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Museum, Conservation Department carry on vulture tradition
MDC
1/31/03
This event at Shepherd of the Hills Hatchery gets visitors up close and personal with one of North America's biggest and most interesting birds of prey.
BRANSON, Mo. - "Awesome!" was one young birdwatcher's impression as he watched hundreds of huge black birds swirl down from the sky as if caught in an invisible whirlpool. "Grrrross! said another youngster. Some people think vultures are cool. Others find them macabre, but no one leaves Vulture Venture unimpressed.
Each winter, hundreds of turkey vultures and smaller numbers of less-common black vultures converge on Shepherd of the Hills Fish Hatchery at Table Rock Lake. This year, the Missouri Department of Conservation is partnering with the Wonders of Wildlife (WOW) Museum in Springfield to introduce people to one of North America's biggest and most interesting birds of prey.
From noon until 6 p.m. Feb. 22, hatchery and museum personnel will host an opportunity for people to see vultures up close. A high-powered telescope will give visitors a close look at wild vultures perched in trees surrounding the fish-rearing facility. Naturalists will be on hand to answer questions and explain vulture habits. The outdoors portion of the program will take place under a tent, so the event will be held, rain or shine.
Visitors will get an even more intimate glimpse of the bare-headed, road kill-eating birds at the Shepherd of the Hills Conservation Center. There, the WOW Museum will conduct half-hour indoor programs featuring its live captive vulture, Socrates.
Visitors will be able to view a vulture video, play vulture games and take a vulture trivia quiz. For example, visitors will be asked to imitate vulture sounds. (Hint: It is easier than it seems.)
One of the most popular activities is "Build-A-Vulture," where a volunteer is transformed into a feathered and beaked scavenger. "Kids really love it," said Interpretive Programs Supervisor John Miller. "We literally turn someone into a vulture."
Miller said participants are surprised to learn that vultures are remarkably handsome birds close-up. "They're really quite pretty," he said. He also said people are fascinated by the many interesting facts they learn during programs. These include vulture's use of projectile vomiting as a defense.
The highlight of the day likely will come in late afternoon. That is when hundreds of vultures come back to Shepherd of the Hills Hatchery to roost for the night.
Returning birds join in a lazy circular descent. This behavior, known as "kettling," creates the appearance of an invisible cauldron being stirred by an enormous hand. It is a perfect opportunity to observe how the birds use their four- to six-foot wingspans to ride warm air currents rising from the hatchery waters. This event usually takes place between 5 and 5:30 p.m.
Vulture Venture is free and requires no reservations. For more information or directions to this handicapped-accessible event, call 417/334-4865 ext. 0.
- Jim Low -
MDC
1/31/03
This event at Shepherd of the Hills Hatchery gets visitors up close and personal with one of North America's biggest and most interesting birds of prey.
BRANSON, Mo. - "Awesome!" was one young birdwatcher's impression as he watched hundreds of huge black birds swirl down from the sky as if caught in an invisible whirlpool. "Grrrross! said another youngster. Some people think vultures are cool. Others find them macabre, but no one leaves Vulture Venture unimpressed.
Each winter, hundreds of turkey vultures and smaller numbers of less-common black vultures converge on Shepherd of the Hills Fish Hatchery at Table Rock Lake. This year, the Missouri Department of Conservation is partnering with the Wonders of Wildlife (WOW) Museum in Springfield to introduce people to one of North America's biggest and most interesting birds of prey.
From noon until 6 p.m. Feb. 22, hatchery and museum personnel will host an opportunity for people to see vultures up close. A high-powered telescope will give visitors a close look at wild vultures perched in trees surrounding the fish-rearing facility. Naturalists will be on hand to answer questions and explain vulture habits. The outdoors portion of the program will take place under a tent, so the event will be held, rain or shine.
Visitors will get an even more intimate glimpse of the bare-headed, road kill-eating birds at the Shepherd of the Hills Conservation Center. There, the WOW Museum will conduct half-hour indoor programs featuring its live captive vulture, Socrates.
Visitors will be able to view a vulture video, play vulture games and take a vulture trivia quiz. For example, visitors will be asked to imitate vulture sounds. (Hint: It is easier than it seems.)
One of the most popular activities is "Build-A-Vulture," where a volunteer is transformed into a feathered and beaked scavenger. "Kids really love it," said Interpretive Programs Supervisor John Miller. "We literally turn someone into a vulture."
Miller said participants are surprised to learn that vultures are remarkably handsome birds close-up. "They're really quite pretty," he said. He also said people are fascinated by the many interesting facts they learn during programs. These include vulture's use of projectile vomiting as a defense.
The highlight of the day likely will come in late afternoon. That is when hundreds of vultures come back to Shepherd of the Hills Hatchery to roost for the night.
Returning birds join in a lazy circular descent. This behavior, known as "kettling," creates the appearance of an invisible cauldron being stirred by an enormous hand. It is a perfect opportunity to observe how the birds use their four- to six-foot wingspans to ride warm air currents rising from the hatchery waters. This event usually takes place between 5 and 5:30 p.m.
Vulture Venture is free and requires no reservations. For more information or directions to this handicapped-accessible event, call 417/334-4865 ext. 0.
- Jim Low -
