A local wildlife rescue held a "baby shower" at a park near us, and they brought unreleasable birds of prey and an opossum along to do an educational talk. Above, a Great Horned Owl who had been hit by a car and can no longer dilate one of his eyes.
There were several handlers and each had a wealth of information to share, not only about the animals themselves, but about their habitat, how to protect them, and what to do if we find an injured or baby animal.
The crowd listening was mostly kids, and some parents were better than others on corralling their young children and keeping them quiet. A few times the birds "spooked" at approaching or squealing children, and the eagle handler got a few bloody cuts across his forehead from the bird's talons, but otherwise the birds seemed content in their role as species ambassadors.
Of course all the birds were secured on "Jessies" and couldn't get far from their handlers.
The "spooking" incidents were pretty dramatic, because you got to see the wildness in the birds, and their amazing wingspans.
There were many tender moments, too. The handlers and their birds definitely had a bond with each other.
Here the handler tries to calm his bird before putting it back in it's carrier.
In addition to the Bald Eagle and Great Horned Owl, we also saw a Red Tail Hawk (above left), a Peregrine Falcon, a Golden Eagle, and an Opossum. All had injuries that prevented them from being released, however the main goal of Sarvey Wildlife is to rehabilitate and release. They work with everything from tiny hummingbirds to enormous black bears.
I was just in awe at the handlers' poise and ability to manage these unpredictable, wild birds while also talking with the crowd.
Besides the lecture, there were also educational tables, activities, and crafts scattered around the park.
The kids particularly loved the "feather boards." One of the educators had handpainted life-sized cutouts of birds and attached shed feathers so the children could feel them.
The board on the right, above, shows the Red Tail Hawk, with the left side being a juvenile, and the right being the mature plumage. The eye color of the hawk even changes from yellow to dark brown.
Soon the show was over. Birds were loaded back into their kennels for the drive back to the shelter. Children and their parents learned new things. And I have an even greater respect for the work wildlife rescue groups do to keep our wildlife surviving.