premium Guided Tours. Space is limited for these popular activities. Pre-registration is required by March 27. Popular tours will sell out far in advance. Please plan early and pre-register to avoid disappointment. Tour registration on the Saturday of the festival will only be available in the unlikely event tour spaces remain. Online Registration is preferred. Call Della Parker-Hanson (926-4293) to determine if your selections have space available. Your phone call will reserve your space. Please be prepared to provide credit card (MasterCard and Visa only please) information. Retain this pre-registration form with confirmed tours noted. You will receive verification of pre-registration and payment by mail. A Great Egret experiences liftoff at the Wakulla Springs State Park.

Wakulla Springs is home to soft shell turtles.

Kayak Fishing TripsManatee Observation Trips

Full Moon TripsKayak Instructions

Visit our website for a list of our tours at www.tnthideaway.com

T~n~T Hide-A-Way, Inc.Canoe and Kayak Rentals & Sales

6527 Coastal Hwy. Crawfordville, FL 32327 at the bridge Wakulla River and Hwy 98

850-925-6412

Great Clothing • Great GiftsNow… Great in Store Specialsand

Holly Harbison, Owner • (850) 926-62411616 Crawfordville Hwy., Suite B Crwfordville, FL 32327

850-925-1100483 Port Leon Dr.

St. Marks, FL 32355

®

Ron McKaye, Owner

Open: Monday - Saturday 10AM - 6PM

www.StMarine.com

Wakulla Wildlife Festival special room ratesCall 850-926-4455 and mention this add

Get a room for $69.00 plus taxAll day Tuesday and Thursday and Saturday after 1pm

unlimited golf with cart $20.00. Call 926-4653 for tee times

Wildwood Resort “where nature takes its course”


Big Bend Paddlesport OutfitterKayak Rental • Kayak Sales • Guided Tours

Featuring Kayaks From:Hobie • Wilderness Systems • Ocean Kayak

Necky • Current Designs • Perception

www.thewildernessway.net

850-877-72003152 Shadeville Road • Wakulla Station/Crawfordville

wakulla wildlife festival 2009

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