Rare Opportunity to Admire Birds of Prey Up Close
26 June 2009
For thousands of years people have been thrilled and inspired by birds of prey. Come out to Richmond’s Terra Nova Rural Park for a free demonstration of the ancient art of falconry and learn about the natural ecology and behavior of these magnificent birds.
Date: Sunday, July 12, 2009 Time: 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Location: Terra Nova Rural Park
2431 Westminster HighwayAdmission: Free
Fascinating birds of prey and their specialist caretakers from Pacific Northwest Raptors will conduct three flying programs at the park at 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.
“The birds featured at this event are master crowd pleasers. They will win over the most skeptical of viewers with their amazing flight skills, cheeky personalities, and absolute beauty,” says raptor handler Robyn Radcliffe of Pacific Northwest Raptors. “You’ll feel the breeze as a vulture glides through the air and be thrilled as a hawk buzzes past, mere feet above the tops of your heads.”
You will also have an opportunity for a close-up encounter with a falcon—take photographs, and hear raptor specialists share their fascinating knowledge of native majestic birds of prey.
Parking is limited at Terra Nova Rural Park so please consider cycling or car pooling. For more information on this event, sponsored by the City of Richmond, contact the Richmond Nature Park at 604?718-6188 or visit www.richmond.ca/begreen.
History of Falconry
A long and broad tradition of falconry testifies to the intelligence of raptors. Falconry is referred to in the famous Mesopotamian poem, The Epic of Gilgamesh, written 4,000 years ago. In Mongolia and China, falconry was practiced 3,000 years ago. By the Middle Ages, this spectacular art had spread to Russia and Eastern Europe, while Western Europe adopted the tradition from the North Africans. In almost every culture, it was a sport that was restricted to the noble classes. However, a less formal form of falconry was known to have been practiced in China by commoners as recently as the 19th Century.
About Pacific Northwest Raptors
Raptors are birds of prey including owls, eagles, vultures, falcons and hawks. Pacific Northwest Raptors supports and promotes conservation of these birds and their habitats through educational programs. They also rescue and care for many injured wild raptors, striving to return them to their natural habitats. Pacific Northwest Raptors maintains a visitor center on Vancouver Island that houses many different species. In addition to flying for educational demonstrations, these raptors have other jobs: they contribute to pest control efforts and a few of the birds are even movie stars. Visit www.pnwraptors.com for more information.
