Words and photos by Melissa McMasters If there’s one question I’m asked most often as a birder, it’s “What’s that bird that sings [distinct whistling song]?” The answer–the singer of the melody often translated as “Oh, sweet Canada Canada“–is the white-throated sparrow. (Listen to it here. To my ears,
Words and photos by Melissa McMasters April greetings, park friends! We know that many of you won’t be visiting the park as much as you’d like this spring, so we’ll continue to bring it to you. It’s peak wildflower season in the Old Forest, which means
This afternoon, Mayor Strickland announced tighter restrictions on park use to combat the spread of COVID-19. As of tomorrow morning at 8 AM, access roads to city parks will be closed to all but essential staff and emergency vehicles. Entrances and parking lots at Overton
Words and photos by Melissa McMasters, Director of Communications As winter turns to spring, we’ll soon see an influx of migratory birds. But for now, let’s spotlight some of the stars of the winter forest: the woodpeckers!Seven species of woodpeckers are regulars in the Old
Yesterday Mayor Strickland issued a shelter-in-place order that goes into effect at 6pm today. The order provides for people to get outdoor exercise, so we wanted to offer some guidelines for safe park use, especially as the park has been very crowded over the past
Words + Photos by Melissa McMasters, Director of Communications Something I try to practice every year at this time is looking more closely. In a few weeks, when spring bird migration is in full swing, I’ll be distracted by explosive song and flashes of yellow
words and photos by Melissa McMasters A huge part of Overton Park Conservancy’s mission is connecting the people of Memphis, so it’s hard to accept that one of the kindest things we can do for each other–particularly for the most vulnerable among us–is to keep
During these times where it’s safest for us to be apart from each other, we’re so glad that the trails and open spaces of Overton Park are serving as a refuge for many of us. It’s with heavy hearts, then, that we’ve decided to close
As our city responds to the evolving COVID-19 situation, we wanted to reach out and let you know the precautions Overton Park Conservancy is taking to keep our visitors safe. The city’s parks and public spaces remain open, including cultural attractions like the Memphis Zoo
THANK YOU for your generosity in helping us clean up after the January 11 storm! Because of your donations, we were able to pay crews to perform the herculean task of clearing the Old Forest Loop in a little over a week. These photos show
