Story and photos by Carrie Pinkard
“Duck! I mean… HAWK!” an announcer yelled as a bird swooped low over the audience.
The bird was a Harris’s Hawk, the first in a series of birds of prey shown at Boyd Hill Nature Preserve’s seventh annual Raptor Fest.
On Feb. 1, the nature preserve was transformed into a giant birdcage, and the community was invited to shake feathers with birds from around the world.
Tents lined the edges of the event, where you could dissect owl pellets, learn more about bird watching or buy a “bird nerd” tote bag.
There were picket signs scattered throughout with facts about birds of prey, including one that said “falcons mate for life.”
Walking down the middle of the path made avoiding birds impossible. Owls, perched on the shoulders of their handlers, swiveled their heads 270 degrees to greet you.
At the end of the path was an arena to watch a “birds in flight” presentation.
“By having a better understanding of our raptors, you’ll have a better understanding of our natural world,” said host Steve Hoddy, welcoming the crowd to the show.
Among the birds presented was a Eurasian Eagle-owl named Fretia. Hoddy told the crowd that the owl’s eyes collect 100 times more light than humans’ do.
Next to fly out of their cage was a pair of “nature’s sanitation engineers,” also known as vultures. Hoddy said these birds’ digestive systems can destroy almost any bacteria, so there’s no limit to what they can eat.
The final bird to swoop in and steal the show was a Peregrine falcon named Renegade. Peregrine falcons are the fastest animal in the world, moving up to 240 mph when diving for food.
Raptor Fest is hosted by the organization Friends of Boyd Hill Nature Preserve, which aims to promote the Preserve through environmental education and advocacy.
Raptor Fest is the largest fundraiser the organization puts on each year. It is a free event, but donations are strongly encouraged.
