SOAR

saving our avian resources

SOAR

25494 320th Street

         Dedham, IA 51440              

Phone: (712) 683-5555

Fax: (712) 683-5535

www.soarraptors.org

Greetings and Welcome

SOAR (Saving Our Avian Resources) is a non-profit organization that was   established in 1999. SOAR is dedicated to saving our avian resources through     raptor rehabilitation, education, and research.

Volunteer Appreciation Day
Sunday September 17, 2006

The public is invited to this celebration of wild birds and habitat at Whiterock Conservancy, just east of Coon Rapids, IA. Events are planned throughout the day, highlighting the osprey reintroduction project, the wildlife research being conducted on site, trail and access planning, and many other Whiterock and Coon Rapids Great Places' projects.

All Morning - On Your Own: Birders are invited to the Whiterock Conservancy Area to help add to the species list. Trail maps, species lists, and tally sheets will be available at the Home Farm and the River House. Prizes will be awarded over lunch for the birder(s) with the most new species.

7:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.: The osprey that were released on site in July are fed at the hack tower around 8 am. There will be volunteers with spotting scopes at the north end of the pond from 7 am until 9 am. This osprey viewing site can be reached by turning south off of Hwy 141 at the old sale barn (large metal pole building), just east of the Middle Raccoon River Bridge, just east of Coon Rapids. These birds have developed their flying skills over the last month and are doing some spectacular soaring and agile diving.

Noon: Lunch and Auction!
We will meet back at the River House at noon for lunch featuring elk meat BBQ sandwiches. A silent auction is planned to help raise funds to off set the costs of bringing young osprey from Wisconsin for release. SOAR needs $1000.00 more for the 2006 birds and will start working on the $2500.00 needed for the 2007 release. The opportunity to release a rehabilitated raptor, State Fair prize winning pies, and handmade jewelry are among the items already donated for auction.

1:00 p.m. Osprey and bird survey project overviews. We will have a brief presentation on the osprey project and the birding surveys being conducted at Whiterock Conservancy.

2 pm - Volunteer appreciation:
Then a big round of applause for all of the people that have helped with the osprey reintroduction at Whiterock Conservancy! There are over 20 (and counting) groups, businesses, and individuals that have made this project possible. Their combined efforts have made osprey sightings on the Middle Raccoon River a reality and hopefully in a few years another nesting sight will be added to the present number of only six in the state.
Ssilent auction closes.

After Lunch: Release of rehabilitated birds back in to the wild!
Stay to watch several birds of prey be released back to the wild after undergoing rehabilitation at SOAR's facility.

4:00-6:00 p.m. Osprey viewing:
We will have spotting scopes set up again at the north end of the pond for viewing as the birds come in for some fish before going to roost for the night.

For directions to Whiterock Conservancy and for more information (camping and bed and breakfast overnight options) see www.farmresort.com or for osprey updates check www.soarraptors.org

To donate auction items or for more information on this event, call 712/683-5555.