Locals learn about area wildlife at SRAC

By C.J. Marshall (Staff Writer)
Published: March 14, 2010

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Photo: N/A, License: N/A, Created: 2010:03:13 14:28:38

Review Photo/C.J. Marshall John Spencer, 9, of Sayre (left) and Ethan Denlinger, 5, of Sayre (right), touch a box turtle during a live animal presentation at the SRAC.

Wildlife at SRAC

Many people came out to see the wildlife at the SRAC.

video Wildlife at SRAC Wildlife at SRAC

WAVERLY - Children of all ages got a chance to see some of the various area wildlife close at hand Saturday at the Susquehanna River Archaeological Center (SRAC).

Bridget Sharry, a representative from the Tanglewood Nature Center and Museum of Elimira, N.Y., gave a live animal presentation at the center, displaying reptiles, birds, and mammals who are native to the Susquehanna River area.

"The program is intended to promote animals native to the Susquehanna eco-system," Sharry explained. "A lot of the kids seemed really interested today. Hopefully, we'll have some budding naturalists in the lot."

The live-animal presentations included a green frog, an eastern box turtle, a broadwing hawk named "Icarus," and a opossum named "Millie." Most of the animals were brought around to the audience - which included children and adults - so they could in some cases touch them and get an up close view.

"We sometimes talk a little bit about invasion of the species - like the zebra mussel - which is a threat to the river," Sharry said. "We talk about pollution from humans, and problems from the changing watershed. As the river erodes, the land erodes into the river, and threatens to change it."

The presentation, Sharry explained, is a very good introduction for people to the natural world offered by the Susquehanna River.

"Once they touch the animals, it means so much more to them, than to just see them by the road," Sharry explained.

Deb Twigg, executive director and co-founder of the SRAC, explained that Saturday's presentation is part of the center's efforts to keep its programs in rotation to keep things fresh and active for the public. A person who was at the SRAC Saturday could come six months from now and see something entirely different, she said.

C.J. Marshall can be reached at (570) 265-1630; e-mail: cjmarshall@thedailyreview.com.

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