FORT SILL, Okla., June 21, 2018 -- A licensed falconer shared her experiences with area grade-school children attending an all-summer program in the Lawton-Fort Sill community.
Roughly 25 first-grade children who are attending the Fort Sill School Age Center Summer Camp Program for 12 weeks, expressed excitement over seeing three wild birds -- an owl, a hawk and an eagle. They asked many questions for the falconer. The accredited center serves as a summer program for first- through fifth-grade children who need a safe and friendly place to attend as they await the fall school session.
A falconer -- someone who cares for raptors, or birds of prey, such as owls, eagles and hawks -- requires many years of schooling, special licensing, specified veterinary care, large, open spaces, time and money. Falconry is an expensive and time-consuming pursuit and one not to be taken lightly. People who specialize in it can rarely take vacations because of the elaborate attention needed to care for birds of prey.
Yong Brenneman, who previously lived in Broward Country, Fla., greater Fort Lauderdale -- has lived in Lawton two years. She taught an approximate 30- to 40-minute presentation four afternoons during the week of June 11 to the School Age Center children at the classroom at Fort Sill's fish and wildlife office, a subsidiary of the Natural Resources Branch-Environmental Quality Division, Directorate of Public Works.
Yong explained how she became interested in raptors. "In the seventh grade, I saw an (National Geographic) article about an eagle and a light came on. I've always enjoyed native wildlife and I'm partial to native (wildlife).
Mark Conklin, supervisor in conservation education, said he had picked up an injured hawk last week, and is having Brenneman assist with trying to rehabilitate it. Conklin said he met Brenneman a few months ago and she agreed to teach some classes as a volunteer at Fort Sill. "All our classes are volunteer Soldiers," Conklin said. "If area schools want to hold wildlife classes, we'll try to accommodate, though we may not always be able to."
He said the area Boy Scouts give classes at the wildlife office classroom as well, and the staff feels fortunate for them and Brenneman, who accidently stumbled upon the opportunity to teach. Conklin works under biologist Glen Wampler, Natural Resources Branch administrator and the author of the weekly "Wild Side" column that appears in the Fort Sill Tribune.
Conklin explained other functions of Fort Sill's conservation program. Youth deer and turkey hunts and fishing are primary duties. "We get enough vendors and sponsors that we can pass out door prizes to the winners," he said. The last (youth) turkey hunt, we had about 75 kids, though probably 100 attendees. It's holistic and family oriented." Children ages 12 to 16 may participate in youth hunts.
For more information on the wildlife conservation program and/or to inquire about classes readers may call 580-442-3453/3553.
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