64th Annual Roan Mountain Spring Naturalists Rally

SIXTY-FOURTH ANNUAL
Roan Mountain
Spring Naturalists Rally
April 28–30, 2023
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Rally Directors; Gary Barrigar and Larry McDaniel

friendsofroan@gmail.com

TO REGISTER GO TO FRIENDS OF ROAN MOUNTAIN WEBSITE:

http://www.friendsofroanmtn.org

or

MAIL PREPAID RESERVATIONS TO:
Nancy Barrigar, Treasurer
708 Allen Avenue
Elizabethton, TN 37643
Sponsored by:
The Friends of Roan Mountain
Featured Speakers:
Friday Evening Program:
Co-existing with Snakes Connie Deegan

Connie Deegan is a naturalist with the Johnson City, TN Parks and Recreation Department, specializing in
herpetology. Deegan is responsible for trail signage and maps, trail design and construction, and keeping the
trails clear of downed trees. She conducts week-long seasonal camps about nature and writes a popular weekly
nature series, ‘Naturally Yours’. Connie received the Tennessee Wildlife Federation Conservation
Achievement Award in 2021 for Conservation Educator of the Year. She also received the 2022 Pinnacle
Award for Adventure Tourism Leader.
Program Description:
Snakes are an amazingly important part of the ecosystem and many people happily coexist with snakes on their
property. Deegan’s program will include a discussion on the physiology of snakes and what to do in the event
of a rare mishap.
Saturday Evening Program:

Flora Lore & Uses – Fascinating Stories About Flowers Tavia Cathcart Brown

Tavia is Executive Director of the 170-acre Creasey Mahan Nature Preserve in Goshen, Kentucky, where she
has established a two-acre Woodland Garden that highlights native wildflowers and ferns, along with creating
multiple Certified Monarch Waystations. With Tavia’s support, Creasey Mahan Nature Preserve started
Kentucky’s first full-time outdoor preschool, Thrive Forest School, serving more than 350 students and
campers a year. During the pandemic, Tavia created a Take a Walk with Tavia video series about plants, which
may be viewed from Creasey Mahan’s web site or YouTube page. She coauthored the field guide, Wildflowers
of Tennessee, the Ohio Valley, and Southern Appalachians, which covers 16 states, 1,250 wildflowers, and
presents 800 photographs. A highly regarded lecturer, educator, writer and photographer, Tavia shares her love
of plants and pollinators at every opportunity, giving presentations to regional and national groups.
Program Description:
Tavia will present vivid examples of how Native Americans and early pioneers used plants as medicinal aids.
You’ll also discover myths, legends, and lore spotlighting wildflowers that were revered and sometimes
feared.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

FRIDAY APRIL 28 Conference Center Activities

5:30 pm Registration and Check-in

6:30 pm Buffet Dinner – Requires reservation prepaid by deadline of Tues April 25.

7:30 pm Program: Co-existing with Snakes by Connie Deegan

9:00 pm
1. Night Walk (E, J,) Cade Campbell

2. Moth Viewing (E,) Larry McDaniel

SATURDAY APRIL 29

6:30 am Early Birds (E) Herndon Chapter TOS. Meet at park Visitors Center (water wheel). Bring binoculars.

8:30 am Field Trips: Meet at the field adjacent to the park cabins entrance. On-site registration is available.

1. Birds of Roan Mountain (E, ) Herndon Chapter TOS. Bring binoculars.

2. Beginning Birding (E, ) Herndon Chapter TOS. Bring binoculars.

3. Salamanders (E, ) Tyler Wicks

4. Wildflowers (E) Guy Mauldin
5. Land Snails (E, ) Cade Campbell
6. Introduction to iNaturalist (E, ) Philip Hylen

7. Hike to Jones Falls (M/S) Marty Silver
11:00 am – 1:30 pm Conference Center Activities

1. Fossil Casting – () Mick Whitelaw, ETSU Dept. of Geology, Geoscience Club

2. Flint Knapping – Demonstration
of ancient method of fashioning tools from stone. () Bob Estep
11:30 pm – Nature Slide Show -Tracy Campbell

12:00 pm Lunch – Bag lunches with prepaid reservation (deadline Tues April 25) or bring your own lunch and join us!

12:30 pm – Program “Native Orchids to North American & Nearby” – Mary Ruden

2:00 pm Field Trips: Meet at the field adjacent to the park cabins entrance.

1. Wildflowers (E) Anne Whittemore

2. Mosses and Liverworts (M) Jim Goldsmith

3. Aquatic Insects as Water Quality Indicators (W, E, ) Gary Barrigar and Anna Grizzard
4. Hampton Creek Cove Hike (M, ) Richard Broadwell

5. Wildlife Tracking (E, ) Marty Silver

6. Butterflies (E. ) Park Greer
7. Geology/Paleo-ecology Hike 5 mi (M/S, ) Jeremy Stout.
6:30 pm Buffet Dinner—Requires reservation prepaid by deadline of Tues. April 25.

Conference Center Activities
7:30 pm Program: Flora Lore & Uses – Fascinating Stories About Flowers by Tavia Cathcart Brown
9:00 pm

1. Night Walk (E, ) Cade Campbell

2. Moth Viewing (E, ) Larry McDaniel
SUNDAY APR 30

5:45 am Sunrise Hike (M, ) Connie Deegan (meet at Carver’s Gap parking area, walk up Round Bald, will be back at park
for 9:00 AM field trips)

9:00 am Field Trips Meet at the field adjacent to the park cabins entrance.

1. Birds of Hampton Creek Cove (M,) Herndon Chapter TOS. Bring binoculars.
2. Laurel Falls Hike: Dennis Cove to Hampton (M,) Gabrielle Zeiger, Mick Whitelaw, Don Holt. All-day hike;bring
water, lunch and rain gear.
3. Snake Talk/Walk Connie Deegan (E. )

2:00 pm Field Trips Meet at the field adjacent to the park cabins entrance.
1. Salamanders (E,) Lance Jesse

2. Twin Springs Ephemerals and Plant Ecology (E) Jamey Donaldson

KEY: E Easy
M Moderate
S Strenuous
 Kid-friendly
W Wade in water