Schedule:

Friday, April 26, 2024

11th Annual Hatchie BirdFest Kick-Off

The Dirt Pilgrims
5:30 p.m: In Concert
The "Dirt Pilgrims," a folk-Americana cover band, was started by three professors from Jackson State Community College, James Mayo, Associate Professor of English, John Koons, Associate Professor of Biology, Bob Raines, Professor of Psychology, and Victor Garcia, the JSCC Web Administrator and Adjunct Professor, in 2007. They share a love of acoustic music, and perform an eclectic mix of songs written by some of their favorite artists:  Woody Guthrie, John Prine, Bob Dylan, Steve Earle, Hank Williams, Flogging Molly, The Grateful Dead, The Rolling Stones, Josh Ritter, Old Crow Medicine Show. "Dirt Pilgrims blends bluegrass, folk, country, and rock elements into a fusion of mellow acoustic brilliance."  Matt Meyer, musician and music promoter.

Feature Presentation
6:30 pm: Birds of the Hatchie with Bob Ford
Brownsville Tennessee is Celebrating its Bicentennial -  Join Bob as he takes a look back at how the birds of the Hatchie have changed over the past 200 years.

Saturday, April 27, 2024

5:30 a.m: Legend of the Nightjar
US Fish and Wildlife Biologist Bob Ford
Join Bob virtually (Facebook Live) for an early morning outing listening for the nightjar.

7:30 a.m - 11:00 a.m: Bird Hike / Nature Walk
Led by birding experts, this hike is good for all experience levels. Please come prepared to spend the morning in the field. This includes binoculars, bug spray and staying hydrated, extra water is always good to have. Participants will meet at the WT Delta heritage Center and caravan to select spots on the Hatchie National Wildlife Refuge and other Haywood County locations.  This is usually a 4 hour adventure. Because you will be caravanning, for those who do not wish to stay out that long, you are welcome to leave at any point.

8:00 a.m - 10:00 a.m: Photography  Nature Walk
Led by Watt Wallace
This is a bird watching / photography opportunity to learn tips and tricks for photographing wildlife,, especially birds, while also learning identifications tips. Bring your camera and binoculars. This class will concentrate on the Oneal Lake area of the Hatchie NWR. Participants will caravan from the the WT Delta Heritage Center.

8:30 a.m - 11 a.m: Bird Hike / Nature Walk
Led by birding experts, this hike is good for all experience levels, especially those just starting or concerned with staying in the field for long periods. This walk will last approximately 2.5 hours.
Participants will meet at the WT Delta heritage Center and caravan to select spots on the Hatchie National Wildlife Refuge.  Because you will be caravanning, for those who do not wish to stay out that long, you are welcome to leave at any point. Please come prepared. This includes binoculars, bug spray and staying hydrated, extra water is always good to have.

12:00 p.m: Birds of Prey
Live bird demonstrations that utilizes injured birds of prey including the Bald Eagle.
Presented by David Haggard,
Ranger Naturalist, Tennessee State Parks

1:00 p.m - 3:00 p.m:
Lunch on your Own
Food Truck onsite or drive into town.
Enjoy lunch and shopping  in historic downtown Brownsville.

Sunday, April 28, 2024

7:30 a.m - 11:00 a.m: Birding with Bob
Our annual caravan to check out Bob Ford’s favorite Birding spots begins at the WT Delta Heritage Center. Meet up for orientation about what the morning will entail and to be sure you are a part of the caravan. You don’t want to miss out.

Sunday Afternoon At  Willow Oaks Flower Farm
Willow Oaks Farm -  2351 TN-54, Brownsville, TN 38012
Sunday afternoon sessions will be held at Willow Oaks Flower Farm, Brownsville. Sarah and David Levy will welcome us to their greenhouses and outdoor spaces for seminars.

Shop and Learn
Beginning at 1:00 pm, experts will be on hand to help you select the perfect plants to attract birds, butterflies and wildlife to your backyard habitat and answer your planting questions.

2:00 p.m: Unique Relationships of Flora and Fauna
Join us as we take a closer look at the unique and oftentimes specialized relationships of plants, pollinators, and wildlife, and the role we can play to support these connections through stewardship.
Presented by Celeste Scott
UT Extension Horticulture Specialist

Celeste Scott is a native West Tennessean raised on a production row crop and beef cattle farm. Her passion for plants began early in life collecting plants from friends and family, working at local garden centers and managing a vegetable truck crop patch. Celeste attended Middle TN State University for her undergraduate degree in Plant and Soil Science, and attained her Master’s degree from the University of TN Martin in Agriculture and Natural Resources.  Her career in agriculture began with TN Farmers Co-operative followed by service with UT Extension as a County Agent.  Celeste is now the UT Extension Horticulture Specialist in West TN. She is married, has 2 young children, and spends her free time with soil under her nails.

4:30 p.m: Field and Forest Ecology Walk
Join Bob Ford, via Facebook live, as he explores and shares  portions of the Hatchie Wildlife Refuge that many have never seen.

5:30 p.m: Bob’s "Wrap-up on the River"
Join Bob Ford, via Facebook live, down on the river. Bob will wrap-up the 2023 event with the list of birds seen over the weekend and other highlights of this year’s Hatchie BirdFest.

Date: April 27 - 29, 2024

Location:

West Tennessee Delta Heritage Center
121 Sunny Hill Cove
Brownsville, TN 38012

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