NWDC Hosts Its Biggest Vulture Day Yet
Our 2024 Vulture Day Celebration on Saturday, September 7th, was a fantastic success! Always held on the first Saturday in September, this year’s event brought together a wonderful crowd to celebrate and learn about vultures and the vital role they play as nature’s clean up crew.
A team of passionate NWDC staff, community organizations, and volunteers worked tirelessly to create engaging exhibits for attendees of all ages. Lurch and Izzy, our vulture ambassadors, were once again the stars of the day, captivating the crowd with their educational presentations.
Did you know? Combined, Lurch and Izzy have delivered over 1,000 presentations throughout their time as NWDC ambassador birds!
Some highlights from the day include:
- Approximately 150 attendees
- $501 in donations (THANK YOU!)
- Interactive stations, including:
- Wildlife Olympics
- “Ranger Lurch” coloring table
- A scavenger hunt
- Create your own vulture vomit craft
- “Fill the Bill” bird beak activity
- FREE public tours of the NWDC Raptor Center exhibits
- “Lurch Merch” table with vulture-themed merchandise
The most thrilling moments of the day were two Red-tailed Hawk releases, which were performed beautifully by two lucky members of the audience. Both hawks were originally brought into the NWDC Raptor Center in need of rehabilitative care. Over the summer, our Raptor Care team expertly nursed them back to full health. On Vulture Day the hawks took to the air with grace and power, and soared high above us through open skies for the first time in their lives.
We want to extend a huge thank you to Boys & Girls Clubs of Pueblo County, Lake Pueblo State Park, and Arkansas Valley Audubon Society for joining us and providing educational outreach tables. We are so grateful for everyone’s support and participation, and we already can’t wait for next year. Mark your calendars for September 6, 2025!
Media Contact
Jennifer de Groot
NWDC Sales & Marketing Director
Email: salesandmarketing@hikeandlearn.org
Phone: (719) 485-4444
www.hikeandlearn.org
