Schedule:

Friday, January 10, 2025

3:00pm-5:00pm - Birding with Christopher Joe
Location: Wheeler Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center

Christopher Joe will be kicking off our FOC 2025 with a guided bird walk! There is no registration and the event will be first come, first served.

4:00pm-5:00pm - Story Time with Hope
Location: Decatur Public Library
504 Cherry Street NortheastDecatur,AL,35601

Hope, the mascot for the International Crane Foundation, and her friend Olivia will present this free storytime for all ages.
Youth Services Room.

4:30pm-6:00pm - Thank You, Rachel
Location: Alabama Center for the Arts (Performing Arts Building - Recital Hall)
133 2nd Avenue NortheastDecatur,AL,35601

Thank you, Rachel" is a new play by Carol Cook Puckett about Rachel Carson. Rachel Carson was a biologist, spirited idealist, and the author of "Silent Spring."

7:00pm-9:00pm - Muscle Shoals Meets the 80s
Location: Princess Theatre Center for the Performing Arts
112 2nd Avenue NortheastDecatur, AL, 35601

Featuring the Fiddleworms with special guests including Kelvin Holly, Jay Burgess, Gary Baker, Jimmy Nutt, Dave Anderson, Taylor Grace, Mike Dillon, Marty Lewis, James LeBlanc, Marie Lewey, Cindy Walker, G Mane, Cissy Ashley Guinn, Brad Guinn, Drew White, Ricky Burkes, Scott Campbell, Eddie Martin, Connor, Nick Franks, Lenny LeBlanc, Gary Nichols, Rob Aldridge, Natasha Paige Nix, Bay Simpson, Daniel Crisler, Michael Ledbetter, Angela Hacker, Jamie Barrier, Lucie Tiger, Monkee Wammack, Red Mouth, Doug Stokes, Trey Nichols,  Steve Vickery, Scott Todd, Halley Phillips, Carla Russell, Microwave Dave, and the Decatur High School Marching Band.

Click Here to Buy Tickets

Saturday, January 11, 2025

9:00am-10:00am - Bird Walk for Kids at Delano Park
Location: Delano Park
825 Gordon Drive SoutheastDecatur, AL, 35601

Ava Lyerly will lead children ages 5-18 on a bird walk at Delano Park.  This free program is for those young people interested in learning about bird watching and identification.
(Moms of families are welcome to bring their younger children and stay behind the group with “littles,” so there is minimal noise, and bird viewing is better.)
Ava is the President of the North Alabama Young Birders Club in Decatur, Alabama.

9:00am-10:00am - Wings to Soar
Location: Princess Theatre: Center for Performing Arts
112 2nd Avenue NortheastDecatur, AL, 35601

Wings to Soar's mission is to create awareness about the vital role birds of prey play in the natural world. In this interactive outreach program, environmental education reaches new heights! In this free-flying raptor program, the
audience has a unique opportunity to view birds of prey up close.

9:30am-10:30am - Vicky Smith - The Bat Lady
Location: Alabama Center for the Arts - Performing Arts Building

BATTY ABOUT BATS presented by Vicky Beckham Smith of A-Z ANIMALS consists of a power point presentation that covers myths about bats, their adaptations, their feeding strategies along with the eco-services they provide to us, the various food they eat, prey and predator relationships, and various places they live and roost.  It also covers the difference between micro and mega bats. There are various mounted bats, life size silhouettes as well as live bats that will be used during the presentation. Vicky holds USDA, USFWS and state permits that allow her to house and use the bats for educational purposes.

10:00am-12:00pm - Children’s Activity with ACA Staff
Location: Alabama Center for the Arts

Alabama Center for the Arts - Visual Arts Building - Room 113
Join us for a nature-inspired painting party during Festival of the Cranes weekend on Sat., Jan. 11, 2025
We provide the supplies, and you provide the inspiration. Each participant will receive a canvas panel on which to paint their favorite animal, plant, or insect, and we’ll have paint and brushes onsite for everyone to borrow. We can’t wait to see what you create
Open to children from 4 to 99! Free and open to the public.

