Welcome to the MES Blogosphere!
By Gabe Sataloff

I was fortunate enough to travel to the International Center for Birds of Prey (BOP) in Awendaw a couple weeks ago with the conservation biology class. We were lead around by Stephen Schabel, a former MESer, as well as some of the other friendly,

knowledgeable staff. The BOP is part zoo, part education center, and part rehabilitation center. Some of the birds are recovered from the wild due to injury or malnutrition, and raised and rehabilitated in captivity. If feasible, the birds are re-released into the wild. The rest of the birds are born and raised in captivity, some for release into the wild, and others for educational purposes. Almost all of the birds

healthy enough are flown every day. Watching these birds soar and swoop through the sky made me realize why falconry was long considered the sport of kings. I could easily wax poetic about the fierce magnificence of these princes of the skies, their raw power and nimble grace, but that would only do them an injustice. If you have any interest in birds of prey, conservation, or wildlife in general, this is a place that you should definitely check out (it will be open to the public this summer, or you could even volunteer). -Gabe Sataloff

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