Ambassador Bird Visits
Please note that due to high demand, and to avoid over-working our Ambassadors, that we may not be able to fulfill all requests. Things like HPAI restrictions, stressed animals and other factors may affect your visit as well.
If you’re an educator, community outreach group, or organization putting on an event and you would like to have MARS ambassador birds attend for education, please request a visit .
Part of the MARS mission is to spread the word about the protection and preservation of wildlife and habitats on northern Vancouver Island and so we love it when the public — particularly young people — can experience our majestic hawk and owls up close, with the interpretative support of our bird handlers.
Our goal is always to release sick or injured animals into the wild after they have recovered, but that isn’t always possible. For various reasons, our Ambassadors are permanent residents of MARS. They travel to classrooms and the wider community with a volunteer bird handler to act as “spokesbirds” for all wildlife.
Planning for an Ambassador Bird Visit
Seeing an owl or hawk up close can be an exciting experience. A bit of preparation will make the encounter enjoyable for audiences while remaining safe and comfortable for the bird.
PLEASE PREPARE THE GROUP:
- calm bodies, calm voices, hands as still
- remind the audience that these are wild birds, not pets, and they will not be able to touch them
- sometimes birds poop. This can be a surprise! Handlers will have pads to catch the cloacal fluid
- sometimes birds “bate” or fly off the glove. This is also a surprise. Because the bird is attached to the handler by leather straps, this is more flapping than flying and doesn’t hurt the bird
- handlers love questions and also love to hear what you already know about wildlife and conservation
PLEASE PREPARE THE SPACE:
- fairly quiet without a lot of echo
- a place where the handler & birds can have their backs to a wall
- can be outside against trees or under shade
- a flat, stable surface for the bird’s kennel. A table is better than the ground
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