About Us
Join the Tipton County Museum Bird festival and become part of a community that loves birds and wildlife. Our team is made up of experts in birding, conservation, and recycling who are committed to making a difference. Our team is passionate, knowledgeable, and friendly and are dedicated to making your experience unforgettable.
Meet the Team
Our team is the heart of the Tipton County Museum Bird Fest. Each person brings their unique and experience and knowledge to the table. From Wildlife officers and park rangers to retired agriculture teachers and wildlife photographers. We have a lot of individuals that have spent their lives dedicated to birds, other wildlife and the great outdoors. Our volunteers are the backbone of the festival, and they work hard to make sure everything runs smoothly. They are always on hand to answer questions and share their love of birds with everyone they meet.
Director, Tipton County Museum, Veteran's Memorial and Nature Center
Katherine Markley
Katherine serves as the director of the Tipton County Museum, Veteran's Memorial, and Nature Center. With a passion for service and a commitment to making a difference, she has been actively involved in various local initiatives aimed at improving education, community service, and preservation of history. She holds a board member position at the Covington-Tipton County Chamber of Commerce and Fort Wright Historical, Inc. Katherine has a background in economic development and post-secondary education attainment. She actively supports the community and volunteers as much as possible, believing in the value of giving back in any capacity. As an enthusiastic bird watcher and outdoor lover, she champions the education and appreciation of nature. Katherine is excited to make the festival an unforgettable event and warmly invites you to the Bird Fest to discover the splendor of nature and its marvels.
Naturalist, Tipton County Museum, Veteran's Memorial and Nature Center
Sherl Rose
Sherl is a naturalist at the Tipton County Museum, Veteran's Memorial and Nature Center. She is the club leader for the Nature Journaler's Club. She is an avid birder, gardener, and butterfly mom! She is an amateur lepidopterist, as she has rescued and released several different species of butterflies, on many occasions, including the endangered monarch butterfly. she will be giving lectures on Backyard Birds, bird feeder and bird house maintenace, pollinators and their habitats, and how to become a Certified Watchable Wildlife Habitat.
Wildlife Photographer, Roughedge Photography
Julie Hartsfield
Julie is a wildlife, nature, and urban style photographer, and owner of Roughedge Photography. She is longtime volunteer at the Tipton County Museum, Veteran's Memorial and Nature Center. She is a member of the Hatchie River Conservancy, and Duck's Unlimited. She is a longtime volunteer for the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency, and an active community volunteer. She is an avid birder, gardener, and outdoor enthusiast. She is a proponent of conservation initiatives and the preservation of natural and historical heritage.
Volunteer
Dexter Hartsfield
Dexter has dedicated many years to volunteering at the Tipton County Museum, Veteran's Memorial, and Nature Center. He serves on the board of the Hatchie River Conservancy and has volunteered extensively with the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency. His commitment to community service is unwavering. Professionally, he works as a Field Service Technician for Shred-Tech, a company at the forefront of the shredding and recycling industry.
Tennessee Wildlife Resource Officer
Jake Yoes
Jake, with 18 years of experience as a Tennessee Wildlife Resource Officer, is a passionate outdoorsman. Born and raised in Obion County, he has dedicated 15 years of service to Tipton County. He will conduct a lecture on waterfowl migration, duck and turkey banding, and guide a beginner's birding hike at the Lower Hatchie National Wildlife Refuge.
Hatchie River Conservancy
Bob Ford
Bob serves as the interim director for the Hatchie River Conservancy. As a retired US Fish and Wildlife Service officer, he has dedicated his career to the Hatchie River's environmental concerns. An expert birder, enthusiastic hiker, and outdoor aficionado, Bob will share his knowledge about nightjars during a Facebook Live event, guide an intermediate birding hike in the Lower Hatchie National Wildlife Refuge, co-lead the Quail Walk at Turner Game Birds, and deliver a lecture on songbird migration and endangered species.
Park Manager, Fort Pillow State Historic Park
Robby Tidwell
Robby is the park manager at Fort Pillow State Historic Park, He works to preserve the beauty and historical significance of Fort Pillow State Historic Park, while also providing visitors with an engaging outdoor experience. Fort Pillow has unique scenery that you won’t find anywhere else, like hiking trails and historic sites that are perfect for all skill levels. The park features camp grounds, a fishing lake, picnics and a play area. When you visit Fort Pillow State Historic Park, you’ll come away with a greater appreciation and understanding of the beauty and history of the outdoors.
Park Ranger, Fort Pillow State Historic Park
Tyson Weller
As a Park Ranger at Fort Pillow State Historic Park, Tyson is passionate about inspiring visitors to take a deeper look at the natural world and the history of the park. He's excited to be leading the kickoff bird hike, which is sure to be a great way to experience some of the incredible birds that can be found there. He’ll also be giving engaging lectures on Waterfowl Migration, Duck Banding, and Turkey Banding, and leading an educational snake program, backyard birding program, and sunset birding hayride and pontoon rides. Come join him and discover the beauty of this amazing park.
Fort Pillow State Historic Park
Jackson Martin
Jackson is a park ranger at Fort Pillow State Historic Park. He has a deep appreciation for the great outdoors and all of the amazing wildlife that calls it home. He is an avid lover of nature and the outdoors, and his primary goal is to ensure that guests have the best possible experience while visiting the park. As an expert in wildlife, he is always happy to share his knowledge with visitors and provide them with insight and educational experiences. He will be assisting Ranger Tyson in all the bird fest activities at the park.
Reelfoot Lake State Park
David Haggard
David, a Park Ranger at Reelfoot Lake State Park, began his career in 1983 with Tennessee State Parks. Throughout his career, he has specialized in working with Birds of Prey. As a wildlife photographer, expert birder, and passionate outdoor enthusiast, he is eager to present us with a Birds of Prey show and program. He looks forward to sharing his extensive knowledge of birds with all attendees at our bird festival.
