Entertainment - Entertainment News

POSTED: Wednesday, Jun. 24, 2009

See raptor show, become Junior Steward of the environment

Whatcom Land Trust is promoting its summer-long Junior Stewards program with a special event at 3:30 p.m. Friday, June 26, that offers a close-up look at several birds of prey.

The Sardis Raptor Center will be bringing its "Hunters of the Sky" demonstration to the Multipurpose Room at Bloedel Donovan Park for a free, hour-long presentation featuring several of the Ferndale organization's hawks, owls and eagles. The show also includes a comparison of hawk, owl and eagle pellets, species identification and a discussion of environmental issues.

It's all part of the Whatcom Land Trust's new program, which encourages children and families to venture into some of Whatcom County's most treasured outdoor habitats, says Connie Clement, the land trust's outreach coordinator.

Participants will be entered in a drawing for such prizes as canoe rentals at Lake Samish and Silver Lake, field guides and binoculars - plus a special grand prize of a family birding tour with ornithologist and Fairhaven College professor John Bowers.

Here's how it works: Participants will obtain a program workbook and visit three Whatcom County Parks that were made possible through Whatcom Land Trust efforts - Squires Lake Park, Deming Homestead Eagle Park, the new Point Whitehorn Park, plus a place of their own choosing.

"The idea is to explore parts of Whatcom County that they may not have seen before," Clement said. "The three parks have different attributes. There's the coast, an inland lake and the Nooksack River."

After visiting a park, there are site-specific questions and activities to complete. Lastly, there's a "Reflect & Respond" page to fill out. To enter the drawing, mail or drop off the final reflections page to the land trust office. All participants get a coupon for a free Mallard Ice Cream cone.

The booklets will be available at Friday's kickoff or at the Whatcom Land Trust office, 110 Central Ave., just across Commercial Street from the Bellingham Public Library. The booklet also can be downloaded from whatcomlandtrust.org; just click on the Junior Stewards tab on the left.

Maps and information about Whatcom County parks are available at co.whatcom.wa.us/parks. Click on "County Parks A-Z" tab at the left. There are printed park information and map booklets available from Whatcom County Parks & Recreation. Call (360) 733-2900.

For families looking for a further adventure, many county parks are accessible by Whatcom Transportation Authority buses. Check the schedule at ridewta.com or pick up a schedule at the downtown terminal, corner of Railroad Avenue and Magnolia Street.