- Opossums probably have mixed feelings about the presentation on birds of prey at the Dorothy Hart Community Center.

A falcon, a hawk (above) and an owl will be the stars July 19. Opossums probably have mixed feelings about the presentation on birds of prey at the Dorothy Hart Community Center.

Birds of prey visit Fredericksburg

Date published: 7/10/2008

By COLLETTE CAPRARA

FOR THE FREE LANCE-STAR

Imagine three birds vying in the wild for the prey they need to sustain themselves. Two are sleek and powerful, with great wingspans that allow them to swoop at high speed to snatch their sustenance. The other is, frankly, a little frumpy: roundish and heavier, with eyes that lack the muscles to shift its vision.

Think the last of these is destined for a rumbling tummy? Think again--because this one is equipped with incredible night vision, an impressive ability to hear, stealth techniques and the capacity to turn its head 270 degrees to scan its environs.

These three birds--a falcon, a hawk and an owl--will be the stars of the show next weekend as The Wildlife Center of Virginia brings its birds of prey to Fredericksburg's Parks and Recreation Department facility.

"We'll talk about the different hunting strategies the birds of prey have," said Gretchen Achenbach, the center's director of environmental education. "Tools of all these species include keen vision, but we'll also talk about different adaptations for hunting such as the talons that they use to grab their prey, and the beaks they use as a knife and fork."

The center's educational show-and-tell programs are designed with plenty of audience interaction. Activities for this presentation have included dressing up a child as a bird of prey (adding each of the parts that help it to hunt) and demonstrations of the wing-spans of birds (a bald eagle's can reach nearly 8 feet).

"We hope that the participants will gain an appreciation of wildlife and an understanding of how they can make a difference in conservation and taking care of the environment--as well as an understanding of what our wildlife center does," said Achenbach.

The Wildlife Center of Virginia, located in Waynesboro, was created in 1982 to provide health care to native wildlife, often on an emergency basis. Since its opening, it has treated more than 50,000 wild animals, including birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians--about 2,500 a year. In all, the center offers seven different educational programs.

Audiences of all ages can appreciate the presentation on birds of prey.

"I remember seeing one of the birds up close for the first time some years ago. It's startling how big and beautiful they are," said Parks and Recreation's nature education assistant, Mimi Dempsey. "You see them occasionally at a distance flying in the sky, but they are such majestic creatures that it's awe-inspiring!"

Collette Caprara is a local artist and freelance writer.

What: Birds of prey presentation by The Wildlife Center of Virginia When: Saturday, July 19, from 2 to 3 p.m. (Doors open at 1 p.m.) Who: Ages 4 and older Where: Dorothy Hart Community Center, 408 Canal St., Fredericksburg. Cost: $6 per person. Registration may be done in advance at the community center or on the day of the program. Those who have not preregistered are encouraged to come early. Info: Call 540/372-1086, ext. 213, or visit fredericks burgva.gov, then go to the link for Parks and Recreation. For information about The Wildlife Center of Virginia, visit wildlifecenter.org.

Date published: 7/10/2008