The 5 Best Things to do Adventurous in Cowichan Valley Regional District, Vancouver Island

Reviewed By PookyCake - Victoria, Canada

The Raptors centre had been on my “to do” list for a number of years. Having passed by this attraction countless times, it was bound to grab my curiosity. “What is it?” I thought. “What do they do there?” I knew you could have interactive bird experiences, but I didn’t know much else about it. That’s why, when I finally got the opportunity to visit, I was totally surprised and amazed by all that’s done here. The Raptors was set up to educate. Typically, whenever we think of “birds of prey,” most people tend to view them as mindless predators and/or a nuisance. Vultures, for example, have been – and are – targeted in some countries for extermination via poisoned animal carcasses. As a result, their numbers have depleted. This, we learn at the Raptors centre, has a notable impact on our already fragile ecosystem. Everything relies upon everything else. Thus, the purpose and mission of The Raptors is to inform us that birds of prey are essential to maintaining a proper ecological balance. When visiting The Raptors, you can expect to see a nice variety of these beautiful birds: Bald eagles, hawks, owls, falcons and vultures, to name just a few. While their enclosures aren’t the most aesthetically pleasing, we can live with the comfort of knowing that these birds – educational ambassadors – are well taken care of and are given ample opportunities to “stretch their wings,” unlike, say, a typical zoo. It’s nice to know the biologists and falconers view the birds more as colleagues than as wards. When M took me to visit The Raptors, we arrived just in time to watch and observe the Flying Demonstration. This, for me, was the perennial highlight. Watching these majestic (and some not so majestic) birds silently swoop down from the sky – with razor sharp precision – was a visual feast for the eyes. Indeed, getting up close to these birds while the knowledgeable and charismatic staff told the crowd about the vital role these birds play in our world was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. If you want to enhance your experience even further, The Raptors does offer a variety of unique hands-on experiences, including the “Hawk Walk” or raptor “Encounter.” I did not participate in any of these opportunities, but for those who want to learn more AND take that Instagram-worthy selfie, you can! At day’s end, if you’re visiting the Cowichan Valley area, I highly recommend a visit to The Raptors. It’s family friendly; it’s educational; and it’s pretty epic. What more could one want?