Raptorama: Festival of Hawks, Eagles, Falcons and Owls
Last Saturday, October 15, wildlife rehabilitator Bobby Horvath brought about a dozen birds of prey (Raptors) to the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge to give people a closeup view of these magnificent predators. More than 100 people showed up, especially many families with kids to learn about the birds – at close range!
The star of the show was Augie, the very tame Eurasian Eagle Owl. Augie was an orphaned baby owl that imprinted on people. The other birds are impaired and not able to be released into the wild. Other attractions included a young Burrowing Owl and a magnificent adult Bald Eagle that was blind in one eye.
This festival was sponsored by NYC Audubon Society in partnership with Jamaica Bay – Rockaway Parks Conservancy, NPS and the American Littoral Society. The next showing will be at the northern end of Marine Park in Brooklyn on Saturday, October 22 at 10 a.m. Admission is free. Kids welcome! For more information contact www.JBRPC.org
