Nonprofit rehabs dozens of birds at West Lester Road site
By Teresa Sargeant
Reporter
The Avian Reconditioning Center (ARC) highlighted its efforts in rehabilitating injured birds of prey and educating the community about such animals at its Springs Affaire Renaissance Day event on Saturday, March 22.
The Spring Affaire Renaissance Day took place at ARC’s West Lester Road site and featured educational activities such as falconry experiences and bird demonstrations, as well as food vendors and artisans, sword fighting, live music and more.
Falconry experiences allow guests to learn more about the raptors by holding and flying them.
ARC held the festival for almost 12 years, reviving it after COVID-19 disrupted ARC’s previous events including the Fall Out Fest, which was once ARC’s largest event.
The group chose the Renaissance era theme because of falcons’ huge link to that historical time, according to Nicole Jones, ARC administrative assistant and volunteer coordinator. In those days, kings and queens owned, flew and used falcons. Falcons were also valued as currency to some extent, as they were traded in the Middle East and then brought back to kings.
ARC volunteers and staff create and use traditional falconry equipment such as rope knots.
ARC shelters almost 30 educational ambassador birds and administers a revolving number of raptors in rehabilitation of falcons, owls and hawks. A bird could stay with the center ranging from a few days to several months, depending on the seriousness of the bird’s injuries.
For support, ARC relies on non-governmental monetary donations and 25 to 30 regular volunteers who come from different backgrounds, from high school students to professionals, including a rocket scientist, Jones said.
Operations include a monthly food bill of $5,000 to $6,000, according to Jones.
For more information about ARC, visit arc4raptors.org.
The Apopka Chief is an award-winning weekly newspaper serving the greater Apopka area in Central Florida since 1923.
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