It is my greatest pleasure to humbly accept this prestigious award. I always knew that I was hatched for greatness! Many years ago, after a Naturalist at CNC witnessed my graceful flight, I was chosen as the official mascot of the Chattahoochee Nature Center, and I have proudly appeared on both the logo and the sign of the Nature Center ever since. Not to mention the pond, wooded hiking trail, and fledgling human summer camp, which all bear my name. Indeed, I am a very special bird!
My kin may be found throughout much of the United States, but we Kingfishers are anything but common. You may chance to see us perched along the banks of streams, lakes, and rivers where we love diving for tasty fish. Perhaps you will see me on your next visit to the Chattahoochee Nature Center’s River Boardwalk Trail. Since I am a rather small bird, you will likely hear my BEAUTIFUL voice before you spot me (some people of poor taste still seem to insist that my voice sounds like a rattle! The nerve!). I also love to make special guest appearances at various special events throughout the year at CNC.
It is a great honor to finally be recognized by the greater birding community as the truly unique and wonderful bird that I am! I want to thank my mother, who raised me in her burrow from an egg to a tiny fledgling to the star that I am today. I would also like to thank everyone at the Chattahoochee Nature Center who understood my stellar qualities from the very beginning. I want to thank the American Birding Association and all the birders and bird lovers out there who have made this moment possible. And to you, all my lovely fans, go my greatest thanks! Please come visit me at the Chattahoochee Nature Center to celebrate this fabulous year. Cheers to the Year of the Belted Kingfisher!
With much love,
(This article was written with help from a couple of humans, Mark Gialanella and Rebekah Dolan, as, of course, Kingfishers have no hands!)
We live in an era of polarization and mistrust – and environmental challenges. The need for informed understanding and candid, empathetic dialogue is more pressing than ever before. Environmental issues can be particularly complex and potentially contentious. It takes collaboration and connection to find shared solutions.
More than 20 years ago, an advisory committee came together to forge a new way to address environmental issues in Georgia. The idea was to build a collaborative network of knowledgeable leaders – people from all sectors and every region of the state – to create solutions as an alternative to divisive debates and lawsuits. From that inspiration, the Institute for Georgia Environmental Leadership (IGEL) was born in 2001. At the core of the IGEL mission is an immersive leadership development program: a rigorous, year-long experience that brings together a diverse group of leaders to explore and grow together. Over the years, IGEL classes have grown in diversity, and, in turn, the network has expanded and diversified. Our leaders are united by one common trait: a love for the environment and natural resources that make Georgia unique.
Each year 30+ Georgia leaders are chosen in a competitive application process to form an IGEL class. The core program fosters a culture of curiosity, candor, and action. Three Chattahoochee Nature Center (CNC) leaders were selected for the IGEL Class of 2022: Clarence Jackson, CNC Board Chair; John Mulcahy, CNC Board Secretary; and Alicia Thompson, Senior Director of Learning and Engagement. In addition to those previously named, CNC leadership now includes nine IGEL graduates: Jim Stokes (’03), Helen Tapp (’03), Rick Hirsekorn (’04), Max Zygmont (’17), Aaron Mitchell (’18), and Nick DiLuzio (’19).
After graduation, alumni put their new skills and training to work addressing environmental challenges, often hand-in-hand with fellow IGEL-ians.
“I am proud, and deeply grateful, to be an IGEL graduate. The experience not only showcases the excellent work Georgia is doing collaboratively across the state’s regions and sectors but also fosters a fantastic network of colleagues to keep this critical work going. We get to really know one another, to understand each other as people and as professionals, and it creates some deep bonds. For me, the program reinforced the key role environmental education plays in our future as a society and challenges me to think creatively about how CNC can work with other leaders and partners to best empower our community to be stewards of our environment.”
– Alicia Thompson, Senior Director of Learning and Engagement, Chattahoochee Nature Center
“IGEL has created a fantastic forum for leaders in our State to both learn about and be better equipped to address the environmental and social issues that we face as Georgia continues to develop. During our five sessions, we visited urban centers, coastal wetlands, working forests, mountain streams, and agricultural lands. We engaged with experts and those impacted by development and resource use. My experience has made me more optimistic about our ability to be good stewards of our State.”
