Carolina Raptor experience swoops into your home

Whether it is seeing a baby owl up close or painting a vulture, you can see it all from your home courtesy of the Avian Home Adventure series of the Carolina Raptor Center.

“First they canceled field trips. Then they canceled classes altogether. Eventually, we had to close our trail and hospital and many of us are working from home,” said Kate Shaner, education and program director at the Carolina Raptor Center. “Our Education Team has turned their focus to inspiring the young minds now learning from home with their families.”

The Avian Home Adventure is an online series of behind-the-scenes tours and educational materials from the staff and birds at Carolina Raptor Center. This virtual visit to CRC happens via Facebook Live Monday through Friday at 11 a.m.

They had no idea if anyone would watch, but the center knew it had to do something to help feed our people with STEM-related passions from the comfort and safety of home. Now over 1,000 people tune in at 11 a.m. every day to enjoy the wonder of nature and forget about their problems for 15 minutes.

“We've been hearing from the community about the impact of this program not just the educational side, but how fun it is, how engaging our birds and staff are, and how it helps people connect to nature right outside their doors, Shaner said.

You never know what to expect, which is what keeps this experience fun and exciting.

Perhaps you will paint with a vulture, take a walk with a seriema, hear a kookaburra laugh or see a baby owl up close. No matter the topic or the avian star, these videos are guaranteed to make you smile and maybe even teach you a thing or two.

Like many nonprofit organizations, the Carolina Raptor Center is struggling during this time. Because their doors are closed, they are not bringing in admission money; and because schools are closed they are not conducting programs.

These vital operations are what allow the center to run our raptor hospital, as well as feed and care for the 90+ birds that call CRC home.

“We have cut expenses to the bone, but we still need help to keep the birds healthy and ready for your visit when this is all over,” Shaner said. “If you tune in to the livestreams, we ask you to consider making a donation. If you shop on Amazon, consider using Amazon Smile and making Carolina Raptor Center your Smile charity. Every little bit helps.”

The center hopes the community during this time is to stay strong and stay positive, and that people take this time to reconnect with their family and nature.

The center has expanded its content and given it a new home on its website.

Along with the daily livestreams, it’s added fun activities like how to make enrichment "toys" for the birds and Avian Adventure Sheets which dig deeper into topics related to STEM.

If you don’t have access to social media or missed one of the livestreams, you can access the center’s YouTube channel or an archive of livestreams.

CLICK HERE TO SEE AVIAN HOME ADVENTURE AT THE CAROLINA RAPTOR CENTER.

If you have an inspiring story to share, email Kevin Campbell, WSOC-TV/WAXN-TV/Telemundo Charlotte public affairs manager, at Kevin.Campbell@wsoctv.com.

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