June 25, 2005
Raptor Education Docents with the Arboretum
This summer The Arboretum is be offering an exciting new event that is currently drawing large crowds. Susan Ruble, of High Country Raptors, Inc., licensed raptor rehabilitators, brings her educational program to The Arboretum every Saturday and Sunday at 10 am and 2 pm during the months of June, July, August and September. This is the volunteer opportunity of the year!
The birds of prey are being trained on site, and as they become familarized, they will then be used in demonstrations and exhibitions for Arb visitors. This means that the number and variety of raptors is growing each week, to include falcons, hawks, owls, kestrels, and possibly other birds throughout the summer.
In June and July they will be showing the birds "on the fist" and giving educational information about the birds.
In August and September, they will be "free flying" some of the birds during the shows.
Several AZ Master Naturalists are among the volunteers training with these raptors and to be active participants in Susan's program. If you are interested in becoming a Raptor Program Docent, please call Lyn Stevens, Volunteer Coordinator/Visitor Services for The Arboretum at Flagstaff at
774-1442 for more information.