Sept 5
- Sept 5,
2009Virginia Beach, VAhttp://VirginiaAquarium.com757-385-0252Just when you think you have heard it all with regards to special days dedicated to some cause or another, a new one has surfaced that gives cause for celebration: the International Vulture Awareness Day. At the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center, this is a “big” deal for their resident turkey vulture family, the “VanSputums” and their caretakers. To celebrate the day, Saturday, September 5, special activities will reinforce why these birds are so special to our environment and what we can do to assure their future.
Aquarium educators will be on hand at the Marsh Pavilion from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. offering live animal programming and vulture related activities for guests. Cathartes VanSputum will make a guest appearance at 11a.m., 1p.m. and 3 p.m. The Aviary feeding program at 2:30 p.m. will feature fun toys or food items as enrichments to spark the turkey vultures’ natural curiosity.
Activities for guests will include:
- A modified Operation Gam” to discover the tastiest parts of the vultures' favorite meals (also known as road-kill surprise).
- Feed the vulture babies puppet activity.
- Discover the wingspans of various vultures using ropes as measures.
- Make vulture vomit (just kidding, it’s just slime).
- Practice your vomit hurling skills in a vulture target game of shoot to ill.
Vultures are an ecologically vital group of birds that face a range of threats in many areas that they occur. Populations of many species are under pressure and some species are facing extinction. Visit
www.ivad09.org to learn how many other countries are participating in this first International Vulture Awareness Day and what activities they are offering.
The Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, and the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums. The Aquarium is among the first attractions in the state to become certified as a Virginia Green Attraction. It is located at 717 General Booth Boulevard, just south of Rudee Inlet in Virginia Beach. For more information on exhibits, movies, boat rides and special events call (757) 385-FISH (3474), (TDD 711) or visit VirginiaAquarium.com.