George M. Benson served as the Refuge game warden, and later agent, beginning in 1918. In addition to enforcing the hunting and trapping laws, he also banded many waterfowl, often with the help of local children. He loved birds and took a mail order taxidermy course and then started mounting birds.
After he died, the mounts were kept in storage for several years.
The museum |
There are a few other educational exhibits in the museum, including a little bit about the Paiute Indians who lived on this land before being driven off it by ranchers.
This was the largest sandhill egg on record at that time |
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We are all getting things ready for the Bird Festival. I'm also getting a kid's activity ready. It's Migration Madness but played at stations with dice. I also am going to let each child pick from one of six birds and then he gets to keep a picture of that bird mounted on a popsicle stick. That is part of the mess I have sitting around. I talked two new volunteers that are making stuff for us to build me little feet to hold up the poster boards that wll have to sit on tables with the stations mounted on them. The stations are just numbered pieces of paper with directions on them. I may have to make some volunteers play the game with me to make sure every kid will die or get to his/her breeding ground while they are still having fun.
And I'm SO excited that I'll be going on TWO field trips as the driver. One is Extreme Birding and lasts all day. The other takes us through Double O Ranch, my future home here. It's the place where the shore birds breed so I'm anxious to know the locations of future nests.
Fascinating. You are getting all kinds of experience. I have been meaning to tell you that I really love your photo in the header. Reminds me of my ranching childhood. Cheers!
ReplyDeleteThanks. This place has SOOO much history and archeology associated with it.
ReplyDeleteYou go Marilyn. I wonder if you'll be able to do a Youtube or similar with your slideshow. Sounds wonderful.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous weather continues here in PA. Love the high in the 60s stuff.
I'm sure hoping I'll get to see Malheur while you are there. Only time and $,huh? Keep up the good work! Natalie
FreeB$B$L$D. Just need traveling moneey.
ReplyDelete