Story by Betsy Iler | Photos by Kenneth Boone
A 1965 Ford Falcon changed Donna McCain’s life. The car she inherited from her grandmother drove McCain to a passion for owls. Last year, the former pro class racecar driver from Dadeville established the Lake Martin Raptor Center, through which she conducts owl shows to educate the public.
kAm“x D2H E92E pF3FC? &?:G6CD:EJ H2D @776C:?8 2 72=4@?CJ 4=2DD] %96 4=2DD D@F?565 :?E6C6DE:?8[ 2?5 x E9@F89E :E H@F=5 36 7F? E@ 8@ E@ 2 72=4@?CJ 4=2DD :? >J u2=4@?[” |4r2:? D2:5]k^Am
kAm$96 H2D 9@@<65 E96 7:CDE E:>6 E96 4=2DD >6E] “x? E96 7:CDE 4=2DD[ H6 >256 2 =62E96C DEC2A[ 2?5 27E6CH2C5D[ x H2=<65 2C@F?5 H:E9 :E :? >J A@4<6E 7@C H66<D] x <?6H E9:D H2D D@>6E9:?8 x 925 E@ 5@]”k^Am
kAmw6C 6?E9FD:2D> 7@C 3:C5D @7 AC6J H6== ?6DE65[ |4r2:? D6CG65 2D 2 G@=F?E66C 2E pF3FC? &?:G6CD:EJ’D $@FE962DE6C? #2AE@C r6?E6C 7@C E96 ?6IE 7@FC J62CD] $96 2DD:DE65 EC2:?6CD H:E9 @77\D:E6 3:C5 D9@HD 2?5 “(2C t28=6” 7=:89ED 2E F?:G6CD:EJ 7@@E32== 82>6D H9:=6 D96 EC2:?65 EH@ C65\E2:=65 92H<D :? 72=4@?CJ 2E 9@>6] {2E6C[ D96 G@=F?E66C65 7@C 2 J62C 2?5 2 92=7 2E r2==2H2J v2C56?’D u=:89E65 q:C5D @7 !C6J $9@H :? !:?6 |@F?E2:?[ vp]k^Am
kAm$96 DH:E4965 7C@> 72=4@?CJ E@ @H=D H96? @?6 @7 96C 92H<D <:==65 2 ?FCD:?8 DBF:CC6=] “x C62=:K65 E96C6 H2D 2 ?6DE @7 323J DBF:CC6=D @FE E96C6 D@>6H96C6 E92E H6C6 8@:?8 E@ 5:6[ 2?5 x 4@F=5?’E DE2?5 :E[” D96 D2:5] $96 C6=62D65 E96 3:C5D[ 4@?7:56?E E96J 4@F=5 76?5 7@C E96>D6=G6D :? E96 H:=5]k^Am
kAm“x H@C<65 H:E9 @H=D 2E E96 C2AE@C 46?E6C 2E pF3FC? &?:G6CD:EJ[ 2?5 x <?6H E96C6 :D 2 C62= ?665 7@C AF3=:4 65F42E:@? 23@FE E96>]” |4r2:? D2:5 E92E’D H96? D96 564:565 E@ @3E2:? 2 A6C>:E 7C@> E96 &]$] u:D9 2?5 (:=5=:76 $6CG:46 E@ EC2:? 2?5 <66A @H=D 7@C 65F42E:@?]k^Am
kAmsFC:?8 E96 2AA=:42E:@? AC@46DD[ D96 H@C<65 2? :?E6C?D9:A 2E E96 p>6C:42? q2=5 t28=6 u@F?52E:@? :? w2:?6D[ pz[ :? a__h] “u@C EH@ >@?E9D[ x E2F89E A6@A=6 E96C6 9@H E@ >2?286 =:G6 3:C5D] %96 7F??J E9:?8 H2D E92E E96J 5:5?’E 92G6 2?J =:G6 3:C5D J6E] %96J H6C6 DE:== :? E96 AC@46DD @7 H@C<:?8 @FE E96:C AC@8C2>[ D@ x 925 E@ :>AC@G:D6 E@ 7:?5 H2JD E@ E6249 E96> 9@H E@ E2<6 42C6 @7 3:C5D H:E9@FE 24EF2==J 92G:?8 3:C5D E@ H@C< H:E9]k^Am
