BRENTWOOD, Tenn. (WKRN) — One nature sanctuary nestled in the wooded suburbs of Brentwood is dedicated to preserving land and wildlife.

Owl's Hill Nature Sanctuary has about 2,000 species of plants and animals on the 300-acre grounds. In addition to protecting and preserving those species — and the land they live on — the sanctuary aims to connect people with nature. That way, people are more inspired to learn about wildlife and protecting their natural habitats. The roots of the sanctuary also have ties to Cheekwood Estate & Gardens.

Huldah Sharp, the daughter of Mr. Leslie Cheek and Miss Mable Wood, built a home on the property with her husband Walter Sharp.

"While they were constructing their home, they would sit outside," the sanctuary's executive director, Susan Duvenhage, told News 2. "One evening, they heard two great horned owls calling between the ridge, and one turned to the other and said, 'We must have built our home on the owls' hill.'  And that's how we got our name."

There are even some owls on site to greet you! Duvanhage introduced News 2 to just one of several owls that were rehabilitated after injury and found their forever homes at Owl's Hill.

"So, here to my right is Shakespeare. She's a Barred Owl," Duvenhage said. "We like to do sort of puns. Barred — Shakespeare. She is used in programming. She's gone out to Metro schools as part of the STEAM Expedition program. We're very excited to partner with Metro Schools on that. And she came here because of a vehicle injury."

Education is one of the sanctuary's prime goals.  For children, there is a "Knee High Naturalist" class. When News 2 visited the class, the subject of the day was bugs. Julie Eperjesi, Director of Education, entertained and taught the kids about their creepy neighbors on this earth.

Jean Buchanan and her grandson, Noah Miller, help keep track of the birds on the sanctuary. They set up and monitor nest boxes.

"We record what we see in the box," Buchanan explained. "If it's a nest, [we record] how many eggs [are in the nest.] We try to estimate the day the first egg was laid, when they hatch [and] when they fledge."

One bluebird nest on the sanctuary at the time had a jackpot.

"Five eggs. She lays one a day until she's laid all that she's going to lay, and then she begins to incubate," Buchanan said.

Noah recorded the data, and it is sent to the Cornell Nest Box Network, which collects data from all over North America.

The sanctuary also helps connect people with nature through year-round programming, including the upcoming "Family Firefly Hikes in June and July. You can follow this link for more information and access to registration.

The sanctuary also features "Music in the Meadow" where songwriters perform and you can bring your own picnic dinner and enjoy music under the stars. You can follow this link to learn more and buy tickets.

News Source : https://www.wkrn.com/news/local-news/on-tour-middle-tn/owls-hill-nature-sanctuary/