Education Program Updates

Hello everyone. Molly and I have been busy the last few days with lots and lots of education programs. Last weekend we had a booth set up for Klondike Days in Eagle River. As always, it was great meeting the thousands of visitors who found their way to our booth.

Photo above: Director of Education, Molly McKay teaches a family of Klondike Days attendees about owls.

Photo above: This year at Klondike Days was the debut of our new and improved lead-free display. Our new educational poster, tackle box, and side show help teach people about the dangers of lead poisoning in wild birds. Not everyone knows that lead ammunition and lead sinkers are extremely dangerous to wildlife. We hope that through this display many more people are now aware of the problem and will make the voluntary switch to non-toxic hunting and fishing supplies.

Photo above: One of the new elements of our lead-free display is this wonderful tackle box filled with non-toxic tackle. This display allows people to see the wide variety of non-toxic tackle now available on the market. Glass, tungsten, bismuth, steel, tin, brass, and even natural limestone are some of the non-toxic materials now available in fishing tackle. Thank you to Jobber Lures, BossTin, RockyBrook Sinkers, and Tacklesmith for donating these excellent products.

We also did four programs on Tuesday in my home town of Marathon, WI. It was so fun to be back in the school I attended from Kindergarten through 8th grade. The students were wonderful and really made the birds feel at home. Thank you Marathon Area Elementary School!

Photo above: I am teaching the Marathon Area Elementary School students about the amazing adaptations of owls with help from our lovely Great Horned Owl.

This Wednesday was our last program of the season at the Wausau School Forest. This winter Molly and I have been giving programs for the 5th grade students there about twice a week. It has been so fun to meet the wonderful 5th graders from each of the schools around Wausau. I know that Molly and I are looking forward to heading down there again next winter!

Photo above: Molly teaches the 5th grade students at the Wausau School Forest about Barred Owls.

We have another program this Saturday, March 10th, at Stevens Point Area Senior High (SPASH). If you're looking for something fun to do with your kids or grandkids, bring them out to the SPASH Science Extravaganza in Stevens Point, WI. There will be hands-on activities, food, and fun. The event is taking place from 10 am to 2:30 pm and we will be doing a one-hour live bird presentation from 10:30 to 11:30 am. All ages are welcome. $3 admission supports the Stevens Point FFA. We hope to see you there!

Many of you are faithfully keeping our patients in your thoughts, and we thank you for that. I am pleased to say that everyone continues to improve.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Karissa Mohr

Wildlife Educator

Another Bald Eagle Patient, Updates, and Klondike Days!

Good Tuesday morning everyone!

It has been a few days since our last update and we have another patient I'd like to introduce you to. Bald Eagle (#019) was brought to us from the Minocqua, WI area unable to fly. We tested his blood for lead and his results came back at a "normal" level, meaning that he is not suffering from lead poisoning. His inability to fly is still currently being determined.

Photo above: Eagle #019. The darker streaking in his beak tells us that he is likely just about 5 years old.

I'd also like to update you on a number of our patients.

The Barred Owl that originally came in after being hit by a vehicle has unfortunately passed away. It is a great loss for his species because he was such a wonderful adult. He will be missed.

The Great-horned Owl found along a road with a broken wing is improving slowly. She still has a swollen wing, but is eating very well. It isn't clear at this point whether she will be able to regain flight.

Eagle #008 is flying in the flight building and looking great. We are so thrilled with his recovery from lead poisoning. He still needs a lot of reconditioning, but the improvements he has shown are fantastic.

Photo above: Eagle #008 just before being moved into the flight building.

Eagle #012 is also beginning to fly back and forth in the flight building. Because of her injured "wrist" joint, we are tentative in our excitement about her short flights.

Eagle #013 has also been moved to the flight building, but is showing no ability of being able to fly. We will likely need to place him as a permanent resident at another facility.

The Snowy Owl has been very active in the clinic so she has been moved to a larger mew to give her more room to move around. She still has chunky lesions in her throat, but has begun to eat solid foods with encouragement from our rehabilitators.

The Rough-legged Hawk is still currently in the clinic and is eating very well.

On a separate note, would any of you like to have some fun this coming weekend?

Director of Education, Molly and I will be at Klondike Days in Eagle River this Saturday and Sunday. We will have a booth set up both days so you can meet our raptors face to face. There are plenty of other things to do and see at Klondike Days like: Native American exhibits; Snow Sculptures; Cut, Stack, & Split contest; Dog Sled weight pulls; Horse pulls; Ice Sculpture; Arts & Crafts; Amish Quilt Show & Sale; and much, much more. It is a great time for the whole family!

Where: Northland Pines High School, Eagle River, WI
When: Saturday and Sunday, March 3rd and 4th, 2012 from 9am to 4pm.

For more information follow this link.

Photo above: Molly and I at Klondike Days in 2011 with a Peregrine Falcon and a Barred Owl. Come and visit us this weekend at Klondike Days in Eagle River and meet some of our resident raptors!

That's all for now :) Have a great week everyone!

Karissa Mohr

Wildlife Educator

Mark Your Calendars!

One of the joys of the winter is that the education team has the chance to travel to festivities around the state. Throughout most of the year our programs are at schools or for private groups. Traveling to festivals give the public the chance to see our birds. And we love when we have the opportunity to share them with you!Photo above: Little Bit is one of our long standing partners in education. This little Saw-whet owl often joins us in his favorite tree stump at festivals and programs.

