Birds of prey will pay a visit to Explorit

If the fields surrounding Davis are good places to view birds of prey in their natural habitats, an even better place to view raptors is at Explorit Science Center. A Family Exploration program on Saturday titled "Raptor Rapture" will provide visitors with a rare opportunity to come face to face with some of these feathered friends.

Christine Adams, a volunteer at the California Raptor Center for more than four years, will bring three raptors -- a Swainson's hawk, a kestrel and a great-horned owl -- to meet Explorit's visitors in this up-close, educational presentation. These animal ambassadors are permanent residents of the CRC, as are many other birds whose injuries prevent them from being released into the wild.

Adams and volunteer Sallie Reynolds from the raptor center will give 40-minute presentations at 1:30, 2:15 and 3 p.m. Space is limited; tickets are $1 in addition to Explorit's regular admission of $4. Please arrive promptly; for the safety of the birds the doors will close within five minutes of scheduled starting times.

During the event, visitors will learn about the birds that Adams will bring as well as find out about some of the challenges and threats to raptors.

"Since these birds are at the top of the food chain, they can tell us a lot about the environment," Adams says. Raptors, or birds that seize and carry away their prey, especially those that eat fish or other birds, are "giving us a real wake-up call," she says. Visitors to the presentation will gain a first-hand understanding of those clues that the study of raptors can give about the state of our natural environment.

The California Raptor Center, located on the southern edge of UC Davis, is a rehabilitation facility for injured or orphaned birds of prey. Each year, the CRC receives an estimated 200 birds in need of care, and is able to rehabilitate and release approximately 60 percent of them. In addition to rehabilitation work, the CRC also provides educational programs and participates in research projects in conjunction with the university.

The center's outreach staff hopes the public will come to understand the many connections between humans and these birds; Adams wants people to realize that birds often end up at the CRC due to problems that humans have created. She would like for people to become more aware of the ways they can help protect raptors as well as their quickly disappearing habitats and nesting sites. Examples are supporting environmental organizations and staying informed of or advocating for such protections as placement on endangered species lists.

The CRC operates mainly through the work of volunteers who learn about all aspects of raptor care and management. They feed and medicate birds, help tame them, clean their cages and assist in the center's nursery. Volunteers are students or members of the community and must be at least 18 years old. Anyone interested in the opportunity is encouraged to contact the center at (530) 752-6091.

In addition to Saturday's presentations by the raptor center, Explorit will provide visitors with the opportunity to explore nests and eggs, investigate everything from beaks to bird calls, and even examine owl pellets to learn about what these raptors eat.

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Explorit Science Center is open at its new site, 2801 Second St., Davis. Through June 10, you can visit the exhibition "Looking Up: The World Above Us." Public hours are Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Tuesday through Friday from 2 to 4:30 p.m. For more information: www.explorit.org or (530) 756-0191.