The California Raptor Center welcomes all interested members of the public to its Open House event Saturday, November 15, 2003, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., in Davis.

"Early bird" visitors may attend a guided Hawk Walk from 8 a.m. until 9 a.m. to observe raptors, or birds of prey, in the field. The walk takes place adjacent to the California Raptor Center facility, located on the southern edge of the UC Davis Campus off Old Davis Road.

Visitors may visit the center's small museum and tour exhibits of live raptors being cared for at the center. The center's permanent guests include eagles, hawks, owls and other species. Docents will make presentations about raptors and their role in our environment. Visitors may also learn more about the California Raptor Center's mission to rehabilitate injured birds of prey and teach raptor care skills to avian scientists and veterinary students.  

Admission and parking are free.

The California Raptor Center is dedicated to the rehabilitation of injured and orphaned raptors. The Center receives more than 250 injured or ill raptors each year and is able to release more than 60% of these birds back into the wild. The center provides hands-on training in the care and management of birds of prey to students studying veterinary medicine, wildlife biology, animal science, zoology, avian sciences, and related disciplines. These students gain valuable experience and the self-confidence necessary to provide compassionate clinical care for wildlife. The center also provides educational programs to the general public and the university community about wildlife health, ecology and conservation.

Evita is a Swainson's hawk with a broken wing that did not heal. She lives at the California Raptor Center, where her mellow disposition suits her for fostering orphaned chicks. The Swainson's hawk, found in Yolo County, is a California state-listed threatened species. Photo by Don Preisler/UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine © 2003 UC Regents, University of California