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SlideshowSee the new Bald Eagle Habitat & Raptor Valley at Maymont
If you go What: Opening of the Robert M. Freeman Bald Eagle Habitat & Raptor Valley
When: Saturday,11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Where: Maymont. Habitat is closest to the Children's Farm entrance, Spottswood Road and Shirley Lane
Admission: Free. Donations accepted.
Details: www.maymont.org; (804) 358-7166
Maymont's feathered friends Bald eagle: Nests can be up to 10 feet wide and weigh several tons.
Great horned owl: The largest, most powerful owl in Virginia. The feathers on top of its head resemble horns.
Barred owl: Named for the long brown streaks, or bars, on its breast.
Red-tailed hawk: Not a fast flier, but excellent vision and quick and strong when attacking prey. Cooper's hawk: Fast, agile bird, identified by long wings and tail with rounded tip.
American kestrel: This tiny falcon is also known as the sparrow hawk because of its small size. Black vulture: Vultures have special bacteria in their digestive system that allows them to eat animal carcasses. SOURCE: Maymont
Raptor programs at Maymont Animal Encounters, Raptors: Sept. 14 and 20 at 1, 2, 3 and 4 p.m.; Oct. 4 and 11 at 1 and 3 p.m. Ages 5 and up will get a close-up look at some of Maymont's raptors. $4 ($3/members).
Behind the Scenes at Raptor Valley: Sept. 14 and 20 at 1, 2, 3 and 4 p.m. Sept. 21 and 28 at 2 p.m.; Oct. 4, 11 and 18 at 2 p.m. Get a behind-the-scenes look at Raptor Valley and learn some fascinating facts about birds of prey, daily duties of Maymont's zoologists and needs of Maymont's rehabilitated raptors. $5 ($4/members).
Who's for Dinner?: Sept. 20 at 10 a.m. Learn what makes owls great hunters, dissect owl pellets and see these fliers up close. $10 per parent and child ($8/members).
Beaks & Talons: Oct. 4 at 10 a.m. Take a hike to watch for birds and make a craft for the birds in your own backyard. Ages 5 and up. $20 per parent and child ($18/members).
The 15-pound bald eagle that arrived at Maymont last month was facing death when it was discovered at a King and Queen County dump in December.
Unable to fly, it was taken to the Wildlife Center of Virginia. Veterinarians amputated part of one wing, and the majestic bird was slowly nursed back to health.
The next step was finding the eagle a permanent home. The timing proved perfect for Maymont, which was finishing construction of an eagle habitat.
The mended eagle will be the showstopper at the $2.8 million Robert M. Freeman Bald Eagle Habitat & Raptor Valley. Opening Saturday, the habitat replaces a smaller, outdated aviary at the park. In addition to the adult bald eagle, red-tailed hawks, a Cooper's hawk, barred owl, great horned owl, black vulture and kestrel will call it home.
This marks the first time a bald eagle has been placed at Maymont. The project is the park's first new animal habitat since the Robins Nature & Visitor Center was completed in November 1999.
"It's so special to have something like this in the center of a city," said Buz Bireline, director of Maymont's Nature Center and habitats. "It adds pride to the community and gives people something to be a part of."
The habitat was made possible by a $1 million gift from the Freeman Family Fund of the Community Foundation in honor of the late Robert M. Freeman, a former Maymont Foundation board member and president. He was a bald eagle enthusiast.
"We thought as long as we were going to have an eagle habitat, why not expand the whole area and make it more attractive and better for the birds?" said Carla Murray, Maymont spokeswoman.
Nestled among the trees across from the black bears, the habitat includes six aviaries that measure about 400 square feet each. The old site had four aviaries that were less than 200 square feet each.
"It's all about education," said Debbie Rea, manager of zoology at Maymont. "The majority of our visitors are from the city, and they've never seen these animals."
Visitors will be able to observe the birds from a boardwalk that winds through the wooded hillside. The area also has an amphitheater for school and public programs.
"This is a great opportunity for people to enjoy and learn something new," Bireline said. "That knowledge will hopefully activate them to care more about Virginia wildlife."
Like all the wildlife at Maymont, the featured birds are native to Virginia and were rescued with permanent injuries that prevent them from surviving in the wild. Maymont has a permit through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to house the birds of prey.
