Milwaukee has 16 resident superstars living under our very noses. They’re the raptor ambassadors of Schlitz Audubon Nature Center (1111 E. Brown Deer Rd., Bayside), and their mission is to connect people with birds and, in doing so, with nature. Saturday, Nov. 7 is Xtreme Raptor Day, the only day all year that the public can see all 16 birds of prey stationed on their perches out on the trails and talk to their handlers.
The grounds will teem with interactive life, such as crafts and education stations, but the birds are the main attraction. Willow, the 3.5-ounce, northern saw–whet owl shown here, is one such homie. She’s joined by – among others – Darwin, the turkey vulture who can smell food from a mile away; Valkyrie, the largest of Schlitz’s two resident bald eagles; Loki, the American crow who is able to paint (using a specially designed paintbrush he holds in his beak!); Nicco, the broad-winged hawk who got his name (which translates to “Victory”) because he survived a car collision; and Otis, the peregrine falcon. A fast fact about the peregrine falcon is that it’s the fastest animal on the planet!
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Wisconsin has a “deep” history and relationship with peregrine falcon conservation, says Lindsay Focht, the Raptor Program & Animal Ambassador director at Schlitz. “With this little guy Otis, we’re able to teach people about these amazing birds that we have in Milwaukee. They’re soaring throughout our skyline now, which is very exciting,” Focht says.
As for repping Schlitz’s conservation efforts, the raptors are “the stars and do all the hard work, we’re just their voice,” she says.
Xtreme Raptor Day is Nov. 7 (10 a.m.-4 p.m.). Other activities include photos with a raptor (you can sign up to have your picture taken, the day of the event), science experiments in the Raptor Lab and more.
