About This Activity
Description
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to work at a nature center, all about birds? At the Eagle Creek Ornithology Center, our team of naturalists is responsible for taking care of several raptor ambassadors. As a Raptor Care Assistant, you will get to experience a bit of what goes on behind the scenes at the Ornithology Center to take care of the raptor ambassadors. Caring for these animals includes preparing their diets, providing enrichment opportunities, and training skills necessary for life as an ambassador.This is your chance to experience a little bit of what it takes to care for the birds at the Ornithology Center and gain experience working with live ambassador birds!
For the first thirty minutes of the program, you will take a tour of the Ornithology Center and get to know Park Manager and Certified Bird Trainer Jenna, and Assistant Park Manager Donna, getting the opportunity to learn about what it is like to work at the center & get to know about each individual bird’s story, care & training plan. You will learn about the history of the center and how avian behavior research has changed how we care for our birds of prey at the center.
For the next thirty minutes of the program, you will help prepare the diets for the raptors in our upstairs, private bird clinic. You'll have to be comfortable around raw, bloody meat with fur, bones, and feathers still attached. This includes whole, frozen-thawed, dead prey animals like rodents, chicken, fish, quail, bones, and miscellaneous organs, such as heart and liver. You will put on gloves and participate in daily food preparation, with the opportunity to build an enrichment toy for the birds using a portion of their daily diets. Given the limited space available in our upstairs clinic, only registered program participants are able to visit the bird clinic.
For the second half of the program, you will join Jenna & Donna in feeding & training birds at the center. During this portion of the program, participants will gain a better understanding of animal behavior & the science behind animal training techniques. Participant’s families/guardians/friends are welcome to watch this portion of the program from outside the Carlsen Aviary, in front of the fence.
No birds will be held or touched during this program, and all engagement with the birds & participants will happen from the outside of their enclosures.
This program is limited to 4 participants between ages of 13-17.
$20/teen participant, parents required to stay for the program but do not have to register. Siblings and tag-alongs are welcome but may not be able to participate in the entire program.
Park admission included!
Age Category
Teens
Location
Ornithology Center - 6515 Delong Rd
Instructor
Jenna McElroy
Map & Direction
EC - Ornithology Center - Program Room
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6515 Delong Road
Indianapolis, IN
46278
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