Nature’s Educators to raise money at Birds of Prey Soiree

Thirst Staff Reports

Live raptors and live music are on tap this Saturday in Florence. The event is the year’s biggest fundraiser for Nature's Educators, a non-profit educational wildlife program.

The group uses hundreds of educational outreach programs each year to foster memorable connections with wild animals, and to inspire more environmental consciousness.

Devin Jaffe, co-director and founder of Nature’s Educators, said wildlife rehabilitation is also important to the group’s mission.

“We also care for injured, orphaned, and sick birds of prey in hopes to release them back to the wild,” Jaffe said. “The funds raised help to feed our ambassadors and will also be used to continue creating and building displays for our brand new nature center in Florence.”

The raptor’s housed by Nature’s Educators are non-releasable due to injuries preventing survival in the wild, or being imprinted to humans. More unusual species species include a White-Tailed Hawk, Crested Caracara and Black Vulture.

Outside of this weekend’s event, displays and educational programs are available year-round at the Nature’s Educator centers in Sedalia and Florence. The latter is the only nature center in Fremont County.

Domani the Gyrfalcon | Photo by Matt Dirksen

“While our raptors only visit for special events, our herptiles and invertebrates are there Tuesday through Sunday for folks to come in and check out,” Jaffe said. “We are also offering programs every Saturday and some special events a few evenings coming up this fall and winter.”

Saturday’s event is called the Birds of Prey Soiree or, for those with a desire for the dramatic, Feathers of Fury, a post-apocalyptic-themed fundraiser. In addition to live raptors on display and three local music acts, the event includes a silent auction, gift shop and photo booth

There will also be food trucks on hand, with Florence Brewing Company beer and Talon Winery wine for purchase.

The soiree is hosted by Colorado Healing Acres, a boutique hemp farm and CBD pet products company in Florence.

The Birds of Prey Soiree — Feathers of Fury Fundraiser runs from 2 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 2, at Colorado Healing Acres, 4498 Bear Paw Drive, in Florence.

Admission is free, but donations are appreciated to care for the raptors from Nature’s Educators.

The music lineup includes:

KaiKo from 4 to 5:30 p.m.

Tiffany Christopher from 6:15 to 7:15 p.m.

6 Bucks and A Flight from 7:45 to 9 p.m.

For more information, visit www.natureseducators.org/fof