Skidompha Public Library's acclaimed "Chats with Champions" series welcomes Chewonki’s Director for Traveling Natural History Programs Keith Crowley on Tuesday, April 8 at 10 a.m. (This program was postponed from March due to weather.)

Crowley will present Birds of Prey: New England’s Majestic Raptors in the library’s Porter Meeting Hall at 184 Main St., Damariscotta. The public is invited to this captivating free program, which has not been presented at the library since 2009.

Attendees will have the rare privilege of seeing up-close three of Chewonki’s splendid live non-releasable raptors, including Varia, a Barred owl. In addition to viewing the live birds, participants may handle and examine feet, wings, and skull specimens from Chewonki’s collection to better understand these majestic creatures.

Crowley will explain what categorizes birds of prey and how their survival techniques differ from one another. This program compares and contrasts the special hunting adaptations of nocturnal and diurnal raptors, including their talons, curved beaks, and wing and tail shapes.

Crowley began working for Chewonki as an outdoor classroom instructor in 2007. Today he works year round as Director for the Traveling Natural History Programs. He received his B.S. from Unity College in environmental education and parks, recreation & ecotourism.

The "Chats with Champions" series is sponsored by The First, 223 Main St., Damariscotta, a community bank chartered in the mid-1800s. It serves customers at 16 locations along the coast of Maine.

In case of very inclement weather, please call the library at 207-563-5513 to confirm that the program remains scheduled.