On Saturday, November 19 from 2 to 3 p.m., Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve presents a special event with French native and master falconer Gregory Wojtera. The program will introduce the audience to the history and significance of falconry as it relates to both the past and present. It will also touch on the biology and natural history of our native raptor species and their longstanding cohabitation and means of communication with humans. 

Participants will meet two of Pennsylvania’s native birds of prey — a red-tailed hawk and a red-shouldered hawk — as well as a Harris’s hawk, which is native to the Southwestern United States. Additional time will be allowed for a Q&A session and a photo opportunity with the birds at the end of the program. 

This is a bring-your-own seat event, so blankets and lawn chairs are welcome.

Tickets are $10 per person or $35 per household. All children must be accompanied by an adult. 

Wojtera has worked with almost 50 raptors in the past 12 years. He trains and flies hawks, falcons, and owls for a variety of purposes including hunting, falconry abatement (bird control), and education. In 2014, he created Maters of the Skies to educate the public about birds of prey and falconry. Wojtera is licensed at the state and federal levels to conduct public falconry classes and he has been working as a full-time falconer and educator since 2016.

Register in advance here: https://bit.ly/3RxUOBl.

Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve is located at 1635 River Road in New Hope, Pa. Learn about other upcoming programs at https://bhwp.org.