– John Mulcahy, VP of Sustainability, Georgia Pacific and CNC Board Secretary
“I’ve worked with and around a lot of IGEL graduates and have always heard how special it was. They spoke of an experience that seemed too good to be true. They talked about life-long relationships they form; of IGEL sessions that, I’ll have to admit, seemed so amazing they must have been made up. When I told them, one by one, that I was accepted and would be in the next class, they all told me how much I would get out of it and how it would change me for the better. It all just seemed like some weird and fanciful society they had all agreed to boast about. I couldn’t understand how IGEL, a Georgia-based program, could really be such an influential and progressive experience. Along my 25 years of professional experience, I’ve more recently begun working within the environmental sustainability area and didn’t think Georgia was leading, in any way, in environmental sustainability. Even when I was accepted into the 2022 class, I still felt that it was just another leadership program, especially focused on environmental sustainability. I attended the 20th IGEL anniversary, hosted at Chattahoochee Nature Center, where Rob Williams (IGEL ’17), Connie Wiggins (IGEL ’02), Mark Berry (IGEL ’17), and Casey Cox (IGEL ’16) reflected on the Past, Present, and Future of IGEL. After hearing that discussion, I knew I was going to be part of something special over the next year. All of my expectations were exceeded, 10-fold. I learned so much and formed some of the deepest connections in my life if just one year. I learned about the importance of partnerships and the value of courageous leadership and received so many other lessons over just one year, and I am so excited, even more than ever, to continue this journey of environmental sustainability leadership.”
– Clarence Jackson, Sr. Director Sustainable Supply Chain and Business Operations, Cox Enterprises, and CNC Board President
Chattahoochee Nature Center (CNC) and Thomas Turner Team Up
The mural and the Community Day are made possible thanks to funding provided in part by the Fulton County Board of Commissioners under the guidance of the Department of Community Development.
ROSWELL, GA. – The Chattahoochee Nature Center, located in Roswell, Georgia, has engaged Atlanta muralist Thomas Turner to create a unique mural masterpiece at the Center. The mural will cascade down a multi-tier hillside staircase in the heart of the 127-acre campus and will serve as a backdrop for events hosted at the Center’s Ben Brady Lakeside Pavilion. The desired intent for the staircase mural is to connect people with the Chattahoochee River watershed in an artistic, interpretive way while driving awareness toward our connection with the natural world.
This engagement presents an incredible opportunity for Turner and the Chattahoochee Nature Center to join forces and create a centralized piece of artwork for visitors and staff to enjoy and will be a source of inspiration for years to come. This original, progressive masterpiece will tell a story and welcome you to embrace Turner’s fantastical universe and surrealist lens of the natural world. The mural will be purpose-built to serve as an iconic landmark and celebration of the Chattahoochee Nature Center’s history, ecosystem of local flora and fauna, and its native habitats and riverways while reflecting a cultural representation of the Center’s values and ethos. Turner will design the installation to represent the organizational mission to connect people with nature and showcase the intrinsic connectivity between art and nature.
Turner specializes in bringing fine art to public spaces like the Chattahoochee Nature Center and brings over a decade of experience to the world of artistic expression as a specialist in murals and illustration. Thomas’s early outdoor experiences with animals and the natural environment are at the heart of his love of the arts, and the natural world and organic forms most inspire him. He illuminates surrealist alternate universes and the connectedness of nature, animals, and our lived experiences, making this mural initiative an incredible opportunity to join forces to positively impact the Center and its visitors.
During this engagement, Turner will work closely with the Chattahoochee Nature Center to create a design for the staircase mural that exceeds expectations and helps to promote the Center’s mission and its impact on the communities of Atlanta and beyond.
Turner will work on-site at the Chattahoochee Nature Center for several days to bring the mural to life. He is scheduled to begin the staircase mural installation on Monday, March 27. During the installation, within CNC operation hours, visitors are encouraged to stop by to meet Turner and enjoy the process and experience a live mural installation in progress. The proposed timeline for completion of the installation will be in mid-April.
