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LIBERTY -- The Birds in Flight Sanctuary, which purchased property last summer in Vienna, plans to have environmental days at the site to let the public see local wildlife.
Heather Merritt, director of the sanctuary, was among those who had set up a display table at the annual hunting and fishing show held at Metroplex Expo Center in Liberty.
Merritt said the sanctuary's current location off Warwick Drive in Howland has limited space. Moving operations to the 63-acre site provides the space needed to expand.
She said efforts are underway to open the site shortly.
"We want to be open and let people come there and see nature," Merritt said.
At last week's expo, a fundraiser was held to generate money to buy a lead machine, which can check birds for lead poisoning.
"With this machine, we can take a few minutes and check the birds and treat them. Eighty percent of the eagles last year had some lead poisoning from being shot or by injesting it. People are dumping trash in the Mahoning River, water and woods," she said.
So far $600 has been raised for the $2,000 machine.
Judi Henninger, event promoter, said the event includes a variety of informational seminars on the outdoors, and wildlife and displays by local organizations and groups,
"This is basically where you will find anything you need to know about the outdoors," she said.
Scot Gardner, hunter education for the Ohio Division of Wildlife, said his exhibit showcases how people can enjoy outdoor recreation including archery.
"We get a lot of children and adults who want to try archery," he said.
Amy Bue with Amy's Bucketlist Expeditions discussed the many programs she holds including one on Bigfoot each year at Mill Creek Park and local libraries.
"I am planning on going to Washington state to look at some large nests that a logging company found. A group of scientists and a primate specialist will be coming to see the nests. We will speak with hunters and fisherman about the nests," she said.
Bue said the logging company shut down operations for five years so the nests can be checked.
She said people will look over the nests to determine what made them.
"No one is sure what animal did this," she said.
Bue is also with Project ZooBook, which is a group of Bigfoot investigators working alongside scientists, including primatologists and zoologists.
bcoupland@tribtoday.com