On Dec. 16, our day was spent mostly in preparation for our parts of the interpretive programs here at Shark Valley. We were each asked to select a subject and prepare for presentations to the public on some feature of the park which is not presently done in the "table talk" programs here at the park. To the NPS, a table talk is on in which a member of staff sets up a folding table in an area with high visitor traffic and gives short talks and answers questions about almost any subject that applies to the particular park. They are quite informal and free ranging.

Pam has chosen to do her talks on commonly found birds, for the novice birder. For me, ever since I cared for some babies at Black Bayou NWR I have been facinated by the alligator family and so I will talk on the arrival and care of baby alligators. We spent several ours out taking pictures for use in our talks as well as just studying our subject creatures. Part of the preperation for these talks is to know where visitors can likely see each one and to just spend time in watching what they do and how they act. We also did research in the library at the area HQ.  It was a busy day and it passed quickly. We start our talks next week.