The public is invited to attend the grand reveal at CNC’s Community Day on April 23, 12-4 PM. The Community Day, which closely coincides with Earth Day, will include the grand reveal of the mural, photo opportunities, guided hikes, and live animal encounters, and will also celebrate one year of CNC’s new River Boardwalk Trail. The event is free for everyone, though reservations are required; details can be found on CNC’s website: https://www.chattnaturecenter.org/events/cnc-community-day-mural-grand-reveal/
Turner is available for interviews and inquiries about his work and engagement with the Chattahoochee Nature Center for this initiative. Please get in touch with Turner directly or reach out to his business partner, Alexandra Tregre, as needed.
Thomas Turner – President, Artist Phone: 770-402-4148 Email: tt@thomasturnerart.com Website: thomasturnerart.com Alexandra Tregre – Head of Operations Phone: 404-307-7502 Email: alex@thomasturnerart.com
About Thomas Turner Turner specializes in bringing fine art to public spaces. He brings over a decade of experience to the world of artistic expression as a specialist in murals and paintings. His collection of work is enjoyed across the cityscape of Atlanta where he currently resides, throughout the U.S. and internationally in Europe. Turner’s artwork can be found in notable galleries throughout the United States. This includes ABV Gallery & Agency in Atlanta, Georgia, where he credits the launch of his professional career as an artist.
Turner is a lifelong advocate and lover of nature, animals, and elements of the wild. As early as he can recall, Thomas found a sense of peace and solitude – a form of escape from reality – in his outdoor surroundings. He is most inspired by nature, reimagining the art of the possible, and the connectedness of nature and animals to the human experience. A homegrown Georgia native, Turner grew up in and around Atlanta and continues to cultivate an impassioned appreciation of Mother Nature and the natural environment in his artwork today. Turner’s imaginative masterpieces tell a story and welcome you to embrace his fantastical universe and surrealist lens.
Turner is relentlessly passionate about producing original artwork that bewilders, sparks curiosity, and inspires positive change. Through his imaginative pieces, he seeks to challenge viewers’ perceptions of what is and what could be. Today, audiences worldwide can appreciate a metamorphosis of his classic creations and a newfound style of the subversive, mind-altering elements and life forms he conjures.
Industry-leading brands like Atlanta United, Heineken, Atlanta Braves, and Mellow Mushroom, among many others, have engaged Turner for his extraordinary designs, intricate details, and level of professionalism. Turner recognizes each of his customers is unique and special, therefore every individual masterpiece is custom-made and represents the ethos of the specific brand. He is eager to activate new spaces and work with other leading national, international, and local brands to bring their visions to life through his unique, cerebral style.
Learning as an adult can be just as engaging and full of wonder as when learning as a child. It just takes looking through the lens of exploration and eagerness to experience new things, which activate the fascination for nature many of us had as children. When walking the grounds or leading groups on hikes, one of the most fulfilling opportunities for CNC staff is watching adults learn as much as the children. CNC not only has avenues for adults to learn with children, but CNC also has programs just for adults.
Some of the programs CNC provides include nature photography classes, plant and gardening classes, speakers on the natural world, art classes, and many other opportunities. Learning keeps us active and benefits our health in adulthood. Keeping our mind actively learning is essential to maintaining our overall well-being and contributes to our physical health. At CNC, you can activate your body and mind at the same time.
One of the greatest benefits of adult learning at CNC is that many programs are directed toward beginners. Don’t worry if you cannot identify different pitcher plant or insect species – that’s where the fascination kicks into high gear. Through learning, you can grow your knowledge at a beginner’s level. All the naturalists at CNC had to start from scratch too!
Programs at CNC are not just learning opportunities but social opportunities. In the modern world, it is all too easy to not socially engage with others as much as many of us would like. At CNC’s Nature Club speaker series, the meetings begin with a potluck dinner where you can meet others with common interests. Coming to Nature Club might start up a new friendship. Perhaps you may find a new group of people to get outdoors with during your free time. You never know what trail you will head down by learning with CNC.
The Enchanted Woodland Trail is one of the most beloved exhibits at CNC. Visitors and Members are always so delighted to see the variety of homes we receive and are impressed to hear that this exhibit is created by volunteers.
