An organization dedicated to educating the public about Birds of Prey
Retirement Time!As of July 1, 2012, I will be retiring from giving birds of prey presentations. Thank you to everyone who has supported Friends With Feathers for the last 21 years. Go here for more information about other educators as well as future plans for the birds of prey in the Friends With Feathers aviary. -Ron Walker |
The Friends with Feathers aviary is home to birds of prey that can not be released into the wild (due to an injury or defect) and are available for educational programs in ecology and conservation.
Ron Walker, Friends With Feathers program presenter, has an extensive wildlife education background. He taught high school biology for 30 years and has been a scout leader and nature interpreter for more than 25 years, helping students of all ages to understand their natural environment.
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Ron Walker with a Barn Owl,
showing her ability to turn her head 270 degrees.
(Click on picture to play video.)
For more video, see FWF's Broad-winged Hawk.
Ron and his birds of prey are available to come to your class, youth group, civic organization or social club to give an enviromental presentation. Presentations typically include one or more raptors, several types of teaching aids and a question-and-answer period.
Possible topics:
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Natural History of Raptors
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Natural History of Owls
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Hawk vs. Owl Adaptations
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Wildlife Conservation/Management
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Owl Pellets and Mammal Skeletons
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Socialization and Imprinting of Birds
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Bird Migration
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Endangered Species
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Food Chains
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Predators and Predation
Live bird presentations are not available during July and August: Raptors molt (lose their feathers) during these months and should not be handled while they are growing their new feathers.
35mm slide presentations of "Raptors of New York" may be scheduled any month of the year. To schedule your presentation and obtain information regarding program fees, call (585) 346-0423.
All of the Friends With Feathers raptors have been injured and, because of their injury, would not survive in the wild. New York State Fish and Wildlife licenses and Federal Fish and Wildlife permits regulate the possession and exhibition of birds of prey. All fees and donations are used to house and feed the Friends With Feathers raptors.
