A local raptor biologist dropped by Holy Family Catholic School in Coeur d'Alene Tuesday to introduce the children to some of her winged-friends, and to teach them a lesson about being good stewards of the Earth.
Jane Fink, of Birds of Prey Northwest, held an hour-long presentation about the importance of conservation, never poaching and habitat preservation to a group of “forward-thinking” fourth through eighth-grade students toward the end of their school day.
Fink wanted the children to understand that birds of prey can be a “bio-indicator,” which means that one can gauge how healthy an ecosystem is by the health of its birds.
“My generation brought birds – peregrine falcons, condors – back from near-extinction,” Fink said. “It's these kids' jobs to sustain their existence.”
The bird specialist brought out a range of species for the kid's to learn about: Roscoe the Raven, Harry the Harrier Hawk, Larry Bird (an Arctic Gyr Falcon), Emma the Peregrine Falcon and Liberty the Bald Eagle.
