Construction to begin soon on wildlife management educational area

<br>FREDERICK, Okla. (AP) _ Construction is scheduled to start next month on a $1.5 million education project at the Hackberry Flat Wildlife Management Area. <br><br>The project includes a 5,500-square

Monday, September 9th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

FREDERICK, Okla. (AP) _ Construction is scheduled to start next month on a $1.5 million education project at the Hackberry Flat Wildlife Management Area.

The project includes a 5,500-square foot interpretative center, trails, an outdoor classroom and an observation blind for visitors to better see the dozens of bird species that live and pass through the area.

``Earlier this year, we had 31 or 32 different species of shoreline birds in migration pass through,'' said state Wildlife Department biologist Kelvin Schoonover. ``We saw 26 or 27 of them in one day. That's why people come to Hackberry Flat.''

So far, $350,000 for the project has come from the Oklahoma Historical Society. Another $1.2 million for the education center and a visitors center planned for downtown Frederick must still come from the Legislature.

``Hopefully, the money will come through,'' said Tony Chesnutt, a construction inspector for the Historical Society. ``We'll just have to wait and see.''

Hackberry Flat is already drawing visitors. More than 300 arrived at the wetland Sunday as dove hunting season opened. It is also the field trip destination of every fifth-grade student in Tillman County.

``From what I understand, Hackberry Flat is gaining in bird circles because of its unique variety of bird species for that region,'' said Nels Rodefeld, assistant chief of the Wildlife Department's information and education division. ``Birds there either can't be seen anywhere else in the region, or not in as large a number as at Hackberry Flat.''

Naturalists are not the only people drawn to the area. It also has a historical appeal after a visit from Theodore Roosevelt.

Hackberry Flat is where the former president and Rough Rider engaged in his famed ``barehanded wolf hunt'' of 1905. Others in the hunting party were Comanche Chief Quanah Parker and Tillman County's Jack Abernathy, who was famed for riding into a pack of wolves and catching one barehanded.

Roosevelt wanted to see Abernathy do the feat and returned to Washington talking about the Oklahoman's bravery.