ASHBURNHAM/WESTMINSTER — Families (ages 6 and up) and bird enthusiasts will have two opportunities during the first week of August to meet live birds of prey and learn about the remarkable adaptations that make them some of nature’s most skilled hunters when Wingmasters presents educational wildlife programs in Ashburnham and Westminster.
The Massachusetts-based organization, which is dedicated to increasing public understanding and appreciation of North American birds of prey, will offer two presentations featuring live raptors and expert insight into their behavior, habitats and the conservation challenges they face.
The first program, “New England Birds of Prey,” will be held from 10 to 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 4, at Stevens Memorial Library, 20 Memorial Drive, Ashburnham.
Recommended for children ages 6 and older and their caregivers, the presentation will feature five live birds of prey native to New England. Participants will learn about predation, the birds’ role at the top of the food web, their specialized hunting adaptations and how they are adapting to a rapidly changing world.
Because many birds of prey are declining in number, the program may also include one or more endangered raptors in Wingmasters’ care, along with an explanation of the conservation challenges these species face.
Advance registration is required at ashburnhamlibrary.org.
Wingmasters will host another presentation from 4:45 to 5:45 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 6, called “The World of Owls” at the Westminster Community/Senior Center, 69 W. Main St.
For owl lovers ages 6 and older, (including teens and adults), the presentation explores the fascinating world of owls while dispelling many of the myths surrounding these nocturnal birds.
Guests will discover how owls use their extraordinary eyesight, hearing and nearly silent flight to survive and thrive as nighttime hunters while learning about the history, folklore and science behind these remarkable raptors.
A variety of live owls will be featured during the presentation.
Wingmasters is a partnership between licensed Massachusetts wildlife rehabilitators Julie Anne Collier and Jim Parks. Together they care for injured birds of prey at their private center in Leverett, releasing as many as possible back into the wild. Birds that cannot be released because of permanent injuries are given lifelong homes and serve as educational ambassadors during presentations throughout New England.
Since 1994, Wingmasters has presented more than 10,000 programs at schools, libraries, museums and community organizations across the region.
For more information on Wingmasters, visit their website at wingmasters.net.
Original article
Comments