Live Birds of Prey With Wingmasters Library Event
Live Birds of Prey With Wingmasters Library Event
Outdoors, Thursday, August 5, 11:00 a.m. Adams Council on Aging, 3 Hoosac Street. Hosted by Adams Free Library. Part of “Tails & Tales” Library Summer Reading
Adams MA – Families and children age six and up are invited to register to join the Adams Free Library hosting “Tails and Tales” by Wingmasters, bringing live birds of prey; outdoors at the Adams Council on Aging/Visitors Center, 3 Hoosac Street in Adams. Registration is required (413)743-8345.
The theme of this summer’s Library Reading Program 2021 is a pairing of homophones Tails and Tales. Wingmasters raptor programs connect with both meanings. Many raptors, like the American Kestrel falcon, have tails patterned and/or colored differently from their body plumage. The birds use their tails as signaling devices, proclaiming individual and gender identity as well as territoriality. Using live hawks, falcons and owls, and a wealth of visual aids, from molted feathers to informational posters, Wingmasters’ presentations demonstrate how raptors have evolved to communicate on a variety of levels.
They can communicate tales as well. All of Wingmasters’ program birds are nonreleasable, held under educational permits. Many are injured because of interaction with people, others serve as representatives of native species that are under pressure from habitat loss, pesticide use, and climate change. As individuals and as ambassadors for their species, they all have tales to tell.
Wingmasters is a partnership of two people dedicated to increasing public understanding and appreciation of North American birds of prey. Julie Anne Collier and Jim Parks are both licensed raptor rehabilitators based in Massachusetts. Together they care for injured birds of prey at their center in Leverett. Most of the birds they rehabilitate can ultimately be released back into the wild, but in some cases the birds are left permanently handicapped. Julie and Jim are further licensed to provide a home for these nonreleasable raptors, and to use them for educational programs. Since 1994, Wingmasters had presented over 10,000 programs at schools, libraries and museums throughout New England.
The program features five to six live birds of prey (owls, falcons, hawks) that are held under their rehabilitation and education permits. For the birds’ well-being and for the safety of the audience, the raptors are handled only by Julie and Jim, and are under their control at all times. They are never flown for demonstration. Wingmasters’ presentations are designed for students and adults.
“Tails and Tales” is sponsored by The Adams Free Library, the Massachusetts Library System, the Boston Bruins, and the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners. This program is supported in part by a grant from the Cultural Council of Northern Berkshire, a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency. Additional funding provided by the Friends of the Adams Free Library.
Families and children aged six and up are invited to register to register (413)743-8345 for the Adams Free Library outdoor event at the Adams Council on Aging, 3 Hoosac Street in Adams on Thursday, August 5, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. An adult must accompany children under 8 years of age. Library events are free and open to the public. Attendance at library programs constitutes consent to be photographed; photos may be used in print or electronic publicity for the Adams Free Library. Questions? Call the Adams Free Library at (413)743-8345 or visit the library’s website www.adamslibraryma.org for more information.