kAm“u@C 6I2>A=6[ H96? x H2D E6249:?8 E96> E@ 2AA=J ;6DD6D W=68 32?5DX[ H6 DEF4< <?:EE:?8 ?665=6D :? 2 7=@H6C A@E 7F== @7 5:CE[ 2?5 H6 FD65 DEC:AD @7 DH62ED9:CE 723C:4 7@C E96 ;6DD6D[” D96 C642==65] “xE H2D 2 492==6?86]”k^Am
kAm%@ 4@>A=6E6 96C A6C>:E 2AA=:42E:@?[ |4r2:? 925 E@ HC:E6 @FE=:?6D 7@C =6DD@? A=2?D 7@C 2== @7 96C AC@8C2>Dj G6C:7J 96C 6IA6C:6?46 H:E9 3:C5D @7 AC6Jj C64CF:E 2 G@=F?E66C H9@ 4@F=5 42C6 7@C E96 @H=D :7 |4r2:? H2D F?23=6j 2?5 7:?5 2? 2G:2? G6E6C:?2C:2? H9@ H@F=5 4@>>:E E@ EC62E:?8 E96 3:C5D]k^Am
kAm“v6EE:?8 E96 G6E H2D E96 E@F896DE A2CE @7 :E[” D96 D2:5] “*@F 42?’E D:8? @? 2 G6E H:E9@FE E96 A6C>:E[ 3FE J@F 42?’E 86E E96 A6C>:E H:E9@FE 2 G6E] *@F 42?’E ;FDE 86E 2?J G6E 6:E96C] *@F ?665 2? 2G:2? G6E] %96 A6@A=6 2E pF3FC? &?:G6CD:EJ AFE >6 :? E@F49 H:E9 sC] p=G:? pE=2D :? q:C>:?892>[ 2?5 E92E’D H9@ x E2<6 E96 @H=D E@]”k^Am
kAm|4r2:? 4FCC6?E=J <66AD E9C66 @H=D 2E 96C f_\24C6 72C> :? s256G:==6] $96 2=D@ 92D 2 7@FCE9 @H= E92E :D EC2:?:?8 H:E9 C6923:=:E2E:@? 4@==628F6D :? !:?6 |@F?E2:?[ vp]k^Am
kAmw6C @H=D :?4=F56 2 tFC2D:2? 628=6 @H= ?2>65 $236C] “}@?\?2E:G6 DA64:6D 92G6 E@ 36 AFC492D65] *@F 42?’E 86E E96> 2?J @E96C H2J[” D96 6IA=2:?65] “$236C 4@DE Sb[___ 2D 2 c\A@F?5 49:4<[ 2?5 96 =:G65 :? >J 32E9C@@> 7@C 2 >@?E9 F?E:= 96 H2D @=5 6?@F89 E@ 86E 9:D (6DE }:=6 G:CFD G244:?6]”k^Am
kAm%@ >2<6 E96 AFC492D6[ |4r2:? DA6?E 7@FC 52JD H:E9 2 3:C5 562=6C :? |:49:82?[ 56>@?DEC2E:?8 96C D<:==D H:E9 3:C5D 2?5 =62C?:?8 >@C6] %96 562=6C 4964<65 96C C676C6?46D[ 2?5 E96 3:C5 =2E6C 2CC:G65 2E E96 |@?E8@>6CJ 2:CA@CE]k^Am
kAm“(9:=6 x H2D FA }@CE9[ x E@@< 2 4=2DD 2E E96 &?:G6CD:EJ @7 |:??6D@E2[” |4r2:? D2:5] “%96 56A2CE>6?E E96C6 D6ED E96 4C:E6C:2 7@C 2G:2CJ D:K6D 7@C E96 &]$] u:D9 2?5 (:=5=:76 $6CG:46]”k^Am
kAm%96 628=6 @H= ?665D 2? 6?4=@DFC6 E92E :D c_ 766E =@?8 2?5 `a 766E H:56[ |4r2:? D2:5] “%96J =:G6 7@C d_\e_ J62CD :? 42AE:G:EJ[ D@ A2CE @7 BF2=:7J:?8 7@C E96 AFC492D6 H2D D9@H:?8 E92E x 42? AC@A6C=J 42C6 7@C E96 3:C5 2?5 92G6 2 A=2? 7@C :ED =@?8\E6C> H6=72C6]”k^Am
kAm%96 @E96C 3:C5D :? |4r2:?’D 6?E@FC286 2C6 ?2E:G6 DA64:6D E92E D96 @3E2:?65 E9C@F89 C6923:=:E2E:@? 46?E6CD]k^Am
