Students visit the Ohio Bird Sanctuary

On May 16, TRECA Digital Academy students visited the Ohio Bird Sanctuary in Mansfield, OH.

The Ohio Bird Sanctuary is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to the rehabilitation of Ohio’s native birds of prey and songbirds, with an emphasis on educating the community about the conservation of our natural resources. The sanctuary also provides a safe haven for orphaned and injured birds from across the country that, due to injury, can no longer survive in the wild. The sanctuary is home to over 60 permanent residents including hawks, owls, falcons, eagles, vultures, and songbirds, that could not be released back into the wild.

Students began the visit with an informative bird of prey presentation and learned detailed information about each species. We met a red-tail hawk, a red-shoulder hawk, an American kestrel, an owl, and a turkey vulture. We learned about each bird’s special adaptations, where they like to live and eat, and why these birds cannot be released back into the wild. 

After the presentation, students were split into groups and took a guided hike along the trails. Students learned about different plants along the way and we why so many birds do not survive migration because of the many obstacles that they face. After our guided visit, students were able to tour the bird displays and make a visit to the songbird aviary.