SPYING A HAWK... soaring and swooping overhead while enjoying a gorgeous hike over scrubby hills dotted with oaks? It would be difficult to summon a more quintessential and peaceful California afternoon. But there are other ways to enjoy some of the larger, wing-rocking residents of our state, and a place that does a lot for them, as well as wildlife in general: By attending an open house at the Ojai Raptor Center. The name of the nature-minded place says much: The center cares for our avian friends in a variety of important ways. "Every year we take in 500-1000 sick, injured, or orphaned birds (including many non-raptor birds, and a small percentage of mammals) with the hopes of rehabilitating them and releasing them back to the wild."
IS THIS A CAUSE... that's near to your own desires to be a friend to the wildlife-wonderful world? You can get to know more about the center on Sunday, Nov. 4 when the center opens to the public from noon to 4 o'clock. There's a suggested $5 donation, if you're an adult, while kids ages 10 and under are free (and, indeed, that donation goes back to helping the birds helped by the center). "Hawks, Owls, and Falcons" are three of the terrific fly-stars you'll learn more about, and you're sure to see a lot of critters around the facility. Stage presentations are part of the informative day, as is a silent auction, activities for the youngsters, and "refreshments," too.
BIRD BUFFS, do you keep your eye to the sky when traveling about our hawk-happy, owl-laden, falcon-fantastic stretches? You can go a bit further into this world, with a stop-by a place that has healed so many of them over the years. For more on the Ojai Raptor Center, and its open house, alight on this branch now.
