We went to the Raptor Release at the Hyland Lake Park Preserve in Bloomington last Saturday and met up with some friends. What a beautiful day and a great family event!

We saw Owls

a Turkey Vulture

(I had recently seen one fly by my office window at the Star Tribune. I told the raptor volunteer about my sighting. She thought it was odd for one to be in downtown Minneapolis, but assured me that “No, it wasn’t circling the building -it must have just been a bit off it’s migratory course.”)

We managed to have a nice picnic by the lake and avoid “the-fun-for-kids-yet-incredibly-stressful-for-parents-Chutes-and-Ladders-playground” (that park is another post in itself)

There were educational activities, music, and more people with enormous telephoto lenses then I’ve ever seen in one place. Then the big event. The raptor release. They were setting free three hawks that had been rehabilitated. I had no idea that it would be so moving. In fact I got a little choked up. But I guess that is why there was a crowd of people from all over the metro area there.

Because it is so dang cool to see these magnificent birds soar off. Freedom!

We don’t live far from there and I went back for a solo bike ride at dusk in there later that evening. It is my happy place. There are miles and miles of paved trails through prairieland and aspen groves. The sun was just starting to set, a chorus of frogs filled the air and deer were grazing on the hills. I looked up and saw a red-tail hawk catching a gust of wind just soaring above me. I’m not sure if it was one that was just released or not but it made me smile as I biked away. A lovely ending to a lovely day.

(I have had this song in my head nonstop since that day “I Saw A Bird Fly Away” - Dar Williams)

For more educational activities for the little ones check out upcoming events in the Three Rivers Park District programs - click on the Spring Calendar here.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, May 6th, 2009 at 9:10 am and is filed under Events, Things to Do. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.