So now is the time to get out your calendars!
Here are some upcoming events:

CWEStival
http://www.uwsp.edu/cnr/cwes/cwestival11.aspx
Central Wisconsin Environmental Station (CWES)
Amherst Junction, WI
Saturday, February 12th, 2011
2:00pm - 5:00pm
(REGI programs at 3pm and 3:45pm)
CWEStival is a winter family festival. Enjoy snowshoeing, sleigh rides, crafts, and more along with our program.

Klondike Days
www.klondikedays.org
March 5 & 6, 2011
Eagle River, WI
Klondike Days is "a family-oriented gala event featuring a variety of turn-of-the-century activities". REGI will be set up at a booth with educating the public both Saturday and Sunday.
Photo above: Steve Fisher talks with a couple of young visitors at Klondike Days in 2010.

Science Extravaganza
March 12, 2011
Stevens Point Area Senior High (SPASH)
REGI program from 1-2
This is a student driven, hands on science fair with fun for the entire family. REGI's afternoon performance will be just one of many highlights throughout the day.
Photo above: Ishmael, our beautiful Peregrine Falcon, is another of our education birds who often accompanies us to festivities. He is an old pro with lots of fun personality. If you have met him at past programs you are sure to remember him. If you have yet to meet him, you won't want to miss the opportunity.

We hope to see you this winter!

~Molly McKay
Environmental Education Coordinator

REGI Education Team Working Hard at Winter Festivals. Klondike Days, The International Festival of Owls and National Eagle Center

( Photo: Steve and Evie Fisher with REGI Screech Owls walk through the crowd in Houston. MN at the International Festival of Owls. )



( Photo: A large crowd milled about at Klondike Days in Eagle River, WI . Education Director Steve Fisher is shown teaching with Fonzie our Great-horned Owl. Fonzie is a hometown boy, as he was hatched in this area of the northwoods. He was injured when he fell from his nest. His injuries were too severe for him to ever be released to the wild. He loves his position as an educator. )

During late February and early March, REGI's educators have been busy attending and presenting at several festivals. On February 20-21 Education Director Steve Fisher and Environmental Education Coordinator Molly Mckay staffed a REGI display at Klondike Days in Eagle River, WI, featuring some of our education birds, or, as we often refer to them, our educational "partners." Helping Steve and Molly educate interested members of the public at the two-day festival were our twenty-year-old "veteran" Red-tailed Hawk, our young Great-Horned Owl, a Peregrine Falcon, two Eastern Screech Owl, a Barred Owl (who is also a fantastic foster parent), and our Barn Owl, who helped demonstrate habitat as he perched comfortably in his tree cavity display.



( Photo: Steve Fisher with Juliet, our twenty-year-old Western Red-tailed Hawk. Notice the stump on the right with a Screech Owl perched inside. Using habitat perches, we can educate the public in a passive way about the importance of leaving trees important for nesting. )

There was a steady stream of people who stopped by the REGI booth, asking lots of good questions, as well as discussing serious issues like lead poisoning and other problems for raptors and all birds of prey. Steve and Molly (and the birds!) were very busy each day but were happy to interact with so many supportive festival visitors.


On March 6-7 Marge, Steve, and his wife Evie headed to the International Festival of Owls in Houston, MN, where REGI presented a program to several hundred people about native owls.


( Photo: Executive Director Marge Gibson with our Barn Owl, as they demonstrate how an owl turns its head for three dimensional hearing.)

Marge shared lots of fascinating owl information with the audience, as Steve and Evie walked the owls through the auditorium, giving everyone a close look at our beautiful Great-Horned Owl, Barred Owl, and Eastern Screech Owls and our famous Saw-whet Owl. After the program, audience members headed up front for more close looks and chances to ask questions.
That evening Marge was the keynote speaker at the Owl Festival banquet, giving a talk entitled "Owls: Personal Stories of Wonder and Inspiration." Using both projected images and personal stories from different times in her life, Marge captivated the audience by sharing her knowledge and passion for birds, with special emphasis on owls.



( Photo: Steve and Marge discuss owls and their specialized hearing. )




( Photo: A crowd of several hundred people filled the gym in Wabasha, MN for two days of presentations on Birds of Prey with the REGI education team. Steve and Juliet, Red- Tailed Hawk delight the crowd. )

The following weekend, March 13-14, Steve, Evie and Molly were back in Minnesota, this time at the National Eagle Center in Wabasha, MN, as part of a special eagle weekend at the center. Steve and Molly presented hour-long programs each day to large audiences and also brought out the education birds for photography sessions, both inside and outside in the sunshine along the bank of the Mississippi River, as wild Bald Eagles soared and danced in the sky above them.



( Photo: Environmental Education Coordinator Molly McKay with our Broad-winged Hawk during a presentation.)

At each of these festivals and special occasions, we met wonderful people who showed genuine interest and concern for birds and the many important issues that affect them. It is gratifying to know that our education raptors, who can't be out in the wild, live worthwhile lives and are such magnificent and effective teachers. It's so good to see them help in a unique, up-close way to show how and why protecting them and solving the problems that affect them matter to all of us.



( Photo: Steve and Evie Fisher with our gracious hosts in Houston, MN, Royce and Dorothy Bergsgaard. They made us a great omelet breakfast. Thanks Royce and Dorothy!)

Steve Fisher
REGI Education Director