10:00am-4:00pm - Kids Activities in the Library
Location: Decatur Public Library
504 Cherry Street NortheastDecatur, AL, 35601

assorted crafts/activities
photo opportunity
scavenger hunt
goodie bags for kids 12 & under (while supplies last!)

10:30am-11:30am - Brian “Fox” Ellis
Location: Princess Theatre: Center for Performing Arts

Storyteller Brian “Fox” Ellis portrays Audubon in a dynamic performance that engages listeners in scientific inquiry and natural history, art appreciation, and ornithology. Come spend an hour in the studio of one of America’s greatest naturalists and wildlife artists. Listen to tales of his adventures in the wilds of America.

11:00am-12:00pm - Similarities in Habitat for Cranes and Quail
Location: Decatur Public Library

This free program will be presented by Jessie Douglas Taylor, Farm Bill Biologist II with Pheasants Forever, Inc. and Quail Forever.  She will discuss the habitats of quail and cranes, their similarities, and the importance of conserving both.
Training Center.

11:00am-12:00pm - Christopher Joe
Location: Alabama Center for the Arts - Visual Arts Building - Room 118

Christopher Joe presents “Building Tourism Through Small Ecotourism Projects”

11:30am-12:30pm - Dr. Matthew Niemiller - Cave Life
Location: Alabama Center for the Arts - Performing Arts Building - Recital Hall

Cave Life of Wheeler NWR: An Underappreciated and Unique Biodiversity
Dr. Niemiller is the head of the Cave Bio Lab at UAH, which employs field, laboratory, and computational approaches to study the ecology, evolution, and conservation of life in caves and other subterranean habitats. Current research includes population surveys and status assessments of state and federally-listed cave and groundwater species throughout the United States and Alaska, developing environmental DNA approaches for population monitoring and community studies of groundwater life, and genetic and genomic studies of cave and groundwater fauna, among others.

11:30am-12:30pm - Adventures with John James Audubon
Location: Decatur Public Library

Storyteller and author Brian “Fox” Ellis, in the persona of Audubon, brings history, ecology, art and literature to life in this meticulously researched program that celebrates the life work of one of America’s greatest artists and naturalists.
Community Room

12:00pm-1:00pm - Andy Caven - ICF
Location: Princess Theatre Center for the Performing Arts

An issue of scale: building coalitions to address wetland habitat connectivity challenges in the Great Plains using a flagship species

We find ourselves in the midst of the 6th major extinction in world history, notwithstanding significant investments in native species conservation. One of the major drivers of this decline is a reduction in the extent and quality of habitat for native wildlife and vascular plant species. The Great Plains of North America are no exception and represent one of the most transformed landscapes in the world.

1:00pm-2:00pm - Dr. Jon Armbruster - Auburn’s Dinosaur Egg
Location: Alabama Center for the Arts - Performing Arts Building - Recital Hall

About 83 million years ago, an almost completely developed dinosaur died. Still encased in its egg, it somehow got washed out to sea, sank, and was buried. In 1970, Prescott Atkinson, then 17 years old, was looking for fossils west of Selma when he found the egg sitting on a pedestal of clay. In the over 50 years since then, the egg has traveled around Alabama and to France to unlock its mysteries. It is one of the rarest things in the world as it is the only ornithomimid egg; it is shaped more like a duck egg, while most dinosaur eggs are elongated. It is heavily textured, and it is among the thickest eggs ever found despite also being one of the smallest dinosaur eggs. As the eastern US’s only intact dinosaur egg, it unlocks just a bit of what is a very poorly known time in our area. The short life and the long history of the egg will be discussed.

