10th Anniversary 2010

Before the kids arrived, a few adult birderswere encouraged to give the frog launchera try, as volunteer Maryan Pharo lookson. Two frogs are actually airborne in thephoto. Can you find them?

Volunteer GaryMunson might welldeny it but he isresponsible in partfor terrificattendance at thisyear’s Verde BirdieFamily Day. Garywas key inorganizing a groupof Dead HorseRanch volunteersto man (person?)information boothsat Safeway, Fry’s,Ace, Sears andWalmart duringMarch and April.

While the volunteers were letting people know about everythingthe park offers, they were also handing out flyers about theBird Festival family day. In addition, through a contact ofGary’s, 2,500 Family Day flyers were sent home with schoolkids in the Cottonwood area. A brochure created by NanHephner for the booth told of the many activities at the park,and was also distributed at the booth. This push to getinformation about the park and the festival to the public wasa first for the park, and it paid off with record-breakingattendance, more visitation and increased sales of annualpasses. Gary reports that booth volunteers made contact with4,566 people, many of whom had never been to the park.While the booth program will end May 1, it may continue atanother time. Thanks, Gary! Take a bow.

“Do birds haveteeth?” This little oneponders the questionat the duck pond.When she came upwith the right answer,she chose a duck andreceived the prizeindicated on thebottom from volunteerMaryan Pharo.

VolunteerFrankLarramorehanded outfree tickets toeach familymember whocame to theFamily Day ofthe 10thAnnual VerdeValley Birdingand NatureFestival

Volunteer Laurie Blitsch reprised her roleas Spider Lady, helping the kids releasethe cord at just the right moment to landon a fly. The huge green spider had to be

dropped just right in order for the spider to catch a fly on the spinning web. Thesegames are not only immenselypopular with the kids and parentswho attend, they are fun for all ofus. Thanks, Eric. Many folkscommented on what a great familyevent this is, getting better everyyear, thanks to the origanizationalskills of Volunteer Barbie Hart,who went so far as to bring hermotor home to the event, so shewas available for any need, fromscissors to bottled water.

Classes of all kinds were provided at thebird festival. There were also field tripsto a variety of locations, clean-ups,ecology walks, exhibits and trade show,workshops and owl prowls at night.

The chance to make and take home birdhouses and oriole feeders was a realtreat for the kids. In fact, it soon wasmade clear that two tables andvolunteers Norm Hephner and JimHarris were no match for the crowd,so volunteers Carl Hartman and GaryMunson were recruited to assist.

Volunteer Norm Hephner bravely holdsa nail while a young man hammers hisbird house together.

Most of the kids had never had an opportunity to use a cordlessscrewdriver so Jim Harris lends a hand. Parents were a bighelp too, as seen above. The oranges were provided for theoriole feeders. The bird house kits were donated by Home Depot. Mary Ontiveros, USFS, patiently worked

on two different crafts with the kids, quailcalls and paper hummingbirds createdin metallic shades. Again, parents helped,making it all a fun family day.

Volunteer Rose Larramore helped a totchoose colors for her dragonfly.

(left) Volunteer Betty Wolters helped the kids make egg cartoncritters. (right) Big brother helped little brother make a pinecone feeder. Volunteer Nan Hephner helped mainly by cleaningup the sticky mess after each visitor, and trying to keep enoughpeanut butter available for the many visitors. The bird seedwas donated by 3-D.

Zen Mocarski, AZ G&F, is armed with agreat personality and models of insectsand reptiles, He held the rapt attention ofhis multi-aged audience.

Mrs. Bee (Rebecca Buzonas) handedout buttons to kids of all ages.

These birds and others were displayed by AZ Wildlife Center at theVerde Birdie Festival this year. (right) is a Black-crowned Night Heron.(middle) a Burrowing Owl came out to stare at visitors to the variousvendor booths in the big tent. (left) a Red-Tail Hawk struck a regal pose,flaring its red tail for the cameras.

“Can you help me please?”“Can you help me please?”“Can you help me please?”“Can you help me please?”“Can you help me please?”

Sam Huselton, AZ G&F, with TurkeyVulture sunning himself.Below, Nan Hephner observing thepreparation of a Pine Cone Feeder.

During the Verde Valley Birding & Nature Festival,one of our tour leaders spotted a Black-crownedNight Heron tangled in fishing line on the southside of the Verde River. Ranger Justin Swiger andManager Les Bovee located the bird and releasedit from the fishing line. You can see the tip of theright wing is a little tattered from the monofilament.The Heron was tired, but was strong enough to flyacross the river. We are sure he’ll be around todelight DHRS Park visitors for some time to come.

submitted by Les Bovee

A big hit at the Verde Valley Birding andNature Festival this year was the nestingof a pair of Great Horned Owls. Daddyowl keeps an eye on the nest from high inthe same cottonwood tree as the nest, asfolks with cameras and binoculars lookedon from below.

The nest was a cluster of branches, butfluff is visible at the top. The baby owls arebeginning to get feathers, and those whowatched the nest for long periods of timesaid there are two babies. The tree is locatedalong the river in the Lower Day UseArea.

Eric and the women in his life -his bride, Rebecca & sister, Nancy.

Volunteer Gary Munson helpingher with bird feeder construction.

Volunteer Maryan Pharoat the Duck Pond Quiz.

Popular New GamePopular New GamePopular New GamePopular New GamePopular New GameTwo popular games at the Bird Festival were theFrog Launcher and the Spider Drop. VolunteerCoordinator Eric Buzonas, and his love of newgames and fun for kids, is largely responsible forboth projects, which were huge successes. Over 250tickets were turned in at the frog launcher, whichdebuted last year. Volunteer Bob Akey built the spidermachine this year.

SpiderLady,LaurieBlitsch,andRangerEricBuzonasshow thelittle girlhow toplaySpiderDrop.

Volunteer Nan Hephner helps the little girl to makea Pine Cone Feeder. Left is Mary Ontiveros, USFS,helping children work on crafts. .

Volunteer Carl Hartmanhelps a young man hammerhis bird house.

Volunteer Jim Harrishelps the young ones andthe parents building birdhouses.

Volun teerF r a n kLarrimoreis kept busyall dayi s s u i n gtickets forthe Kid’sEvents.