For the Birds: Earth Day at the Raptor Center

Our weekend started with Evan's soccer practice.  Look how hard he's working!


After soccer I took the two younger boys to the Horizon Wings Raptor Rehabilitation and Education center.  I had read about their Earth Day celebration through a homeschooling group e-mail and thought it sounded like something Alec would just love.



We stayed for 3 hours!

The place was actually very small but they had so many wonderful programs and people handling the birds so the kids could see them up close.  It was wonderful-- and cheap too!

Once we paid our $9 admission pretty much everything was included (though donations were asked for and in total we spent $20).

The boys got temporary tattoos painted on.

Evan's dragon tattoo


Alec's tattoo of a flower and some butterflies
They filled out raffle tickets for prizes, and had tons of snacks, baked goods, and lemonade.

Snack time!

There were owl pellets for the kids to dissect and handouts that they could compare the bones they found with the ones on the page.

using tweezers to pull out bones


Evan further dissecting his owl pellet

They had a great time playing with a birdsong machine learning all the different calls and sounds birds make.  We got to plant seeds into eggs shells and little cartons for taking home.

Alec plants a seed that we got to take home
They got to pet a llama and talk about sheering the animal with the owner.  She showed the boys what types of things they can make with the llama fur once they spin it into thread/yarn.


And, of course we learned a lot about birds.

We walked around and read about all the different birds they have.  We saw peregrine falcons, a barn owl, screech owls, a barred owl, a raven, a crow, a red shouldered hawk, a couple of vultures, two kestrels, and many more.

They listened to a story with the great horned owl.  It was a very fitting story about what to do if you find a baby bird.

 All in all is was wonderful day and very informative.  The kids were so excited about everything they got to see and do.


presentation about the animals and the center

The male kestrel

Both the little screech owls

The turkey vulture

The boys learning about peregrine falcons

The raven

Alec asking about the red shouldered hawk


Story time

The great horned owl

Comments

  1. What a great range of activities, they seem to have so much on offer.

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    1. I could not believe all that they had to offer. It really was not a large space and for just a couple of dollars we hadn't been expecting much at all.

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  2. How cool! We have watched a few great birds of prey displays with eagles and hawks and all sorts of owls. Such fun for the kids.

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    1. We're just starting to see them around and out in the wild too; especially now that we know what to look for.

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  3. It looks like they had a ton of fun things to so and see! I always think Raptors are amazing!

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    1. They really are quite fascinating to learn about.

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  4. You guys find the funnest things to do! We've been to a few raptor programs at a couple of state parks around here. I can't believe how tiny those kestrels are! I'm pretty sure Myka knows more about peregrine falcons than anyone we know because of Wild Kratts. lol

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    1. Yes! That's where my kids have learned the most animal facts; in fact my middle son once asked Santa for a real working creature power suit like the Kratt Brothers.

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  5. Gosh it looked like uo has a fun packed time, the concentration on the face using the tweeters #fabfridaypost

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    1. I love seeing that look of concentration on any of their of faces. :)

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  6. Ah, so many activities and so much creativity. Sounds like you had a great time! Polly :)

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    1. I could not believe how much they had to offer.

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  7. What a great day out they have had! I love that Evan is doing his owl dissecting with his sunglasses on! lol! That was is cool! That llama is huge! Massive! I wonder how much cool you can get off them. I love it when a cheap day out turned out to be more than a just a cheap day out. That's my kind of day out too! :) x

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    1. I just love when an inexpensive day out turns into so much more than I expected.

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  8. Wow this looks great- love you got to see the birds close up!

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    1. We really did! They often walked around with the birds on their arms.

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