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   Anyone who enjoys and appreciates birds will want to check out Bird of Prey Day on June 19th at Hawk Creek Wildlife Center, Inc. in East Aurora. Hawk Creek is a 52-acre wildlife center that specializes in preserving birds of prey and mammals and it is one of the largest educational outreach facilities in the state. It is only open to the general public during special events.

   Activities during Bird of Prey Day include the Avian Airforce Flying Bird Show, which uses birds to explain the history of aviation. Featured are a Harris Hawk, Turkey Vulture, American Barn Owl and a Trumpeter Hornbill. Show times are Noon and 2:30 PM.

   The Walk with the Eagles™ exhibit lets participants actually go into the exhibit accompanied by a trainer to get close to these rare raptors. There will also be a hawk and vulture walk, where you can stand right next to the trainer while learning about these birds.

    Kids will enjoy using a scavenger hunt booklet. They will earn a stamp for each fact they learn about aircrafts and birds. When they complete the booklet, they will earn their wings and get a commemorative pin.

    If you want to make a donation to Hawk Creek, you can bank with the crow. Their African Pied Crow has been trained to collect your donation and deposit it in the stash. Other creatures on display include otter and a Siberian lynx.

   Bird of Prey Day takes place June 19 from 11 AM to 4 PM, rain or shine, at Hawk Creek Wildlife Center, 655 Luther Road, East Aurora, NY 716-652-8646, www.hawkcreek.org Admission is $10 adults, $8 child, and $26 for a family. Parking is free.

By Christine a. Smyczynski

Whether you are a backyard birder who only observes the birds that come into your yard or a serious ornithologist who takes trips into the field to seek out elusive birds, you may want to check out the Birding Festival which will take place in Jamestown, New York June 10-13. Sponsored by the Roger Tory Peterson Institute, this festival focuses on the migratory warblers who wing their way to western New York each June.
The event features several field trips in the early morning, when the birds are most likely to be singing. During last year’s festival 26 species of warblers were spotted, including the Blue-winged Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler and Common Yellowthroat. Some of the birding destinations include a trip into the forests in nearby Pennsylvania, Allegany State Park, Jamestown Audubon Society, and the Chautauqua Lake Outlet. Each tour cost between $10-$15 and registration is a must.
There will also be a number of speakers, including a talk by RTPI President, Jim Berry, who will speak about rare pieces of Peterson art. Other presenters include Dr. Jerome Jackson, who will talk about the Ivory-billed woodpecker, and Dr. Bridget Stutchbury, a biology professor at York University who has studied the social lives of birds.
Most of these events take place on the campus of Jamestown Community College, which is adjacent to the RTPI. Overnight accommodations are available at the college, as well as at nearby motels. Registration is necessary to take part in any festival event. For more information about the event contact the Roger Tory Peterson Institute, 311 Curtis Street, Jamestown, NY 14701 716-665-2473 www.rtpi.org.

By Christine Smyczynski