Bringing Bird-Watching Indoors

Because many teenagers have never experienced the wilderness, educators are bringing the outdoors to them.

They are bringing Apollo, a red-tailed hawk with a 3-foot wing span. And Alice, an American kestrel that soars at 45 to 60 mph, and Paco, a great horned owl with claws as sharp as sharks’ teeth.

As part of the Orange County Department of Education’s new Birds of Prey program, students at public and private schools this fall will experience nature without leaving their classrooms.

About 50 at-risk teenagers who attend the Horizon Education Centers in Tustin and Santa Ana got a preview of the program last week.

“I think it’s neat because they let us see them so closely,” said 15-year-old Tawyna Sowell, standing inches from Paco on its wooden perch. “I always thought owls were bad birds, that they can attack people.”

Educators said the program is designed to give the youths a better appreciation of their environment and the animals who share it.

Sowell and her classmates learned, for example, that owls can tell scientists important information about the environment.

Sick owls could indicate to scientists that an animal or plant within the birds’ food chain is contaminated.

Scientists use such knowledge to protect people from coming in contact with the plants or animals causing the illness.

Educators also hope the teens will learn to respect wildlife and perhaps develop a deeper interest.

“By educating them about the importance of these birds, it might make them want to get involved in some type of protection or a career in science,” said Patti Huber, a program coordinator at the Orange County Department of Education.

Thelma, a burrowing owl that lost a wing when it was hit by a car, touched the students’ hearts.

“I bet a lot of my peers have changed their minds about shooting birds for target practice,” said 16-year-old Josh Meador.