Pictured is “Cutie,” a great horned owl at Nature of Wildworks.
The Yosemite Area Audubon Society invites the community to a live raptor experience with The Nature of Wildworks nonprofit animal care center.
The event will take place at Sierra Senior Center on Saturday, May 16, at 1 p.m.
Guests at this event are encouraged to learn about raptors by meeting them in person. All ages are welcome to participate in the free program.
A raptor, or a bird of prey, is a carnivorous bird that hunts and feeds on other animals, characterized by hooked beaks, exceptional eyesight and sharp, powerful talons used to seize prey.
These birds — including hawks, eagles, falcons, owls and vultures — occupy the top of the food chain and are found worldwide (California Raptor Center).
One of the raptors at Nature of Wildworks is known as “Cutie,” a great horned owl, who came to the shelter in 2018 after having broken a wing which left him unable to f ly.
“He is a very quiet bird, rarely making any sound at all,” said Mollie Hogan, founder and executive director of Nature of Wildworks.
“He never hoots.”
Great horned owls, also known as the tiger or hoot owl, will hoot for two reasons, Hogan said.
One is to locate a mate during breeding season and the other is to let other owls know which territory is already inhabited.
“Cutie does an excellent job of being an animal ambassador for his species when we take him to educational programs. Not only does he show off his ability to turn his head 270 degrees, he makes sure everyone gets a good look at his ‘horns.’ Great horned owls are named so for the special feathers on top of their head which resemble horns. The feathers are called plumicorns.”
For more information, visit www.yosemiteaudubon.org and www.natureofwildworks.org
Responses (0)