Naturalist Programs

Park Naturalist Spotlight

We would like to congratulate Tasha Messer on receiving the Mentor Award. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources held the 19th Georgia Youth Birding Competition that drew over 100 youth birders from across the state of Georgia. The youth Birding Competition is aimed at inspiring an awareness and appreciation of Georgia birds and the outdoors.

Tasha Messer received the Mentor Award. The DeKalb County naturalist spent 196 hours prepping and mentoring the tew teams: the Birding Crew (Primary Division) and American Eagles (Elementary Division). Messer encouraged youth through bird walks and entering artwork in the Youth Birding T-shirt Art Contest. Her efforts paid off as both of her teams won awards this year. She won beautiful, framed print of a pair of mourning doves by Dick Parks, a founding member of the Georgia Ornithological Society.