The Whooping Cranes Over Tennessee Walk-a-thon would like to thank all the walkers who have registered at this time. We are quickly approaching the October 10th start date, and are delighted to see that most of the 140 miles have registered walkers in place. There is however a section from Clarkrange to Woody and into Crossville (13 mile total) where no one has registered. If you have been considering walking with us and have not yet registered, please consider walking a mile or so here. The Walk-a-thon's last mile will lead our walkers into the Tennessee River Park off Amnicola Highway, on October 19th where a festival will be in progress. All previous walkers who are able to join regustrants walking the last mile, are invited to meet at the Chattanooga State University parking lot at 1:30pm on the 19th. THE CHATTANOOGA WHOOPING CRANE FESTIVAL is from 1:00 until 6:00 Saturday afternoon. Admission is free. There are 10 seminars and 20 exhibits confirmed at this time. The Knoxville Zoo which has joined our walk will present on center stage at 4:00pm, and Larry Ramsey will join us with his Ultra-light airplane for the day. The results of the Auction will be announced at 5:00 and the Whoooping Crane Kite that traveled the route from mile to mile will also be auctioned. Director Gary Myers of TWRA will deliver our Keynote address, and will join John Christian and Dave Duval to accept the presentation of funds raised and announce the winners of the drawings and door prizes. Delicious barbeque dinners provided by BONE'S BARBEQUE will be served (based on presold tickets) starting at 5:30. A Falcon Watch at the Chickamauga Dam and a Bird Walk along the river are also being scheduled for that day. A final seminar and exhibit schedule is forthcoming with times, subjects and speakers to be announced. The entire focus of the Festival is directed toward education, conservation of lands, habitat and resources, and the recovery and reintroduction of species in Tennessee. IT IS NOT TOO LATE FOR ANY BIRD CLUB TO BE REPRESENTED AT THE EVENT. WE ARE SEEKING BIRDING INFO FROM ALL AREAS AND CLUBS IN TENNESSEE. BIRDERS THROUGH OUT THE STATE ARE SEEKING NEW BIRDING LOCATIONS TO VISIT AND FELLOWSHIP WITH FRIENDS. TO RESERVE A SPACE E-MAIL CONTACT INFO TO craneinfo@xxxxxx, attention Cynthia Wilkerson, South Coordinator, Whooping Cranes Over Tennessee. We celebrate the return of the Whooping Crane into the eastern flyway, and especially into Tennessee. Please come and bring friends. We are looking forward to seeing many of our friends who come every year to the Sandhill Crane Festival held in February, which is also stacking up to be a very nice event. (Please put February 7 on your calendar now.) Don't forget to check out the web address! www.whoopingcranesovertn.org It is the most comprehensive site about the Whooping Cranes reintroduction project anywhere. By clicking on the partners page, one can visit every web site for all the Whooping Cranes Eastern Partnership members. Visit Operation Migration, and click on In The Field, to get regular updates on how the new flock of 17 immature whoopers are doing as they train to make the flight south with ultra-light planes this year. Remember the cranes will be immatures as they come south with immature plumage. Necks and underwing plumage will still have some of the reddish brown they exhibit as chicks. Look for updates. And THANK YOU Tennessee birders and friends. Cynthia Wilkerson Hixson, TN South Coordinator Whooping Cranes Over Tennessee =================NOTES TO SUBSCRIBER===================== The TN-Bird Net requires you to sign your messages with first and last name, city (town) and state abbreviation. ----------------------------------------------------- To post to this mailing list, simply send email to: tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx ----------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, send email to: tn-bird-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with 'unsubscribe' in the Subject field. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Topographical Maps located at http://topozone.com/find.asp * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Visit the Tennessee Ornithological Society web site at http://www.tnbirds.org * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * TN-Bird Net Owner: Wallace Coffey, Bristol, TN jwcoffey@xxxxxxxxxx (423) 764-3958 =========================================================