Birds of Prey Visit the Fox Lane High School Campus

If you happened to drive through the Fox Lane High School bus loop on a recent Friday morning, you may have gotten the surprise of your life. Beneath the flag, there was an assortment of birds of prey—including a bald eagle—hanging out in the grass.

The raptors (another word for birds of prey) were on campus as part of an incredible, hands-on presentation for Chris Dossena’s Animal Behavior course. Robert Horvath and Tania Scaduto from Wildlife in Need of Rescue and Rehabilitation (WINORR), a non-profit that cares for and rehabilitates sick and injured animals, had an incredible assortment of raptors of all different sizes on hand to present to students.

“I met Robert at a ‘Birds of Prey’ show at Green Chimneys in Brewster,” Dossena said. “We reconnected because he needed some help with reptile husbandry. He was very excited about the opportunity to educate the class about the animals in his care.”

Students’ awe and excitement started while Horvath and Scaduto were setting up.

“Oh my god, he just pulled out a bald eagle,” one student exclaimed, eyes wide with delight.

From owls and a kestrel to a raven and more, students were able to pet and even hold some of the birds as Horvath and Scaduto talked about what makes each raptor so special.

The Animal Behavior course focuses on how animals have adapted in order to survive challenges in their environments. From incredible eyesight—kestrels can see the details on the face of a mouse from across a football field—to super-sensitive hearing, an uncanny ability to mimic sounds and remarkable problem-solving skills, each of the birds has adapted in amazing ways.

In Scaduto’s excitement talking about them, she stopped to say, “Ok, I won’t get too geeky with it,” but Dossena encouraged her to go all in.

She then told students about how kestrels can see ultraviolet light—something humans are unable to do—and that it’s very helpful for hunting.

The enthusiasm of the group (including the presenters!) grew even more when they began to notice bald eagles, ravens and vultures circling the area to check out the new raptors and let them know with caws and other cries that it was their territory.

“That is so cool, when you think of it through the lens of behavior,” Dossena said to the group, just as in awe as his students.

Students had questions about the birds, which Horvath and Scaduto were happy to answer.

“What is their conservation status?”

“Is there a reason their eyes are that color?”

“How did you get this job?”

Students’ interest and wonder were exactly what Dossena hoped for.

“My hope for the presentation was twofold,” he said. “First, I hoped students would walk away with a memorable appreciation for the animals that they saw. I think it was a rare opportunity to be so close—and even have hands-on experience—with such amazing animals. Second, I wanted the class to see that there are many opportunities to nurture your passion for animals. Robert and Tania have dedicated countless hours of their lives to educating the public about each species’ value to the environment. Furthermore, since these birds of prey had injuries that prohibited their return to the wild, Robert and Tania ensure that each animal ambassador is given a healthy second chance at life. Their energy and enthusiasm were contagious. I can’t wait until they come back in the spring!”

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