Raptors and rocket scientists take over library

The east lawn of the Whitefish Community Library was packed Thursday with nearly 100 kids and adults, five Montana Wild Wings volunteers, and most importantly, several raptors. The screeching barn owl was a vocal crowd favorite. 

Seeing and learning about the raptors that no longer live in the wild is a family-favorite event that the Whitefish Community Library has hosted every summer for the last several years as a part of the Summer Enjoyment Series. 

Montana Wild Wings Rehabilitation Center is a nonprofit dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and release of sick and injured birds of prey. 

Rehabilitation center volunteers provide programs like the visit to the library to educate the community about raptor species, the organization and how the public can support raptors in Montana and beyond. The rehabilitation center is located in Kalispell and is 100% volunteer staffed and operated and public donation funded.

The Library’s Summer Enjoyment Series continued on Friday with a presentation from Jarrod Bales, education and outreach specialist from the Launch Services Program at NASA's John F. Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The crowd heard all about rockets and then learned how to make and launch their own.

Summer festivities at the library continue this week with “Whooooooo Lives on the Trail” on Thursday, Aug. 1 at 3 p.m., in partnership with Whitefish Legacy Partners. There will be songs, stories and activities to introduce people to critters who make their home around the Whitefish Trail. This event is free and suitable for children ages 2-4, however attendance is limited and registration is required. To register, visit whitefishlegacy.org, call 406-862-3880 or email wteducation@whitefishlegacy.org.

Summer Enjoyment at the Library presentations will continue to occur weekly throughout the rest of the summer. All are free and open to everyone. For more information, call the Library at (406) 862-9914.

    Jarrod Bales, right, teaching kids how to launch their rockets on Friday. (Photo provided by Whitefish Community Library)
  

    Families line up to launch their rockets at NASA Education and Outreach Specialist Jarrod Bales' presentation at Whitefish Community Library. (Photo provided by Library)