For the fourth year, the Wildlife Society is bringing back their Birds of Prey event.The event is three presentations featuring multiple different raptors and will beginat 1 p.m. this Saturday in New Science 2904.

The raptors come from two different wildlife centers, the Northwood WildlifeCenter in Minocqua, Wis. and the Chocolay Raptor Center in Harvey. ShaleyValentine, senior zoology major and the Wildlife Society president, said that birds atthese sanctuaries are rescue birds that are not able to be released back into the wild.

Past birds that have been brought to the event include red-tailed hawks, kestrels and a variety of owls.According to Maggie Hartman, junior fisheries and wildlife management major and club member, this event is one of the club’s most highly anticipated events of the year.

“I’ve heard through the grapevine that a lot of people get excited when it comes up each year,” Hartman said.

Past turnout has been really successful, Hartman said, with a mix of both students and community members. The purpose of the lectures is to go beyond entertainment and teach the audience about the different species of birds and conservation efforts geared toward them. Some of the species are endangered, Valentine said, and there are even laws against the collection of their feathers.

This year, in addition to the birds, the Northwood Wildlife Center is going to be bringing along a special guest turtle to be part of the presentation. The event is funded by the student finance committee this year, so admission is free to everyone. But the wildlife centers would greatly appreciated donations of old towels, paper towels, Dawn dish soap or birdseed to help them care for the birds.

In addition to education, the Wildlife Society hopes that this event will make students interested in the joining the club, which meets 6 p.m. on Wednesdays in the zoology museum in New Science. Interested students can attend the club meetings or can contact Valentine for more information.