Live birds of prey will be a part of Voyageurs National Park’s open house and awards ceremony for the annual Kids Art Contest at the Rainy Lake Visitor Center Saturday.
From 3 to 3:45 p.m., Jessamy Schwartz, program coordinator at the Lake Superior Zoo, will present a program about birds of prey, featuring a live American kestrel and red-tailed hawk.
The presentation is in keeping with VNP’s theme of the day, “Wild about Voyageurs National Park.”
Schwartz told The Journal this week that the presentation brings people an opportunity not often offered — seeing live raptures in a close-up setting.
“They are the ambassadors for their species, and as educators, we will speak for them,” she said.
The presentation will include information about the natural history of raptors, their habitat and the challenges that face raptors living in the wild, she said.
The two birds that will be a part of the presentation are considered unreleasable, and Schwartz will share their stories during the presentation.
The male American kestrel coming to Borderland, she said, lives at the zoo because it imprinted on humans and was landing on people’s heads at a park. Wild animals imprint, or bond and understand what they are, with parents and others of their species.
Because of its unusual behavior, raptor specialists believe that it was most likely raised by humans and imprinted on people rather than other birds. The bird was captured and lives at the zoo.
“It wasn’t acting like an American kestrel should in the wild,” she said.
The red tailed-hawk was used as a falconry bird in Wisconsin before it was confiscated from its owner, Schwartz said. While it is legal to keep — with the right permits — certain birds for falconry purposes, this bird’s owner did not have the required permits and it eventually came to live at the zoo.
Schwartz said it’s important for people to understand that birds of prey share similarities with humans: both are top predators, both require habitats that offer shelter, food and water specific to their species.
By understanding those similarities, she said humans can positively impact their needs.
“We can feel empowered because there are things we can do to help their survival,” she said.
She noted that changes, such as the prohibition of the use of pesticides like DDT, have helped to bring back eagle and peregrine falcon populations.
“We will talk about those success stories and the challenges still facing them and things we can do to ensure their survival,” she said.
Traveling with live birds and providing information about raptors is among the most favorite parts of her job, Schwartz said.
She said the birds feel comfortable traveling on perches in darkened crates.
“They come out for the programs and it’s like their jobs,” she said.
