Visit the California Raptor Center Open House, May 4

Get up close with resident raptors at this free, family friendly event

Give a hoot about raptors and conservation at the California Raptor Center (CRC) Spring Open House this Saturday, May 4, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Many of our resident ambassador birds will be on the glove for a close look, with volunteers ready to answer your questions about raptors. Cameras welcome, but no flash, please.

If you're an early bird, join us for our Hawk Walk, which starts before the Open House at 8 a.m. Bring binoculars and meet at the front gate. There will be educational presentations at 10:00 a.m. and noon in the classroom.

UC Davis graduate student Breanna Martinico will share her research findings on secondary exposure to rodenticides in barn owls throughout the day at her information table. Our friends Burrowing Owl Preservation Society and Raptors Are The Solution (RATS) will also have information tables at the event.

Beer samples and small bites will be available noon-2 pm from Super Owl Brewing (Visitors must be 21 or older to sample; no alcohol sales are available onsite), Upper Crust Baking and the Davis Food Co-op.

The CRC onsite museum will be open with T-shirts, plush toys and other souvenirs available for purchase. While the Open House is free, we greatly appreciate tax-deductible donations that help provide care and feeding of resident raptors, underwrite education programs, provide medication and medical supplies for rehabilitation, and maintain our unique center.

Directions: From Interstate 80, take the UC Davis exit. Turn south on Old Davis Road, away from the main campus. Cross the railroad tracks and continue to the Putah Creek Bridge where there is a low-profile blue and gold California Raptor Center sign. Do not cross the bridge. Instead, turn left onto the paved levee road and follow it for one block until it dips down off the levee. Turn right into the CRC parking lot. Parking is free.