1:00pm-2:00pm - Robyn Bailey - Nestwatch
Location: Alabama Center for the Arts - Visual Arts Building - Room 118

Hidden Heroes: The Role of Citizen Scientists in Studies of Avian Reproduction

Robyn will discuss how ordinary people around the world contribute important bird observations to long-term databases. These contributions help scientists understand how environmental changes affect bird populations. Specifically focusing on North America's nesting birds over the past six decades, Robyn will highlight the pivotal role of citizen scientists in this research. She also offers practical tips on how everyone can make a difference in supporting bird conservation in their daily lives.

1:30pm-2:30pm - Hillary Hankey - Avian Behavior International
Location: Princess Theatre Center for the Performing Arts

Birds Tell Their Own Stories: Connecting the Public to Bird Conservation Challenges

2:00pm-2:45pm - Free Meet & Greet with Hope
Location: Decatur Public Library

Come and meet Hope, the mascot for the International Crane Foundation, and get your picture made with her!
Main Area

2:30pm-3:30pm - Dr. James McClintock - Drug Discovery in Antarctic Seas
Location: Alabama Center for the Arts - Performing Arts Building - Recital Hall

DRUG DISCOVERY IN ANTARCTIC SEAS
Explore the exciting field of marine natural product drug discovery and efforts to find new chemicals to cure a variety of human diseases from Antarctic marine animals.

2:30pm-4:30pm - Southern Exposure Films
Location: Alabama Center for the Arts - Visual Arts Building - Room 118

Southern Exposure Films (Janice Barrett)

2:30pm-3:30pm - Timothy Joe - Art Demonstration
Location: Alabama Center for the Arts - Visual Arts Building - Room 113

3:00pm-4:00pm - Wings to Soar
Location: Princess Theatre: Center for Performing Arts

Wings to Soar's mission is to create awareness about the vital role birds of prey play in the natural world. In this interactive outreach program, environmental education reaches new heights! In this free-flying raptor program, the
audience has a unique opportunity to view birds of prey up close.

3:00pm-4:00pm - Quail Story Time
Location: Decatur Public Library

Jessie Douglas Taylor, Farm Bill Biologist II with Pheasants Forever, Inc. and Quail Forever, will read Dale the Quail and the Rainbow Serenade.

4:30pm-6:00pm - Thank You, Rachel
Location: Princess Theatre Center for the Performing Arts

"Thank you, Rachel" is a new play by Carol Cook Puckett about Rachel Carson. Rachel Carson was a biologist, spirited idealist, and the author of "Silent Spring."

Sunday, January 12, 2025

10:00am-11:00am - Dr. Matthew Niemiller - Cave Life
Location: Alabama Center for the Arts - Visual Arts Building - Room 118

Dr. Niemiller is the head of the Cave Bio Lab at UAH, which employs field, laboratory, and computational approaches to study the ecology, evolution, and conservation of life in caves and other subterranean habitats. Current research includes population surveys and status assessments of state and federally-listed cave and groundwater species throughout the United States and Alaska, developing environmental DNA approaches for population monitoring and community studies of groundwater life, and genetic and genomic studies of cave and groundwater fauna, among others.

10:00am-11:00am - Wings to Soar
Location: Princess Theatre: Center for Performing Arts

Wings to Soar's mission is to create awareness about the vital role birds of prey play in the natural world. In this interactive outreach program, environmental education reaches new heights! In this free-flying raptor program, the
audience has a unique opportunity to view birds of prey up close.

10:30am-11:30am - Vicky Smith - The Bat Lady
Location: Alabama Center for the Arts - Performing Arts Building - Recital Hall

BATTY ABOUT BATS presented by Vicky Beckham Smith of A-Z ANIMALS consists of a power point presentation that covers myths about bats, their adaptations, their feeding strategies along with the eco-services they provide to us, the various food they eat, prey and predator relationships, and various places they live and roost.  It also covers the difference between micro and mega bats. There are various mounted bats, life size silhouettes as well as live bats that will be used during the presentation. Vicky holds USDA, USFWS and state permits that allow her to house and use the bats for educational purposes

11:30am-12:30pm - Robyn Bailey - Nestwatch

Robyn will discuss how ordinary people around the world contribute important bird observations to long-term databases. These contributions help scientists understand how environmental changes affect bird populations. Specifically focusing on North America's nesting birds over the past six decades, Robyn will highlight the pivotal role of citizen scientists in this research. She also offers practical tips on how everyone can make a difference in supporting bird conservation in their daily lives.

