Flint RiverQuarium

Wings and Wildlife

Make some tracks and come to the Flint RiverQuarium for the 2011 Wings & Wildlife Festival on September 24-25, 2011! Whether scaly, feathered, slimy, or furry, we want to celebrate all of the amazing wild animals that fill this beautiful world. Enjoy a guided birding walk with your family along the banks of the Flint River, help save a species by building a birdhouse, get up close and personal with a snake show, go canoeing on our Flint Float to see wildlife in their element, or even learn about the “animals” in outer space! Enjoy good food, tales from a professional storyteller, guided garden tours at Radium Springs, crafts, games, and more with this great, family-friendly, educational opportunity.

Admission Prices
Price listed does not include tax

Adult RiverQuarium - $9.00
Adult RiverQuarium & Movie - $14.00
Youth (4 to 12) RiverQuarium - $6.50
Youth (4 to 12) RiverQuarium & Movie - $10.00
Sr. Citizen (62+) RiverQuarium - $8.00
Sr. Citizen (62+) RiverQuarium & Movie - $12.50
Enjoy 10% off any family membership level or greater the entire weekend.

Except where additional fees are noted, all activities are included with admission to the Flint RiverQuarium.

Earth Day Every Day Snake Show

Presenter: Okefenokee Joe
Times: 11:00 a.m. & 2:00 p.m.
Cost: Free with Admission
Where: Imagination Theater

For years, educator and legendary folk hero, Okefenokee Joe has enthralled and enlightened audiences of all ages with his Emmy Award winning “Swamp Wise”, Original Songs & Stories from “The Land Of The Tremblin’ Earth,” Plant and Animal Lore and Wilderness Survival Skills. He has appeared on NBC, CNN, TBS and GPB as a guest on many Outdoor TV shows. You will love his stories, his awesome voice filled with “SWAMPWISE” wisdom and humor, his laughter, the songs he writes and his exciting, timely informative “EARTH DAY EVERY DAY” message of appreciation, understanding and respect for all life in the natural world around us!

His video field guide, "KNOW YOUR SNAKES" is used extensively by schools, colleges, hospitals, civic organizations and the US military throughout the world.

In the early sixties, Dick Flood, A.K.A. Okefenokee Joe, lived in and worked out of Nashville as a Singer/Songwriter and had several chart recordings of his own as an artist. His songs were recorded by Roy Orbison, Anita Bryant, Cil Turner, Kathy Linden, Billy Grammer, Porter Wagener, Moon Mulligan and others of that era. George Hamilton IV’s version of Dick’s song “Gee” went to #1 in the pop and Country charts. His most successful song, “Trouble’s Back in Town,” recorded by The Wilburn Brothers and voted the #1 song of 1962, put his name forever in the Nashville Country Music Hall of Fame.

Birds of Prey Show

Presenter: Georgia Southern University’s Center for Wildlife Education The Lamar Q. Ball, Jr. Raptor Center
Times: 12:00 p.m.
Cost: Free with Admission
Where: Imagination Theater

Be wowed by the high-speed action of a raptor flight demonstration. Experienced falconers fly several species of birds of prey, and explain the various adaptations that make this group of birds so intriguing. As birds swoop over your heads, there is much to learn from this delightful program! There is always considerable audience participation as we offer opportunities to get up close and personal. The Center provides environmental education for participants of all ages, particularly showcasing birds of prey. Programs introduce participants to the region’s native wildlife and to the challenges of maintaining healthy ecosystems within a developing modern economy.

Build Your Own Birdhouse Birdhouse Building

Presenter: Home Depot
Times: 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Cost: $5.00 per birdhouse
Where: Plaza of the Flint RiverQuarium

If you are looking to give a bird a home, come out and build one. Home Depot will provide all the supplies necessary for you to help a bird. You can build an Eastern Bluebird nest box or even build one for a species of concern like the Brown-headed Nuthatch. You can also show off your artistic flare by painting your bird house as well. You will even get a special apron donated by Home Depot to use while you are hard at work.

Storytelling

Presenters: Bill Buntin (alias “Doc Fox”)
Times: 3:30 p.m.
Cost: Free with Admission
Where: To be announced

Bill Buntin (alias “Doc Fox”). Bill is a retired Pediatrician, a perfect job for someone who enjoys and has a blast with children. He enjoys children so much that he decided to get his Master’s Degree in Storytelling from East Tennessee State University. We are excited to hear some of his stories.