kAm$96C=@4<[ 2 32CC65 @H=[ 2?5 $23C:?2[ 2 8C62E 9@C?65 @H=[ 42>6 E@ |4r2:?’D 46?E6C 7C@> E96 r2C@=:?2 #2AE@C r6?E6C :? r92C=@EE6[ }]r] “(96? C6923 46?E6CD 92G6 3:C5D E96J 42??@E C6=62D6 324< E@ E96 H:=5 – FDF2==J 3642FD6 @7 :?;FC:6D – E96J A@DE E96:C :?7@C>2E:@? @? 2 H63D:E6[ 2?5 J@F 42? 2AA=J E@ AC@G:56 2 A6C>2?6?E 9@>6 7@C E96 @H=D :7 J@F 92G6 2 A6C>:E]” %96 AC@46DD @7 @3E2:?:?8 E96D6 EH@ 3:C5D E@@< E9C66 >@?E9D] “*@F 92G6 E@ DF3>:E A9@E@D @7 J@FC 2G:2C:6D 2?5 A286D 23@FE J@FC 6IA6C:6?46 H:E9 3:C5D 2?5 9@H J@F H:== FD6 E96> :? J@FC 65F42E:@? AC@8C2>D]”k^Am
kAm|4r2:? D2:5 E96C6 :D 2? :?E2<6 AC@465FC6 7@C 244=:>2E:?8 2 C6923 3:C5 E@ :ED ?6H 6?G:C@?>6?E] “*@F D:E :? 2 52C< C@@> H:E9 E96 3:C5 2?5 5@?’E >2<6 6J6 4@?E24E 2E 7:CDE[” D96 D2:5] “xE’D 2 AC@46DD @7 6DE23=:D9:?8 ECFDE 2?5 86EE:?8 E96> E@ 62E]”k^Am
kAmp== @7 E96 3:C5D :? |4r2:?’D 2G:2C:6D 2C6 FD65 :? E96 @H= D9@HD D96 =625D E9C@F89@FE E96 =2<6 2C62] “x7 J@F <66A @H=D 7@C 65F42E:@?[ J@F 92G6 E@ 92G6 E96 3:C5 8=@G6\EC2:?65 H:E9:? D:I >@?E9D] x7 J@F 42?’E EC2:? E96> E@ H@C< 2C@F?5 A6@A=6 :? E92E E:>6[ J@F 92G6 E@ 7:?5 2?@E96C A=246 7@C E96>] *@F 2C6?’E 2==@H65 E@ <66A 2 3:C5 E92E :D?’E A2CE @7 E96 65F42E:@? AC@8C2>]”k^Am
kAm(9:=6 E96 32CC65 @H= E@@< H6== E@ E96 EC2:?:?8 AC@8C2>[ |4r2:? D2:5 E96 8C62E 9@C?65 @H= 5:5 ?@E C6DA@?5 E@ E96 EC25:E:@?2= EC2:?:?8 >6E9@5D] “x >:89E 92G6 E9@F89E :E H2D >6[ D@>6E9:?8 HC@?8 H:E9 H92E x H2D 5@:?8[ 3FE x 925 @E96C 3:C5D E92E H6C6 EC2:?:?8 G6CJ H6==] $23C:?2 925 366? 9F?8 FA :? 32C365 H:C6[ 2?5 96C @?=J :?;FCJ :D E92E D96 ?@ =@?86C 92D D:=6?E 7=:89E] w6C AC6J :? E96 H:=5 H@F=5 962C 96C 4@>:?8[ D@ D96 42?’E 9F?E 7@C 96C 7@@5[” D96 D2:5]k^Am
kAm|4r2:? D6?E $23C:?2 E@ EC2:? H:E9 96C 4@==628F6D :? !:?6 |@F?E2:? H9@D6 EC2:?:?8 C68:>6? :D >@C6 :?E6?D6] “%96J =:G6 H:E9 E96 @H=D :? E96:C 9@FD6[ D@ E92E :D E96 3:C5’D 6?G:C@?>6?E] x 42?’E 5@ E92E 96C6[ D@ x’> 9@A:?8 E96J H:== 36 23=6 E@ 96=A 96C 25;FDE]”k^Am
kAm%96 7@FCE9 @H= F?56C |4r2:?’D 42C6 :D 2 D4C6649 @H= E92E 42>6 7C@> 2 C6923:=:E2E:@? 724:=:EJ :? u@CE (2=E@? q6249[ u=2] v:?86C :D 4@>A=6E6=J EC2:?65 2?5 :D FD65 E@ 36:?8 92?5=65 3J 9F>2?D] “$96 92D 2 HC:DE :?;FCJ 2?5 42??@E 9@=5 96C 7@@5] $96 42? <:== :Ej D96 ;FDE 42?’E A:4< :E FA 2?5 7=J E@ 2 C@@DE H:E9 :E[ D@ D96 :D GF=?6C23=6 E@ @E96C AC652E@CD[” 6IA=2:?65 |4r2:?]k^Am
