Eagle watch, plus outdoor news from Chickasaw National Recreation Area and Norman nature center

Posted by bob doucette

on December 29, 2009M at 12:45 pm

A few local news and notes from the outdoors…

Go eagle watching at Kaw Lake.

EAGLE WATCHING AT KAW LAKE

KAW CITY — Kaw Lake’s Ultimate Eagle Watch will be held at two locations around Kaw Lake near Ponca City on Jan. 16.

These locations are: The Kaw City Community Center and the Kaw Nation Tribal Headquarters, both in Kaw City.

Typically, the Eagle Watch features:

- Educational programs on the American bald eagle by experts from the Iowa Tribe’s eagle aviary

- Powerpoint show from raptor rehabilitators Gary and Kathy Siftar

- Biologists Mark Howery from the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation (Wildlife Diversity Program)

- The appearance of a live eagle from the Sutton Avian Research Center

- Luther Pepper with the Kaw presentation on the significance of eagle to Native Americans

- Guided eagle viewing tours will depart from the Kaw City Community Center and the Kaw Nation Tribal Headquarters at several times throughout the day

- Native American lunch served at Kaw Nation Headquarters

To get to the community center and tribal headquarters, drive north out of Ponca City on U.S. 177 (also 14th Street). Travel east on State Highway 11 for 12 miles. Follow the signs to the community center and tribal headquarters. Those attending the Eagle Watch should dress for the weather and bring binoculars and viewing scopes.

— Green Country Marketing Association

Travertine Nature Center to close for a couple of days.

TRAVERTINE NATURE CENTER TO TEMPORARILY CLOSE FOR CLEANING

SULPHUR — Travertine Nature Center at the Chickasaw National Recreation Area will be closed Jan 6-7 to conduct annual cleaning and maintenance on the exhibits and.

The nature center is a popular park site to visit and is intensively used by area school groups for interpretive and educational programs. The nature center contains exhibit dioramas, live reptiles, amphibians and birds of prey, and an interactive learning area for visitors of all ages.

The Travertine Nature Center was built in 1969 during the period of National Park Service environmental education initiatives in the later 1960s and early 1970s. The nature center sits on top of Travertine Creek, offering visitors a relaxing view of the mix of water, stream, and forest.

According to Park Superintendent Bruce Noble, “This two-day closure is necessary to complete work on exhibit displays and to rearrange existing live animal and other exhibits. We apologize for this inconvenience to park visitors, but look forward to their next visit.”

On Jan. 6-7, visitor services will be available at the Visitor Information Station (717 W Broadway), 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The nature center will resume regular winter hours of 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., daily on Jan. 8.

— Chickasaw National Recreation Area

CHILDREN’S ACTIVITIES ON TAP AT DISCOVERY COVE

NORMAN — Several activities are planned Wednesday for the Discovery Cove Nature Center at Lake Thunderbird State Park, if weather permits.

“Winter Bookmarks” for children ages 3 and up is scheduled for 10 a.m. For a 50 cent fee, children can make bookmarks based on nature themes. At 11 a.m., children ages 6 and up are invited to a session on “Aliens Among Us.” Participants will get to see a variety of plants and small animals by using a microscope.

At 1 p.m., children ages 4 and up may participate in a session on “Trees Through the Year,” which focuses on seasonal changes in the lives of trees, especially in the winter.

On Saturday, the nature center will be open and offer an 11 a.m. game session on “Nature, Bug or Reptile Bingo.” Ages 2 and up are invited to participate.

Children can make plaster casts of animal footprints at a 1 p.m. session. Fee is 50 cents to cover the cost of material. Casts require an hour to set.

At 2 p.m., a nature walk will be held. In case of bad weather, children will remain indoors and play animal charades.

For more information or to make sure the events have not been cancelled due to weather, call 321-4633.

The nature center is on Clear Bay Avenue, off State Highway 9, across from the Turkey Pass campground.
— Oklahoman staff reports

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