Turner Game Birds
Ted Turner
Ted has been a longstanding member of Leigh's Chapel Community, where he and his wife Carolyn, married for 61 years, raised their two sons, Mike and Charles. Ted, along with his wife Carolyn, and Mike have owned and operated Turner Game Birds for 21 years and continue to do so now with a host of grandkids, and great grandkids. He raises cattle, sheep, quail, pheasant, and chuckar. He earned a Bachelor of Agriculture from the University of Tennessee at Martin in 1965, then returned to Turner Angus Farms, established in 1854. In 1968, he started teaching agriculture at Covington High School, retiring after 39 years. His wildlife management class constructed an observation deck in the wetland area of our museum trail. He also helped found the Covington Clay Target Trap Team. A certified auctioneer, Ted performs for organizations like Ducks Unlimited, Wild Turkey Federation, and Delta Waterfowl. His memberships include Ducks Unlimited, Quails Unlimited, Pheasants Unlimited, Tennessee Cattleman's Association, Tennessee Farm Bureau, and Tipton Farmers' Cooperative (Greenpoint AG), among others. He was instrumental in creating Covington's first swim team and served as a certified lifeguard. He has always been a very active member of our community, whether through the schools, cattle and shows, or various committees. Ted will deliver a lecture on quails, their habitats, and conservation, and will lead a quail walk on his farm. An avid outdoor enthusiast and wildlife management expert, he has dedicated his career to teaching wildlife and environmental management and conservation. We are honored to have him on our team.
Wildlife Managment Technician, John Tully Wildlife Managment Area
David Vandergrift
David, with over 30 years of experience as a Wildlife Management Technician, at John Tully WMA, has received numerous accolades within the waterfowl banding community. As an avid birder and outdoor enthusiast, he advocates for conservation and preservation. He is scheduled to deliver a lecture on Waterfowl Migration, Duck Banding, and Turkey Banding.
Seasonal Interpretive Ranger, Tennessee State Parks
Lily Yates
As a Tennessee State Parks Seasonal Interpretive Ranger, her enthusiasm for the outdoors is infectious. She earned her Bachelor's in Natural Resource Management with a focus on park administration from the University of Tennessee at Martin in 2023. Her experience spans several parks in the region, including Fort Pillow State Historic Park, Norris Dam State Park, Fall Creek Falls State Park, and Reelfoot Lake State Park, where she has provided opportunities for the public to engage with the state parks system. Committed to wildlife conservation, ecological sustainability, and ecosystem protection, she is an excellent environmental advocate. With a passion for painting, wildlife photography, and crafts that incorporate elements of nature and wildlife, we are thrilled to have her as one of our team leaders of the photography walk and a volunteer at this year's bird festival!
Environmental Educator| Content Creator| Singer| Songwriter
Keith Paluso III
Keith is a birder, naturalist, content creator, musician, former professional natural resource manager, and Tennessee State Park Ranger with 10+ years' experience in environmental education. In 2008 he began his career as an Interpretive Ranger for Tennessee State Parks. in 2013 He became a Tennessee State Park Ranger. In 2018 he became a Natural Resources Manager and the Ranger Division Director for the city of Germantown Parks and Recreations. He was on Season 15 of NBC's the Voice. He is currently the lead singer of 3x Grammy-winning jazz/rock fusion band Blood, Sweat, and Tears, where he actively tours. In 2020, due to social distancing, concerts were shut down. He then went back to work as a Park Ranger for Meeman Shelby State Park. He now lives in Munford, TN with his family, pets, and an enormous collection of plants and bird feeder stations.
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Wildlife Photographer
Watt Wallace
His love for birds and nature has led Watt on some very exciting adventures, as he travels the country photographing nature and wildlife. He is an accomplished wildlife and nature photographer. He loves to spread his knowledge as an expert birder with fellow enthusiasts. From leading walks at bird festivals to teaching photography workshops, He is passionate about sharing his love for wildlife and photography with others. He takes the conservation of our natural world very seriously and strives to use his photography as a means to bring attention to the issues affecting our planet.
Volunteer
Clay Hartsfield
Clay is a cherished volunteer at the Tipton County Museum Bird Fest and a lifelong contributor to our community, always ready to offer assistance. His journey of service began in childhood with local fundraising activities. With his extensive knowledge and enthusiasm for nature, he has dedicated many years to the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency, as a volunteer. His expertise in the outdoors is channeled into conservation and sustainable environmental stewardship. He is a member of Duck's Unlimited. His affection for animals shines through his work at the Tipton County Animal Shelter. Additionally, he has devoted countless hours to community safety and cleanup operations after storms. As a proficient welder, Clay's skills have been invaluable in preparing for the festival at the museum. We are honored to have such a committed and generous individual on our team.
Volunteer
James Slough
Here at the Tipton County Museum Bird Fest, we are proud to work alongside volunteers like James, who is passionate about making a positive change in the world. James is a familiar face in the community where he has spent his time volunteering during and after storms. As a skilled welder and craftsperson, he is always ready to lend a hand wherever it's needed. James is just one example of the hardworking and dedicated volunteers at our Bird Fest, who help bring awareness to our beautiful environment and shares their love of nature with others. He is an outdoor enthusiast, and a committed community volunteer.
Volunteer
Rodney Martin
Rodney, one of our volunteers, is a true outdoor enthusiast who understands the importance of preserving nature for future generations. Being a high school student at CHS, he recognizes the significance of educating himself and young people about the world around hm. As a volunteer at the Tipton County Museum Bird Fest, he is committed to making a difference in his community.