Rare mussels found near farm, pigeons

I just saw a news article about a wildlife biologist who found some rare mussels in the Emory River in Morgan county not far from where we live.

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2011/may/26/rare-mussels-found/

I've read other stories about all kinds of unique species in the Smokies, the Knoxville area (some rare cave dwelling species), and the Cumberland Plateau. We have all sorts of fascinating things on the farm, from flying squirrels, interesting birds, colored salamanders and frogs, turtles, snakes, insects, bats, even leeches (ask John how we know about them).

Interestingly enough the reporter is the same one who came out and interviewed me a couple of years ago about homing pigeons.

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2008/feb/24/winged-wonders/

I still get contacted by people because of that article, just last week a woman called to say that she had a banded racing pigeon show up whose owner could not be found and so I met her and picked up the bird.