Still Waiting on the permits for the Raptor Experience

We are at the one-month point since I sent in our permit applications for housing birds for the Draper Museum Raptor Experience. Still no news from either government agency on the progress of the permits but it can take up to 90 days. The mews are ready and waiting for their inhabitants and everyone here at the center is anxiously waiting for the day when the birds arrive as well. We have decided to have an open house at the mews for the employees. Many of them are just as curious about the whole program as the public so we will allow them to walk through the facilities and check them out (probably early next week) and talk to myself and the interns to learn more about what we’re planning and what we’ve done.

In the meantime, the interns have been working diligently on the Golden Eagle research project and putting the finishing touches on the mews. Pat is prepping his presentation on Great Horned Owls. He just did a run through, a dress rehearsal, if you will, and it is going to be a great talk. He’s been researching this species over the entire summer and has some great info to share with the public. He will present it to the public for the first time tomorrow and it’s so good that I’m planning on stealing it from him and presenting it myself after he’s gone back to school. Don’t worry, he gave me permission ;0)

My other intern, Nate, has made the most amazing travel box for our Red-tailed Hawk. When asked if it’s the Cadillac of raptor travel boxes I replied, “No. It’s the Rolls Royce!” The box is amazing, as you can see. This bird will be travelling in style!

I gotta say, I’m very proud of my interns and all they’ve done this summer. Especially considering they didn’t have any birds to work with.