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Contact:Tom Gillespie - January 21, 2000 - 336-879-7202
N.C. Zoo Hosts Popular Birds-Of-Prey Program

ASHEBORO, N.C. - The unique educational program "On the Wing," featuring flying birds of prey, returns to the North Carolina Zoological Park March 15 through May 15 for its sixth season, in an outdoor theater near the zoo's North America entrance.

The program, held three times daily at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., will be presented by handlers from the World Bird Sanctuary in St. Louis. This year's program features hawks, eagles, falcons, vultures, owls and other birds in live demonstrations. During each program, the birds perform natural flying and survival behaviors, sometimes flying only inches above the audience. The program will also include a conservation message on how these spectacular creatures and their habitats must be saved in the wild and how the audience can help to do that.

Additionally, handlers will be available with the birds between shows and after the final performance each day to answer questions.

WBS is a non-profit organization dedicated to the rehabilitation of injured birds of prey, the breeding of endangered raptors and parrot species to stabilize and increase their populations, and to educating the public about raptors.

The program is free with regular zoo admission of $8 for adults and $5 for children 2-12 and senior citizens. The zoo is located six miles southeast of Asheboro on N.C. Route 159 and is an agency of the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

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