Boyd Hill Nature Preserve Takes Raptor Fest Virtual

Press release from the City of St. Petersburg:

Jan. 19, 2021 04:24:40 PM

One of Boyd Hill Nature Preserve’s largest events, Raptor Fest, is going virtual for 2021. The St. Petersburg Parks and Recreation Department and the Friends of Boyd Hill Nature Preserve, the nonprofit organization supporting the City of St. Petersburg’s preserve, present a new event, Raptor Fest @ Home, which will take place on Saturday, February 6, at 10 a.m. via Facebook at www.facebook.com/stpeteparksrec .

Raptor Fest @ Home will be interactive and educational with a schedule of events featuring the preserve’s Birds of Prey Program as well as question and answer sessions with preserve rangers. Individuals, businesses and schools are invited to “adopt” a bird of prey. Based on the amount contributed for the adoption, adoptees will receive recognition during the livestream as well as other perks. Boyd Hill Nature Preserve is home to 20 birds of prey, or raptors, deemed non-releasable by licensed rehabilitators and carefully vetted to ensure that they can be safely handled and used in educational programs. The St. Petersburg Parks and Recreation Department and the Friends of Boyd Hill Nature Preserve share responsibilities for the birds’ care and well-being.

For eight years, Raptor Fest has been held at the preserve in support of Boyd Hill’s Birds of Prey Program. The event raises more than $10,000 and attracts over 5,000 visitors along with dozens of local vendors and environmental organizations. Due to COVID-19, the event will be virtual this year for the health and safety of our community.

For more information regarding the event or to adopt a bird of prey, visit www.raptorfest.org or contact Boyd Hill Nature Preserve at 727-893-7326.

This press release was produced by the City of St. Petersburg. The views expressed here are the author’s own.