The Fairy Houses and Gnome Homes this year have been some of the best so far since beginning the Enchanted Woodland Trail. The trail this year included some of the largest designs we have ever seen such as a large ship, a treasure chest, and a royal coronation!
The judging has been completed and the results are:
First place went to house number 2, made by four students: Ti’Ana D., Ariana G., Jaya M., and Michael V.
Second place went to house number 5, by Jackie Fine, CNC member
Third place went to house number 8, by Melissa Dorrell, CNC member
People’s Choice Award (voted on by CNC visitors during the month of December) went to house number 15, by William Helbig, CNC member
Honorable Mentions: CNC Staff that created houses: Rebekah, Amy, Nicole, Halimah
First place Winner: House 2, by Ti’Ana D., Ariana G., Jaya M., and Michael V.
“Four students, Ti’Ana D., Ariana G., Jaya M., and Michael V., worked together to design and build an A-frame style home with a Mid-Century Modern addition. These 4 students were grouped together for the “Architectural Residential Styles” class project as a part of their Architecture 1 class because the more modern styles appealed to them more than the historic styles that their classmates preferred. They used a variety of natural materials brought from home and materials found on the campus around the high school. The students are in the Architecture career pathway as a part of the College and Career Academy at Marietta High School.” – Candice, teacher of the four students
Second place: House 5, by Jackie Fine
“We have visited the fairy houses every year since we moved to Roswell in 2019, and it was one of the first outings with our daughter after she was born. This was our first year building a house and it was a family effort. My five-year-old drew up the design and the kids collected all of the materials from our yard. We all had a great time building (so much glue!) and imagined fairies and chipmunks might live there together.” – Jackie
Third place: House 8, by Melissa Dorrell
“I’d like to take a little different approach and present a River nymph. Since I’d like to create something more like a little woodsy cabin, I’m thinking she came down to Roswell to escape the snow from the GA mountains because she doesn’t like the cold. I think it will remind kids of geese flying south for the winter. She chose our little neck of the woods to be closer to the animals that remind her of her summer home. She lives on trails so she can surprise children by bringing attention to something like an animal or unique flower using tricks only a child can see or hear. I’d like to incorporate shiny items like Lorie beads and things to reflect light and small rocks for sound, so they can hear and see her through her things. I’m naming her scarlet sage like one of our native plants. To help pull her personality through her home, I plan to use reds to reject her name.” –Melissa
People’s Choice Award: House 15, William Helbig
When thinking about a house for gnomes or fairies, generally small is what pops into your mind. The huge fairy ship that has been delighting visitors this season took the prize for People’s Choice Award this year! This fairy ship was inspired by the Mayflower and is transporting fairies to CNC’s Enchanted Woodland Trail so that they can delight us this winter season and make our trail even more magical.
Honorable Mentions – CNC Staff Houses
This year CNC staff participated in the Enchanted Woodland Trail and created amazing houses that we’d love to highlight:
Nicole, House number 26
Nicole designed her house as a recreation of the Chattahoochee Nature Center but fairy style! If you look closely, you’ll notice all the areas and rooms in her house that represent real locations and landmarks at CNC, including the newly renovated River Boardwalk Trail! The next time you visit see how many of the CNC buildings and landmarks you can identify.
Just to give you a couple hints Nicole included the Discovery Center, Nature Exchange, the Admissions desk, Camp Kingfisher ga-ga pit, the canoe launch with mini canoes, and the Unity Garden to just name a few. There is more for you to explore when you next visit!
Rebekah, House Number 34
Rebekah used her natural artistic talent and love of plants in creating her gnome homestead. She planted real plants in the oversized pot to create a yard in front of the house. The house is made from pine needles, moss, and pieces of wood.
Rebekah wrote a lovely poem about her gnome home as well:
Deep within the winter wood, There is a special neighborhood, Of many tiny shops and homes. Right here lives three little gnomes.
Their house is made of moss and leaves, And mushrooms grow beneath the eaves. The gnomes may be at home today, But come the spring they’ll go away,
To dance beneath your garden plants, To talk with butterflies and ants. The gnomes will work their magic powers To grow sweet grass and wildflowers.