11:30pm-12:30pm - Dr. Jon Armbruster - Fish Under Alabama
Location: Alabama Center for the Arts - Visual Arts Building - Room 118

Fish Under Alabama: How Fish Came to Live in Caves

Some of the most inhospitable environments are caves. With no light, any cave organism relies on food that comes from the outside. Despite these conditions, fish have moved into caves many times all over the world. For a long time, we believed that cave organisms had to have small distributions because their lack of eyes and pigments would mean that they would not be able to survive outside of their dark environments. However, one of Alabama’s two cavefishes, the Southern Cavefish, is distributed across Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Alabama. Turns out that the underground world is a lot more complex than we had thought.

12:00pm-1:00pm - Jimmy Stiles - Reptiles
Location: Alabama Center for the Arts - Performing Arts Building - Recital Hall

Jimmy Stiles Herpetologist and Nature Lover:  Mr.  Stiles will share information about the reptiles and amphibians of Alabama.  This hands-on experience is always a hit!

12:00pm-4:00pm - Kids Activities in the Library
Location: Decatur Public Library

assorted crafts/activities
photo opportunity
scavenger hunt
goodie bags for kids 12 & under (while supplies last!)

1:00pm-2:00pm - Brian “Fox” Ellis
Location: Princess Theatre: Center for Performing Arts

Storyteller Brian “Fox” Ellis portrays Audubon in a dynamic performance that engages listeners in scientific inquiry and natural history, art appreciation, and ornithology. Come spend an hour in the studio of one of America’s greatest naturalists and wildlife artists. Listen to tales of his adventures in the wilds of America.

1:00pm-2:00pm - Dr. James McClintock - Diving Under Antarctic Ice
Location: Alabama Center for the Arts - Visual Arts Building - Room 118

Through his spectacular images, Dr. McClintock takes you SCUBA diving in sub-freezing waters and introduces you to the bountiful sea life in the most fascinating and challenging seas in the world.

2:00pm-4:00pm - Tracy Roberts McCann - Art Painting Class
Location: Alabama Center for the Arts - Visual Arts Building (Room 113)

3:00pm-4:00pm - Wings to Soar
Location: Princess Theatre: Center for Performing Arts

Wings to Soar's mission is to create awareness about the vital role birds of prey play in the natural world. In this interactive outreach program, environmental education reaches new heights! In this free-flying raptor program, the
audience has a unique opportunity to view birds of prey up close.

3:00pm-4:00pm - Meriwether Lewis’ Scientific Discoveries
Location: Decatur Public Library

Imagine an evening in Philadelphia with some of the greatest scientific minds in Early American history where Merewether Lewis reveals many of the scientific discoveries of the Corps of Discovery for the first time. Encountering grizzly bears and collecting soil samples, capturing prairie dogs and hunting for antelope, Lewis catalogued 122 new animal species and 178 new plants. In this original performance Lewis sings the praises of the geology, diverse flora and fauna, and the web of life that binds us to the land. The expedition was first and foremost a scientific expedition and this program brings the scientific process to life.

3:00pm-4:00pm - Jimmy Stiles - Reptiles
Location: Alabama Center for the Arts - Performing Arts Building

Jimmy Stiles Herpetologist and Nature Lover:  Mr.  Stiles will share information about the reptiles and amphibians of Alabama.  This hands-on experience is always a hit!

4:30pm-6:00pm - Thank You, Rachel
Location: Princess Theatre Center for the Performing Arts

"Thank you, Rachel" is a new play by Carol Cook Puckett about Rachel Carson. Rachel Carson was a biologist, spirited idealist, and the author of "Silent Spring."

Date: January 10-12, 2025

Location: Various Locations in Decatur, AL

click here for more information