We are grateful for blue skies with light cloud cover and the perfect Oregon summer temperatures we enjoyed last week. The top picture is one of the art installations for Visual Arts Celebration and at the bottom a crowd scene from the Farmer's Market. The City sky shots are also from my Saturday morning walk — the side two from the terrace level outside our door.
Last month, we visited Cascades Raptor Center in the South Eugene hills.
This Nature Center specializes in rescuing and rehabilitating sick, injured, or orphaned birds and releasing them back into the wild. There is a huge flight training enclosure and a hospital on the grounds, but for the protection of the birds these are not open to the public
Sometimes, the birds cannot be released and the Center then provides them long-term habitat. These birds can be viewed on a self-guided tour of the facility.
There are about 50 birds in well maintained aviaries. All are part of the Center's Education Programs and some become 'ambassadors' who are taken to schools and other off-site events for educational purposes. Each bird has a sign explaining why it could not be released after rehabilitation.
I forgot to take a picture of his sign, but this Eagle Owl (his name is Dmitri) is such a star that he has his own Face Book Page — here .
The Center began by rehabilitating raptors found in and around this area, but because of the excellent staff and facilities it now sometimes receives birds for rehabilitation as well as non-releasable birds from other Rehab Centers around the country.
We watched Pip, the peregrine falcon, being hand fed by one of the staff while she answered questions.
Besides the signs telling each individual bird's history, there are also signs like the one above providing more scientific information about each species.
We were glad we visited — we learned new things and felt good knowing the admission fee goes toward the good work the Center does for wildlife. Definitely worth a visit (here's a link to their website).
Coming back to the current Saturday morning walk where we started this post, here's my random Farmer's Market shot for the week:
Sweet peppers or monsters from outer space? You decide.
LINKING THIS WEEK TO the following sharing opportunities: Thank you to each of the hosts.
NATURE NOTES; OUR WORLD on Tuesday; MOSAIC MONDAY; GOOD, RANDOM, FUN; ALL SEASONS; THROUGH MY LENS; TRAVEL PHOTO SOUVENIRS; WILD BIRD Wednesday; SIGNS SIGNS; Wednesday AROUND THE WORLD; THANKFUL THURSDAY; SKYWATCH FRIDAY; SATURDAY CRITTERS; and RATHER B' BIRDING
We appreciate all visitors and commenters! Thank you.