18th Annual Cherokee Heritage/Birchwood Crane Days Celebrate “Tallest to Smallest”, Crane to Hummingbird

CROSSVILLE --- The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency will participate in the Cherokee Heritage/Birchwood Crane Days this year, being held on Saturday, Nov. 14, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. in Birchwood, Tenn. There are three sites of interest for the festivities, with transportation available to shuttle visitors between the venues. There is no admission charge.

 

The recently dedicated Cherokee Heritage Memorial Site will include Indian informational displays. Retired TWRA Region III Manager, Clarence Coffey will speak at the Memorial on “What people wore and ate in the Southeast in 1830.”

 

The TWRA Hiwassee Wildlife Refuge viewing area will be open for visitors to watch migratory birds and other wildlife. Agency biologists and volunteers will be on hand to provide educational wildlife information. Last November, there were some early cranes, as well as other birds, but it is suggested that visitors bring binoculars, as the birds remained somewhat distant from the viewing area. The education building facilities at the refuge will be open and provide visitors with restrooms and shelter. The TWRA informational display system will be set up at the elementary school. The refuge is scheduled to close to all forms of use and trespass from Nov. 15 through the last day of February, except the wildlife viewing area which is open year-round. 

 

The Birchwood Elementary School (5623 Highway 60, Birchwood) will also have a variety of vendors/informational displays including local craftsmen, historical societies, and booksellers. Bob Sargent, a nationally renowned authority on hummingbirds and sponsored by the Tennessee Wildlife Federation, will have a presentation in the morning and Save Our American Raptors (SOAR) will have a show in the afternoon. A Bluegrass/Folk band led by local artist Tom Morgan will play between the presentations.

 

The school has worked hard in recent years to include children-friendly activities, so all members of the family can have a memorable and enjoyable time. Some of the free booths available for children are owl pellet investigation, handprint hummingbirds, Native American pinch pots and animal tracks. Students at the school are already hard at work creating displays and art.

 

Breakfast and lunch will be available for purchase. Door prizes will be given out every hour. Shuttle service from the school to the refuge will be provided by Blue Moon Tours. Please call (423) 961-2444 for more information.

 

TWRA will be hosting the 1st Hiwassee Waterfowl and Shorebird Festival on Dec. 5-6, 2009 with more information on that event to be made available soon.