A Storm Rolls in on our Raptor Presentation

Liv Lemire holding an Eastern Screech Owl

It had promised to be an exciting evening long before the presentation began. We were finally back to holding our summer programs in the House Museum at the John Wingate Weeks Historic Site on Mt. Prospect after extensive renovations and restoration work had taken place over the previous year.

Kestrel

Our appreciative audience of around 75 people showed keen interest in our raptors - some of the younger ones found that being able to have close-up looks at the birds was especially fascinating.

Broad-winged Hawk

It was thrilling enough to be able to return to the historic setting of the Great Room and to engage with a knowledgeable, personable and professional speaker but did we need to have thunder, lightning, wind, driving rain and a power loss to cap off the evening?

Janet Witenauer described the scene this way. The big storm hit about 10 minutes before our speaker was finished. It was so ferocious and windy and then the heavy rain came. All we could do is shut the doors and continue the program until the electricity went out, lights and microphone as well. Even then, we got out our iPhone Flashlights and held them over the display of wings and talons as people walked up closer to see them and ask the speaker their questions. The crowd was great!

After the storm had passed the next problem - how to get everyone down the 1.6 mile scenic auto road safely? Rachel Bruce, Weeks State Park Manager, went down to check the condition of the road, knowing full well there would be obstacles - branches and limbs. Rachel removed these, even cutting a low-hanging branch with her small chain saw (a good Park Manager never leaves home without that). Near the exit of the road, however, there was a fallen tree that required our rapidly responding DOT to quickly come and clear the area. Which, as usual they did. Thank you once again, DOT.

What an evening! For those lucky enough to have been there, it will be one they will long remember. We, at WSPA, will also remember how calmy and stoically everyone responded - from presenter to our audience, WSP Staff, WSPA Board Members and DOT. Thank you so much for bearing up so beautifully on our mountaintop under a North Country storm.

(photos of the presentation courtesy of Janet Witenauer. the downed tree photo courtesy of Rachel Bruce)