WILD BIRDS OF PREY
by Bill Diller

The Huron County Nature Center Wilderness Arboretum, located on Loosemore Road, midway between Port Austin and Caseville, near Oak Beach in Michigan's Thumb, is an ideal place to study natural habitat, or just take a relaxing walk in the woods. According to their web site, www.huronnaturecenter.org, "A Wilderness Arboretum is a place where plants, birds, insects, mammals, fungi - all things living or dead - are protected for scientific and educational purposes and for preservation of natural conditions. This tract of alternating sand ridges and shallow swales is a haven for nature lovers and environmentalists."

The nature center boasts miles of trails, including handicapped accessible trails. Open to the public year-round, the nature center is an attractive destination. During the summer, educational programs are offered. In recent years, one of the instructors has been Joe Rogers, of the Wildlife Recovery Association. His program titled, Wild Birds of Prey, has proven to be extremely popular. So popular in fact that Rogers was asked to present the program at the annual Fall Dinner put on by the Huron County Nature Center. The dinner is held every fall as a fund raiser for the nature center, with all proceeds going to the Programming, Building or Endowment Funds. The event was attended by nearly 70 people, ranging in age from preschool to senior citizens.

Rogers, assisted by his daughter, Joanna, and their associate, Joanne Williams, gave an up close and personal view of various birds that had been injured and were rescued by the Wildlife Recovery Association. The trio displayed screech owls, a great-horned owl and saw-whet owls. They also showed broad-wing and red-tailed hawks, merlin and American kestrel falcons and an American bald eagle.

An expert in his field, Rogers has been giving similar programs for 30 plus years. He intersperses witty patter with his educational comments, drawing numerous chuckles from the audience. Quite a showman, Rogers mimics the birds, and is proficient with their calls. Joanna Rogers and Joanne Williams are similarly endowed with the skill to mimic the various birds. They carried the birds into the audience so the visitors could literally look them in the eye.

Gasps of awe and appreciation were abundant when Rogers took the eagle from its traveling cage. A majestic bird, the sight of the eagle within mere feet of the audience was truly a crowning spectacle for the evening.

For further information on the Wildlife Recovery Association, contact The Wildlife Recovery Association, 531 S. Coleman Road, Shepherd, MI 48883. Their phone number is 989-772-1538.

For further information on the Huron County Nature Center Wilderness Arboretum, contact Rob Reed, President of the nature center board, at 989-856-4781.