Raptor Weekend

My cousin and I attended Raptor Weekend on Sunday September 14, 2015. We chose the second day of this two day event to have a chance to see some owls close up. We arrived in the AM and the first event was a photo presentation by Peter Green about urban raptors in Providence. His photos were breathtaking and his stories about birds of prey were interesting and funny. We loved the Flight Presentation by Talons as we got a chance to see many owls in flight and up close. The Owl Presentation by Eyes on Owls was also wonderful and gave both children and adults a great basic understanding of owl behavior. Lots of chances to take close up photos of owls and many tables with great kids activities. There were also tables geared to adults, such as the Conanicut Island Raptor Project and the Rhode Island Osprey Monitoring Program. We attended the following:
11:30−12:00pm Photographing Providence Raptors by Peter Green
12:00−1:00pm Flight Presentation by Talons
1:00−2:00pm Owl Presentation by Eyes on Owls
The gift shop has lots of books, toys and helpful information such as a waterproof guide, Birds of Rhode Island. We saw a luncheon area with hot dogs hamburgers, etc that looked very nice quality as well as a snack table in another area. There is a trail in the back of the center which leads down to the bike path. We started down the path, but turned back when it began to rain.
They had a brochure which lists the many programs for adults and children run by the Audubon Society. Some have small fees and some such as the Wednesday Morning Bird Walks are free! So glad we discovered this magical place and Raptor Weekend!

The staff at the Audubon Society are incredible. The trail is absolutely beautiful, and the Education center is brilliant. If it’s a nice day out, this should be on your to-​do :) Awesome for kids, too!

Falcons
hawks
and
owls
Rhode Island has lots of birds of prey. Ospreys, with their nests in strange places, diving into the ocean for fish. Hawks, agile and swift, swooping down for prey by the side of highways. Mysterious owls, apparitions of the night, seen as a quick blur in the darkness and majestic eagles flying high in the sky. Few people get to see any of these amazing birds up close.
Unless of course you go to the Rapter Weekend put on by the Audubon Society of Rhode Island. This is a two day event that has lectures, demonstrations, exhibits and cool items for sale. Raptors experts explained how Snowy Owls are marvels of evolution and can fly silently through the night without even a whisper, how Peregrine Falcons can dive at 200 miles per hour and how ospreys can crash into the water without breaking their heads off. Best of all you get to see the critters up close.
My favorite of the show wasn’t even a raptor but a very naughty African Raven named Jules. She was a blur of constant movement, doing all kinds of things, most of which she wasn’t suppose to be doing. Intelligent and mischievous, it makes you wonder how her extinct Mesozoic relatives like Velocirapor were really like.
The event had lots of tables with interactive activities for kids and a cool bookstore and vendors selling bird related merchandise. Other parts of the building had information and displays on non-​avian creatures found in the area and of course plenty of crummy t-​shirts were available.
A great event where time seemed to go by far to quickly. I still had wanted to see more of the birds and I wanted to ask more stupid questions when it was suddenly time to go. You didn’t have to be an ornithology enthusiast to enjoy and appreciate the events and demonstrations. Raptor Weekend gave everyone a better appreciation and understanding of our amazing feathered neighbors that we see everyday.