Guided Garden Tours

Presenters: Southwest Georgia Master Gardeners
Times: 11:00 a.m., Noon & 1:00 p.m.
Cost: Free
Where: Radium Springs

Join some of Southwest Georgia’s Certified Master Gardener experts in the reopened Radium Springs Gardens. The Georgia Master Gardener Program is an educational program offered through county offices of the Georgia Cooperative Extension Service. Through this program, individuals are trained and certified in horticultural and related areas.

These individuals, in turn, volunteer their expertise and services under the direction of their County Extension Agent, to help others through horticultural projects that benefit the community. Master Gardeners bring the latest horticultural information and practices from the world of research to their communities' landscapes and gardens.

Through the Master Gardener Program, thousands of people in the United States and Canada have been trained as volunteers.

Zoo in Space

Presenter: Jim Friese
Times: 1:00 p.m. & 3:00 p.m.
Cost: $3.50 + tax per person
Where: Wetherbee Planetarium at Thronateeska Heritage Center

Jim Friese has been interested in Astronomy as long as he can remember. He became a serious amateur astronomer in 1997 and began to volunteer with Thronateeska Heritage Center where he was involved in restoring the Wright Flyer Exhibit. He became the Staff Astronomer at Thronateeska in September of 2008 where he runs the Wetherbee Planetarium shows and develops new programs like their Summer Astronomy Series. We are glad this knowledgeable astronomer will be guiding us through the night sky. He will talk about animal stars we have in space and their stories from Greek and Roman Mythology. Learn about constellations and how they are expressed in different cultures under the sky in the planetarium.

Birdwatching 101

Presenter: Jim Cox
Times: 10:00 a.m. – Noon
Cost: $3.00 per person
Where: Flint RiverQuarium Wet Lab

Research Biologist Jim Cox spends most of his time working with Red-cockaded Woodpeckers, Bachman’s Sparrows, Brown-headed Nuthatches, and other declining bird species associated with southern pine forests at Tall Timbers Research Station in Thomasville, GA. He also is engaged in land conservation efforts that make use of conservation easements, Safe Harbor agreements, and other tools developed for private lands.

He received his Masters of Science from Florida State University and worked as a biologist with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission for many years before moving out to Tall Timbers. He taught a popular bird-watching class at Florida State University for several years and continues to try to lure new bodies into the birding community.

Invasive Species Presentations

Presenter: Ben Scott
Times: Ongoing, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Cost: Free with Admission
Where: Flint RiverQuarium Adventure Center

Ben Scott is the co-owner of Seaview Aquariums. He has been in the retail fish business for 18 years and an aquarium hobbyist for 36. His current retail business specializes in freshwater fish and plants and saltwater fish, corals and cultured corals. Seaview Aquariums has been a very avid volunteer in the Flint RiverQuarium’s Sleep with the Fishes sleepover programs, RiverQuest summer camp and Creatures of the Flint teacher workshops. You may see Ben diving in our 175,000 gallon Blue Hole tank on occasion.

Flint RiverQuarium Activities Animal Encounters

Alligator Feeding at 1pm at Cypress Run Creek
Dive Shows at 11:00 and 2:00 at the Blue Hole
Animal Encounters at 10:30, 11:30, 1:30, 2:30 and 3:30
Sea Monsters at 10:00, 1:00 and 3:00
Paint the Giant Mural in the Plaza from 10:00 – 4:00
Children’s Activity Stations in Skywater, 10:00–4:00
Dougherty County CASA will set up as a food vendor
Jumpy Castle Slide, Face Painting, and Clown Making animal balloons

Flint Float – Sunday, September 25

Times: 1:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Cost:
Rent a two-person canoe (includes two meals) $55
Rent a kayak $40
Own canoe/kayak $40; Own single canoe/kayak $30
Where: Meet at the Flint RiverQuarium

Spend an afternoon on the river followed by barbeque and music at the RiverQuarium. A five mile river trip, admission to the Flint RiverQuarium, a barbeque meal and music are all included in the following options.

A limited number of spots are available for the Flint Float. Reservations are on a first-come, first-served basis by contacting the RiverQuarium at 229-639-2650. All major credit cards are accepted.

Those not venturing out on the river are still able to join in the festivities at the RiverQuarium, including food, music and RiverQuarium admission from 3:30-6:30 p.m. Prices for the Flint RiverQuarium members are $8 per adult, $5 per child. Non-member prices are $12 per adult, $6 per child.

Sponsors: MillerCoors, Home Depot, and ProNet