You’ll see them sitting ‘neath a tree, With the chipmunks sipping tea. They’ll soar with birds away up high, And make cloud sculptures in the sky.
Though their home may look superb, In wintertime please don’t disturb! The gnomes are here to get some rest, So come the spring they’ll be at their best!
Amy, House number 33
Amy created her house using a thrifted small chest to serve as the beach destination for the fairies and gnomes. Amy’s design certainly stands out because of the beach theme, her fairies and gnomes are enjoying a much needed getaway from the cold weather. Unfortunately, the windy weather we had this winter was not kind to her house, but we have photographs to remember it and all the hard work Amy put into her home.
Halimah, House number 37
Halimah’s adorable Pixie Dust Mill is very detailed and you can see all the handmade work that went into it. From the waterwheel to the Mill body, Halimah put a lot of work into her beautiful creation! The extra special smaller details really make it stand out: the water edged with small rocks, the flower-shaped ornaments that adorn the mill, and the use of the tree cutouts for the base and the front step of the mill.
A tried-and-true way to build a natural fence is by constructing a wattle!
Wattle materials will you need?
There are several types of this fence you can craft, ranging from simple low-path edging to tall woven masterpieces. This is the structural component of a building technique, which was commonly used for thousands of years, known as a wattle & daub. Traditionally they are constructed by driving wooden stakes into the ground and weaving strips of willow wood or flexible branches in between the stakes. Clay, mud, or mixture, was then “daubed” all over for stability.
You can spot our stake and daub-free wattle serving as a trail edging while exploring the grounds.
A wattle can be an easy, natural, long-lasting, and beautiful addition to your home garden that intrigues kids and adults alike. It also serves as a multifaceted home for birds, helpful insects, and other beneficial critters bringing extra vitality into your yard.
“Wat” a great way to use fallen branches to create a boundary that is pleasing to the eye and creates a natural habitat as well. Check out the wattles the Horticulture Department has created across CNC on your next visit!
Partnership supports resident Red-tailed Hawks and Environmental Education Programming
When it comes to the Chattahoochee Nature Center’s (CNC) Wildlife Department, the saying “it takes a village” could not be truer. Each year, CNC rehabilitates over 375 native Georgia birds of prey. These raptors come to the Center most often because of human contact – hit by a car, shot, or sickened by eating a rat that has been poisoned. CNC does not receive state or federal funding and annual costs are close to $30,000 to feed these birds. As a result, CNC seeks private funding and looks to the community for support to provide this service.
Today, Chattahoochee Nature Center is celebrating one of our outstanding community partners, Cobb EMC. For the past 3 years, Cobb EMC has sponsored the care of our resident Red-Tailed Hawks as well as provided local students with the opportunity to experience hands-on, outdoor, environmental education programs at CNC.
Mark Justice, Director, Education & Community Relations with Cobb EMC shared, “Cobb EMC’s commitment to our members includes a focus on the environment. We are honored to partner with CNC because of their unwavering dedication to wildlife and conservation education.”
CNC’s Wildlife Department treats and rehabilitates more than 750 animals each year, returning approximately 63% of raptors and 95% of reptiles of those surviving the first 24 hours back to the wild. Since its inception in 2016, CNC’s wildlife clinic has treated more than 2000 raptors providing world-class treatment. CNC receives no state or federal funding for wildlife rehabilitation. We could not provide this service without the community partners such as Cobb EMC that care about our environment and the habitat of our animals.
“Humans are directly and indirectly responsible for nearly all the raptors we treat and care for. We feel it is our moral and ethical obligation to care for them” said Kathryn Dudeck, Wildlife Director at CNC. Raptors most often sustain injuries in urban and suburban areas, most commonly in collisions with automobiles. We work to educate the community not to throw things out of cars, even biodegradable items such as apples. These items attract rodents to roadsides where raptors hunt and can be hit.
Cobb EMC’s funding has provided food, housing, and vet costs for our injured, non-releasable Red-Tailed Hawk for the past three years. We could not do this work without their support.
