On Saturday, July 22, 10 am – noon, Kestrel is pleased to present a special event with bird of prey rehabilitator and educator Tom Ricardi. Join us to learn about the amazing birds known as “raptors”—hawks, owls, and falcons—and witness a rehabilitated raptor released back into the wild!

Tom will bring a variety of his rehabilitated but unreleasable birds to show us and teach us about their natural history. Then, we’ll watch as Tom releases a barred owl that was found injured at Kestrel’s headquarters in April, brought to Tom’s Birds of Prey Rehabilitation Center in Conway, and subsequently recovered through Tom’s skilled care.

(If you already know a bit about raptors and want to test your knowledge, check out this challenging raptors ID quiz from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology!)

Tom Ricardi is a licensed wildlife rehabilitator who has nurtured thousands of injured birds of prey back to health. Since retiring in 2001 from a 38-year career with the Massachusetts Environmental Police, Tom is the Western Massachusetts go-to resource for injured raptors. The owner and operator of Birds of Prey Rehabilitation Center in Conway, Tom cares for these birds as a labor of love.

Space is limited and registration is required. Families and children welcome!