TRC Fall Raptor Release

Each year The Raptor Center puts on two big public releases, one in the Spring and one in the Fall. This years fall release took place on September 25th at the Carpenter Nature Center.

These events are kind of a big deal, were we bring most of our educational birds so that the public can get a good close up view of these very cool birds. We also do programs to help educate the public about raptors and other environmental issues.

Of course the highlight of the event is the actual bird release. Since there are usually more birds that are rehabbed over the summer we usually have more birds to release at the fall event. This fall we had two different release times and we released four birds at each release.

We were a little worried about the weather this year. It drizzled in the morning but stopped before the event began at 10am. The grey skies even parted for a short while during the first release, letting a little sun shine down on the crowd. Maybe someone upstairs was watching over the event.

Carpenter Nature Center is the perfect place to hold the fall event. The prairie had already begun to change to a wonderful tapestry of yellow, orange and red, and the trees were just beginning to turn. The apples in the orchard were red and ripe and I grabbed a bag on my way out.

The best part of holding the event at the Carpenter Nature Center though is that it is one of a few places that The Raptor Center uses to release rehabilitated eagles. Since it is located on the conjunction of the St Croix and Mississippi rivers it has the perfect habitat for eagles and since there are no eagles who have a nesting territory in the park there is no problems releasing a stranger into the area. We released two immature eagles during the event one at each program.