We are thankful for Cobb EMC’s interest and commitment to CNC, the community, and Georgia’s environment through their sustainability projects seen at https://cobbemc.com/sustainability.
The CNC Nature Exchange staff is always looking for ways to connect with young nature enthusiasts so this year they hosted the Third Annual Double Vision for Kids Contest. For this contest, young artists were encouraged to take a photograph of something interesting out in the natural world. It could be a photo of animals, plants, fungi, a landscape scene, rocks, sky – anything in nature. They would then use that photograph to create their own artistic interpretation using a medium of their choice.
The Chattahoochee Nature Center staff are always amazed by the talent and creativity of the young artists who participate. We would like to thank all of the young artists who participated. The entries will be on display throughout the month of December. The winners will earn points that they can use in the Nature Exchange. Winners who are not CNC Nature Exchange traders will have a new trader account set up in their name.
First Place winners received 5000 points, Second Place winners received 2500 points and Third Place winners received 1000 points which were added to their Nature Exchange Account.
K-2nd Gr. Category 1st Place: William H. Grade 2 “Turkey in Action”
2nd Place: Harrison Y. Grade 1 “Green Constrictor”
3rd Place: Charlie H. Gr. 2 “Tower of Rocks”
3rd Place: Lydia L. Gr. 2 “Grand Canyon of Beauty”
3rd-4th Gr. Category 1st Place: Camilla C. Gr. 3 “Hollow Baseball Mushroom”
2nd Place: Harini O. Gr. 4 “Serene”
3rd Place: Nate A. Gr. 3 “Mr. Frog’s Vacuum”
5th-7th Gr. Category 1st Place: Ellen A. Gr. 7 Camellia for Brunch
2nd Place: Elise H. Gr. 5 “Invasive Species”
2nd Place: Ezabella M. Gr. 6 “Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs”
Thanks to the Community Foundation of North Georgia
Naturalists Larry Stevens and Jenna Ellett from Chattahoochee Nature Center talk about the importance of raptors in our communities and preserving their habitats. Larry Stevens served as a U.S. Army counterintelligence agent in West Berlin before becoming a Public Relations Manager at BellSouth in Atlanta. Today, he is a naturalist for the Chattahoochee Nature Center. Jenna Ellett is a Senior Analyst at Cloudmed, but she’s also a Naturalist at the Chattahoochee Nature Center.
The Chattahoochee Nature Center has a long history of being part of scouting activities in the Atlanta area. From offering badge programs for Cub and Girl Scout programs to offering in-depth merit badge programs for Boy Scouts, CNC has unique resources for scouts to learn and earn badges. While earning badges may be the first opportunity that comes to mind within the long-standing relationship CNC has with scouting, many other opportunities exist to be involved with scouting at CNC.
Scouts can also consider CNC as a place to complete volunteer projects for a Girl Scout Gold Award or a Boy Scout Eagle Scout project. Some examples of projects that have been completed at CNC include a firewood rack, a bee hotel for helping resident pollinators, new benches on the grounds, audio, and video projects, and informative tours and displays. All projects are guided by CNC staff members collaborating directly with the scout to achieve their goals.
In addition, one of the hallmarks of scouting programming is CNC’s merit badge program and scout nights. We offer Merit badge programs including Canoeing, Mammal Study, Nature, and Environmental Science. Our certified merit badge counselors are comprised of some of our talented staff naturalists who look forward to working with your scouts on these in-depth programs. Our scout nights are also great opportunities to experience CNC at night and participate in nighttime activities such as night hikes, nocturnal animal demos, and a campfire. Our Will Alexander Memorial Scholarship program for Cub Scouts funds our annual Webelos Campout, which takes place every fall. Troops who qualify may also receive scholarships toward badge programs.
Atlanta area scouts have been very involved with CNC and the nature center is very grateful for scouts’ participation in the opportunities CNC offers. There is always something happening at CNC for scouts to be a part of, from badge programs to volunteer projects, or achieving an Eagle or Gold award through a project on our grounds. CNC is proud to be part of developing youth through scouting. We look forward to continuing our relationship with scouting and being a resource for scouts to connect with nature.
Please visit the CNC website for more information on scouting opportunities.