TRAC Blog

Newly published book “WV Birds of Prey” is a tribute to Three Rivers Avian Center

TRAC — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 13:35:46 +0000

This book is a tribute to the Three Rivers Avian Center (TRAC) in Brooks, WV and to it’s veterinarians, volunteers and donors. The Center’s co-directors, Ron and Wendy Perrone, have released hundreds of rehabilitated birds to the wild. Many of the birds included in this book are considered “education” birds at TRAC, birds that could not be returned to the wild. Some of the birds were photographed in the wild.

The author and photographer, Steven Wayne Rotsch, has been a professional photographer for over 35 years and leads bi-annual photography workshops at TRAC.

All proceeds will be donated to TRAC, an IRS registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. To preview up to 15 pages of this 40 page beautiful coffee table quality book, click here to see or order “WV Birds of Prey” by Steven W. Rotsch

TRAC’s 20th Anniversary Celebration July 3 from 1 – 5 pm

TRAC — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 13:41:21 +0000

Join us at Three Rivers Avian Center for our 20th Anniversary celebration on Saturday July 3, 2010 from 1 – 5 pm! Free tours of the Center, hot dogs, displays, kids activities and hourly door prizes. Free and open to the public, lots of fun for all ages. Bring your friends, bring your family, and don’t forget your camera!

Hack Box video of young peregrines from James River Reserve Fleet

TRAC — Mon, 24 May 2010 18:30:27 +0000

As we were cleaning the hack box today, we thought you’d enjoy seeing and hearing from the young peregrines inside it. These birds are from Virgina’s James River Reserve Fleet (4 birds) and Watts Island (1 bird). They were placed in the box on Monday May 17 and are growing up fast! The noise of the birds overwhelmed the microphone, so the sound is distorted. This is what happens to your ears in the hack box too!

Check out this 8 second video.

First Installment of Peregrines at Grandview

TRAC — Thu, 20 May 2010 18:52:11 +0000

The first 5 Peregrine chicks for the 2010 hacking project are in the box on the cliff at Grandview Park! Go to http://tracwv.org/restoration.html and click the link at ”May 18 2010” to see ‘em. It looks like we will be getting quite a few birds this Summer, so the North Overlook will be the hot spot to watch them once they are in the air.

Migration Celebration 2010 is Saturday May 8 from 9 am to 5 pm @ Little Beaver State Park!

TRAC — Thu, 06 May 2010 12:16:45 +0000

MC 2010 Just a reminder: TRAC’s 9th annual Migration Celebration will be held at Little Beaver State Park on Saturday May 8 from 9 am to 5 pm. Fun for the whole family! Here’s what’s happening during the day: MC 2010 Schedule of Events

Baby Season is here!

TRAC — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 21:57:37 +0000

Today a couple came to our door in the late afternoon with the first baby chick patient for 2010, found on the ground beneath a shadowy, cold and wet cliff overhang. It is an owlet, and still has a “baby tooth”, the calcium growth on the outside of the top of the upper beak that helps the baby break out of the egg shell. The presence of the egg tooth means that it’s less than 5 days old, probably. We think it’s an Eastern Screech Owl chick, and when it was found it was VERY cold and lethargic. The couple drove the 15 miles here in great haste thank goodness, and we’re working on warming it up and getting food into it. After 1 hour of warmth and food, it is now cheeping away and starting to move around, so we’re keeping our fingers crossed!

2 Bald Eagle Chicks in nest near Hinton, WV

TRAC — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 02:18:04 +0000

It’s hard to make the decision to go public, but with fishing trips and float trips down this part of the New River coming up soon, we thought it best to start the public knowledge ball rolling as soon as the chicks were seen. Our thinking was that the more “eyes on the prize” there were, the safer these chicks may be.

Here’s the original & really well written article, great photos, and other info from the WV Charleston Gazette:New River Gorge Bald Eagle Nest Has 2 Eaglets

Super big thanks for an outstanding and professional job to the Charleston Gazette’s writer Rick Steelhammer , photographer Chris Dorst, and multimedia specialist Doug Imbrogno for all their work. And we also want to especially thank the Gazette for their continued interest in helping conserve West Virginia’s wild birds.

TRAC is coming to a WV State Park near you!

TRAC — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 16:57:42 +0000

What’s your favorite WV State Park? Blackwater Falls? Holly River? Tomlinson Run? North Bend? Well, Three Rivers Avian Center will be coming to these Parks and others this Summer during our 2010 WV State Parks Tour. Come see Perry the Peregrine Falcon, Spirit the Golden Eagle and their raptor friends up close in an interactive hour long program that’s fun for all ages. Admission is free, so bring your family and friends – and don’t forget your camera! TRAC 2010 State Parks Tour Schedule

2010 Birds of Prey Photography Workshops: May 22 & October 9

TRAC — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 16:48:54 +0000

Join Positive Image Photography’s Steven Wayne Rotsch and Three Rivers Avian Center’s co-directors Wendy and Ron Perrone in a day of congenial photography fun! Amateur and professional photographers alike are invited to take this opportunity to capture images of 12 or more raptors native to West Virginia in natural settings in either half day or day-long sessions. Click here for registration and other information!

Bird Vision

TRAC — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 17:41:12 +0000

So you think your vision is good? Check out this great article on bird vision . . http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/02/100216101159.htm