Another great May-long weekend activity is coming to southern Alberta, as the Birds of Prey Foundation in Coaldale is set to open its doors for another high-flying summer.
From great-horned owls to small insects, the Birds of Prey Foundation hopes to excite and awe visitors with their unique, interactive environment.
Colin Weir, managing director at the Birds of Prey Foundation, says there is always something exciting to see at the centre.
“We have this year’s baby great-horned owlets, we’ll have a few of them out on display for visitors to interact with,” said Weir.
He says these baby owls are quick to grow up, so seeing them so young is a truly unique experience.
“About 40-45 days ago they were the size of a golf ball, now they are bigger than a football,” said Weir.
However, even with the rapid growth of the owls during their youth, they still manage to live up to 30-years-old when afforded the proper healthcare provided from the Birds of Prey Foundation.
Weir says people visit the centre from all over the world because of the remarkable quality of the environment and the unique birds that inhabit it.
“Even though it’s a small, non-profit facility, most people are blown away by the quality of the interactive experience they can get when they come visit us,” said Weir.
While many species of birds live at the centre, the popular “insect discover day” will steal the show when it returns this year for the first time since before the COVID pandemic.
Weir says this is an excellent opportunity for people to come in and learn about an often overlooked, yet highly important part of the ecosystem.
“Understanding and appreciating insects for all the good things they do. Often a misunderstood part of our nature and wildlife,” said Weir.
Furthermore, he says it will be a good day for kids to come learn about these little bugs that impact the world in such a big way.
“It’s really a highly exciting day for families with kids … It’s a really superb family event for us,” said Weir.
The Birds of Prey Foundation does a whole lot more than simply showcase birds and insects though.
They have a wildlife recovery service that enables them to rescue and provide healthcare for injured birds of prey.
Weir says they have seen an increase in baby owlets landing in sewage lagoons recently.
Although it is not a clean job, they are always ready to help.
“You can imagine what it’s like having to bring a car home for us rescuing an owl when it’s up to its eyeballs in sewage,” said Weir.
Contrary to popular belief, Weir says the foundation does not receive any funding from the government, at any level.
“A lot of people assume that we receive government subsidies, from the town or the province or the federal government but we actually don’t receive any,” said Weir.
This means the foundation is solely operating under the revenue stream made from the admission prices, as well as independent donations.
However, even with the limited budget, the Birds of Prey Foundation still offers the wildlife recovery service in every month of the year.
“That’s why the donations and admission fees are so important to us, to help us sustain our operation and keep the doors open,” said Weir.
He says donations are always appreciated and needed during all four seasons since the birds do not stop requiring care at any time of the year.
Furthermore, he says the centre is always happy to bring in volunteers over the summer when they see an increase in staffing requirements.
Volunteers will perform a variety of tasks from cleaning up after the birds, to actually handling and showing the birds to the public.
For those interested in volunteering with the Birds of Prey Foundation, they can reach out to the organization via email at info@burrowingowl.com.
The insect discovery day event will be held on August 12, while the Birds of Prey Foundation will be open from May 20 until the Labour Day weekend in September.
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