California Raptor Center Spring Open House

The public is welcomed to a free Open House at the California Raptor Center (CRC) on Saturday, May 2, 2009. We will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and there will be special presentations at 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. 

We also invite people to join our Hawk Walk birding hike, which starts at the gate at 8:00 a.m. and finishes at 9:00 a.m. (bring binoculars).

The California Raptor Center is an educational and research facility of the School of Veterinary Medicine. At CRC we care for injured raptors (eagles, hawks, vultures and owls), rehabilitating and releasing them back to the wild whenever we can. Birds that cannot be released are trained to take part in our Education Program. The center staff and volunteers take in more than 200 sick, injured, and orphaned raptors each year, successfully returning about 60% to the wild.

We also provide hands-on training in the veterinary care and management of birds of prey to those interested in rehabilitation. The center offers educational programs to schools, ecological and environmental organizations, and the community through special presentations and open house events.

The Open House is designed to show people what we do. The special presentations will demonstrate fascinating features of raptor biology and ecology, and visitors will be able to see many non-releasable raptors housed in display cages as well as birds out on the glove (including Mikey, the Red Shouldered Hawk featured on Huell Howser’s California’s Gold television show). Our onsite museum will also be open.

Directions: From Interstate 80 take the UC Davis exit. Turn south on Old David Road heading away from the main campus. Cross the railroad tracks and keep going until there is a rise in the road leading up to the Putah Creek Bridge. At the side of the rise there is a low-profile blue and gold California Raptor Center sign with a diagonal arrow pointing to the left. Do not cross the bridge. Instead turn left onto the paved levee road and follow it for one block until it dips down off the levee and then turn right into the CRC parking lot. Parking is free. For a map visit our Web Site at www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/calraptor.

Private contributions play a vital role in the rescue and release of raptors. Learn how you can help the California Raptor Center.