GENTRY -- After a two-year hiatus due to covid-19 concerns, Earth Day activities returned to SWEPCO's Eagle Watch Nature Trail on Saturday, with cleanup work being done on the area's butterfly gardens, and educational programs being held at the Terry Stanfill Pavilion along the trail.
Local 4-H club members helped ready the raised-bed garden space for planting flowers for the bees, butterflies and other pollinators.
And, after some working in the soil, participants were given the opportunity to see and learn about the barred owl and the great horned owl from Lynn Sciumbato, of Morning Star Wildlife Rehabilitation Center near Gravette, and learn a little about bugs and butterflies and their roles as pollinators from Professor Don Steinkraus, of the University of Arkansas.
Steinkraus showed some butterflies and moths, as well as other bugs, and talked about their importance in the ecosystem and to our food supplies.
The morning activities were followed up by Pizza at noon, provided to Earth Day participants by the Flint Creek Power Plant
Westside Eagle Observer/RANDY MOLL
Lynn Sciumbato, of Morning Star Wildlife Rehabilitation Center near Gravette, holds a barred owl with an injured wing and mimics the territorial call of the raptors to those visiting Eagle Watch Nature Trail for the Earth Day celebration on Saturday.
Westside Eagle Observer/RANDY MOLL
Clementine Gaither was among those helping to pull weeds out of the flower beds at Eagle Watch Nature Trail on Saturday as a part of Earth Day celebrations.
Westside Eagle Observer/RANDY MOLL
Professor Don Steinkraus, of the University of Arkansas, showed some butterflies and moths, as well as other bugs, and talked about their importance in the ecosystem during the Earth Day observance at Eagle Watch Nature Trail on Saturday.
Westside Eagle Observer/RANDY MOLL
Lynn Sciumbato, of Morning Star Wildlife Rehabilitation Center near Gravette, shows a great horned owl with an injured wing to those visiting Eagle Watch Nature Trail for the Earth Day celebration on Saturday.