Eagle Days features birds that recovered from injuries

A screech owl and children looked at each other during Eagle Days Saturday at the Mr. and Mrs. F.L. Schlagle Environmental Library at Wyandotte County Lake Park, 91st and Leavenworth Road. The event continues Sunday afternoon. (Staff photo by Mary Rupert)

by Mary Rupert

Injured eagles, falcons, hawks and other raptors were the center of attention at Eagle Days, an annual event held Saturday at the Mr. and Mrs. F.L. Schlagle Environmental Library at Wyandotte County Lake Park.

The 16th annual event will continue on Sunday at the Schlagle Library and also at the James P. Davis Hall at Wyandotte County Lake Park, 91st and Leavenworth Road. One volunteer said she saw two eagles flying outside on Saturday at Wyandotte County Lake Park.

Two screech owls on display that were missing one eye each were helped by Operation WildLife to survive. They were both hit by cars as the owls were flying across a road, explained Bill Whinery, an Operation WildLife volunteer.

The birds of prey on display on Saturday during Eagle Days in Kansas City, Kan., were all unable to survive on their own, Whinery said. A turkey vulture named Louie that mistakenly identifies as a human because humans took him away from his natural family was another bird that would be unable to survive on its own in the wild, he said.

In the James P. Davis Hall at the lake park were about 15 other birds that Operation WildLife was helping. One was a young bald eagle rescued from Wyoming.

Whinery described the organization’s more than 25-year efforts to help injured birds and animals. The organization has a facility in Linwood, Kan.

While the goal of Operation WildLife is to rehabilitate birds and animals and release them back into the wild, there are some that cannot be released because of their condition, Whinery said. The two screech owls cannot see well enough to survive in the wild, he added.

While Operation WildLife is licensed by the state, it receives no state or federal funding and relies upon donations, Whinery said.

The annual Eagle Days event is sponsored by the Board of Public Utilities, Operation WildLife, the Kansas City, Kan., Public Library, the Kansas City, Kan., Public Schools; and the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City Kan., Parks and Recreation Department.

Hours on Sunday are noon to 4 p.m. at the Schlagle Library and noon to 4 p.m. at Davis Hall, both at Wyandotte County Lake Park. Programs will be presented indoors at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Sunday at both locations.