kAm%96 3:C5D 2C6?’E E96 @?=J @H= D9@H A2CE:4:A2?ED :? EC2:?:?8] |4r2:? 4@?E:?F6D E@ E2<6 4=2DD6D E92E 96=A 96C :>AC@G6 E96 BF2=:EJ @7 96C D9@H[ 2D H6== 2D E96 BF2=:EJ @7 42C6 E96 @H=D C646:G6] rFCC6?E=J[ D96 :D E2<:?8 2 >2DE6C ?2EFC2=:DE 4=2DD 2E r@=F>3FD $E2E6 &?:G6CD:EJ :? r@=F>3FD[ vp[ 2D H6== 2D 2 DA6649 4=2DD]k^Am
kAm“!F3=:4 DA62<:?8 >2<6D >6 ?6CG@FD[ 3FE x 92G6 E@ 5@ 2 =@E @7 E2=<:?8 :? 2? @H= D9@H] %96 DA6649 4=2DD :D C62==J 96=A:?8 >6 E@ >2<6 2 >@C6 A@=:D965 AC6D6?E2E:@? 2?5 E@ 4@>>F?:42E6 23@FE E96 @H=D 36EE6C[” D96 D2:5]k^Am
kAm(9:=6 E96 @H=D =:G6 2E E96 72C>[ D96 @?=J 4@?5F4ED D9@HD @77\D:E6] “pE 7:CDE[ x E9@F89E H6 H@F=5 92G6 7=:89E D9@HD 96C6[ 3FE E96 :?DFC2?46 5@6D?’E 4@G6C E92E] x 42?’E 3C:?8 A6@A=6 :? E@ D66 D9@HD @C E@ G:6H E96 @H=D] p== @7 E96 D9@HD 92G6 E@ 36 2E 2?@E96C D:E6[ DF49 2D 2 D49@@= @C 3FD:?6DD[” D96 6IA=2:?65] “x’> 2=D@ ?@E 2==@H65 E@ FD6 E96 @H=D 7@C AC@>@E:@? @7 2?J 3FD:?6DD @C E@ 6?5@CD6 2?J AC@5F4E] %96J 42? 36 FD65 7@C 65F42E:@?2= AFCA@D6D @?=J]”k^Am
kAm%9C@F89 {2<6 |2CE:? #2AE@C r6?E6C[ |4r2:? @776CD @H= D9@HD 2E 32C82:? AC:46Dj 92=7 @7 96C D9@HD 2C6 7C66 @C AC6D6?E65 @? 2 “5@?2E:@?D 2446AE65” 32D:D] “xE’D 2== 23@FE 65F42E:@?] %96C6 :D?’E 2?J >@?6J E@ 36 >256 :? E9:D[” D96 D2:5] “xE 4@DED 23@FE Sa[___ E@ >2:?E2:? E96 3:C5D[ A=FD 3F:=5:?8 2G:2C:6D] x A2J E96 G6E 2?5 3FJ 2== @7 E96 7@@5 @FE @7 >J A@4<6E[ D@ x 2AAC64:2E6 5@?2E:@?D] pE E96 D2>6 E:>6[ x 42?’E 2D< 2 4@>>F?:EJ =:3C2CJ H:E9 2 G6CJ D>2== 3F586E E@ A2J E96 3:8 @A6C2E:@? C2E6 WD@>6E:>6D 2D 9:89 2D Scd_X 7@C 2 92=7 9@FC @H= D9@H 7@C E96:C DF>>6C <:5D’ AC@8C2>] x’== 5@ E9@D6 D9@HD 7@C Sad\Sd_ E@ 4@G6C >J EC2G6= 2?5 766= 8@@5 <?@H:?8 E92E x’G6 96=A65 E96> =62C? 23@FE E96 @H=D]”k^Am
kAm#65 ~2< u2C> :? r2>A w:== 92D 5@?2E65 D4C2A 3F:=5:?8 DFAA=:6D 7@C |4r2:?’D 2G:2C:6D] “%96J 2=D@ 3C:?8 >6 D?2<6D E92E E96J’G6 <:==65 E96C6 2?5 BF2:=[” D96 D2:5]k^Am
kAm}:776C’D !=246 2E E96 {2<6[ 2 C6DE2FC2?E :? q=F6 rC66<[ ?2>65 E96 C2AE@C 46?E6C E96 492C:EJ @7 E96 >@?E9 E9C@F89 E96:C “}:776C’D v:G6D q24<” AC@8C2>[ H9:49 3@@DE65 5@?2E:@?D] “}:776C’D 5@6D?’E A2J >6 E@ 5@ @H= D9@HD E96C6[ 3FE E96J =6E >6 AFE @FE 2 5@?2E:@? 32D<6E] %96J 92G6 2 DE286[ D@ :E’D 2 8@@5 A=246 E@ 5@ 2 D9@H]”k^Am
kAm%@ 3@@< 2 D9@H @C 7:?5 @FE >@C6 23@FE E96 {2<6 |2CE:? #2AE@C r6?E6C[ 6>2:= |4r2:? 2E k2 9C67lQ>2:=E@i@H=D9@HDoJ29@@]4@>Qm@H=D9@HDoJ29@@]4@>k^2m]k^Am