Percy the Merlin at Open Door Bird Sanctuary, March 14, 2024. PC: Fox 11 Online
DOOR COUNTY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Birds of prey are taking center stage Saturday for the annual Open Door Bird Sanctuary event.
Officials say the trails at the site will be open to visitors as well.
“On Saturday, we’ve got an open-to-the-public day. We do three of them every winter. I think this year, it’s going to be a spring open day, not a winter open day, with the wonderful warm weather we’ve been having,” said Rob Hults, Open Door Bird Sanctuary Executive Director.
From a Great-Horned Owl named Wisdom, to a bright-white Snowy Owl called Oslo, Rob Hults says 20 birds of prey are scheduled to be featured.
“Meeting the raptors that we have here, that live at the sanctuary, is just a great way to see birds, special birds, that you never get a chance to see up close and personal,” he said.
“This is, his full name is Sir Percival, but we like to call him Percy. And he is a merlin. What’s a merlin? A merlin is a type of falcon,” said Val Mann, Open Door Bird Sanctuary Raptor Educator.
Val Mann says Percy arrived after falling out of a nest. During rehabilitation, the merlin became imprinted on humans, and was not able to be released into the wild. Mann says she hopes showing birds like Percy has an impact.
“I think it’s really important. Because then, people get a sense of place, and hopefully they leave from here, going away feeling more inspired to help the natural world,” she said.
The event also includes guided, and non-guided treks on the 34-acre site west of Jacksonport.
“We have three beautiful hiking trails here at the sanctuary that highlight all the different ecosystems we have throughout the property. This year’s been a very, very different winter. But it still, it’s a great time to get out. And instead of snow shoes, we’ll be wearing hiking shoes,” said Hults.
The show runs Saturday, March 16, from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Adult tickets are $10.
Children aged 5-12, is $7.
Kids under 4, get in for free.
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