Birds of Prey

Cruise up to the Hawksbill Mt. summit at around 10:30 am and not only will you be standing on top of Shenandoah, but you are likely to see one of these guys! The fledgling falcons have been reintroduced to the Hawksbill summit and the NPS serves them breakfast around 10:30. Feel free to ask the friendly, knoledgeable, park ranger questions as they observe and record info on the birds. Take a deep breath, a 360 degree look around, and enjoy the show!

Dirty Jobs

June 7-8, 2008

After two days to and fro, over and around Old Rag Mountain with the steward program, there are a couple things one has in common with this dung beetle. The beetle pictured above was found on the fire road cleaning up after some horses. Mountain stewards have also been found cleaning up after others, in fact they can even be seen picking up a little toilet paper (however unlike the beetle, stewards wear gloves, and do not walk backwards on their heads during the process). In near 100 degree temps hauling large amounts of water, first aid kits, and rescue gear can make a steward feel a bit like the beetle too; it feels like pushing a bunch of ... stuff. But when the sweaty weekend's all said and done the biggest similarity between the two creatures might be the smell!