"There was a need for avian rehabilitation in southern Alberta and nobody was here, so we volunteered our services and it's grown from there."
- Wendy Slaytor, foundation executive director
(This story originally appeared in the August 2001 edition of Where Calgary Magazine)
Get
up close with a raptor
Story
and photos by
John Geary
Have you ever imagined what it would be like to hold a great horned owl on your hand? How would you feel about having a Harris hawk come zooming across an open field and land on your hand to enjoy a tasty morsel of food?
Visitors to the Alberta Birds of Prey Centre can experience both types of interactions with raptors. Located in the small community of Coaldale, two hours southeast of Calgary, the centre works to rehabilitate and release injured birds of prey; breed captive birds that are endangered, then release their offspring into the wild; and educate the public about birds of prey and bird conservation. It is home to several species of birds, including burrowing, barred, gray owls and great horned owls; bald and golden eagles; turkey vultures; peregrine and prairie falcons; and red-tailed, Swainson's and Harris hawks.
Open since 1991, the centre operates under
the direction of the Alberta Birds of Prey Foundation, a registered charity. The
foundation, formed in 1982, is Alberta’s oldest privately licensed raptor
rescue and conservation organization. It is a non-political organization, not an
environmental watchdog. Members of the foundation help the conservation movement
by rolling up their sleeves to take direct action that benefits wildlife and the
environment.
"There was a need for avian rehabilitation in southern Alberta and nobody was here," says Wendy Slaytor, the foundation's executive director, "so we volunteered our services and it's grown from there. "
The centre does not receive any government operating subsidies; it relies solely on donations of money, visitor fees, souvenir sales and the time and labor donated by volunteers.
All visitors have the opportunity to slip on a leather gauntlet and hold a live falcon or owl on their arm for a photograph. Whether it is a large great horned owl or a tiny burrowing owl that will pose with toddlers, handling a bird of prey is a rare opportunity not available at many wildlife rehabilitation facilities.
Having a raptor land or perch on your hand is just one of the hands-on experiences you can enjoy there. The enjoyment is not just limited to adults; the centre runs many of its programs to provide children with a hands-on experience. During May, June and July, visitors can watch the centre's captive-bred orphaned babies being hand fed.
Birds of prey are not the only feathered creatures you will see at the centre, either. It is located next to a wetland, so it is home to several geese, ducks and other wild birds. Children can interact with them in a special duck- and goose-feeding area.
Slaytor says those kinds of experiences can play a very important role in educating children about wildlife.
"You can show them pictures, but there's nothing like seeing and handling the real thing, especially for children. There's no way you can get close enough in the wild."
Those
not comfortable with handling large birds of prey can still get very close to
several different types of feathered raptors, including bald eagles. Standing
next to their huge recovery aviary, you can hear the whoosh of the air disturbed
by the wings of the huge, majestic birds as they fly inches away, past your
face, separated only by some chicken wire.
You can also enjoy live flying demonstrations of birds. Those take daily every 90 minutes, weather permitting, starting at 11 a.m. Many of the birds are turned completely loose as part of their daily training and exercise.
In between the flying shows, you can view all of the centre's birds, many of them kept outside of cages, tethered, so they do not fly away.
The centre's goal is to rehabilitate and release every bird, but that is not always possible.
"Some birds are too injured to release into the wild, even after rehabilitation," says volunteer Kurt Ivison. "And some come in too young, and imprint on humans rather than their parents."
Releasing a wild bird that relates to humans better than birds could produce some interesting scenarios.
"Just imagine if we released a hand-raised golden eagle, and one day he decided to land on someone's shoulder to share their lunch!" chuckles Ivison.
There is an upside to having non-releasable birds: they can be used to breed endangered species that are eventually released.
The centre also offers an adopt-a-bird program. All of that money goes toward the food and care of a specific bird.
IF YOU GO:
The centre is open daily, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., opening May 1 and closing Sept. 30. Prices are $6.50 for adults, $5.50 for seniors, $4 for children six to 16, and free for children under five. There is also a family rate of $17 for units of two adults with children under 18.
For more information about the Alberta Birds of Prey Centre and its programs, call (403) 345-4262 or log on to www.albertabirds.com/.
