Jon Beam couldn't help but quip that he and his collection of birds "flew in" to the Anthracite Heritage Museum Sunday.
Mr. Beam, a senior naturalist at PPL Montour Preserve, stood near a table of arranged stuffed owls and hawks, some perched on branches and all facing the audience. He delivered a program on the birds of prey, in conjunction with the Lackawanna Audubon Society.
"We should have respect for them," he said of the feathery fowl.
Birds of prey are often misunderstood and judged based on their talons and sharp beaks, he added.
"It's never easy for a predator," he said. "Their food runs from them."
A portion of the program covered the adaptations the birds had, like strength to carry prey, strategic coloring and keen eyesight.
"It's like they have binoculars built in their eyes," he shared with the audience. "They are very well camouflaged."
Dunmore resident John Joseph said he was interested in the program as a science teacher and a father.
His 3-year-old son, Owen Joseph, joined him to check out the birds.
"It's something I'd like to educate him on as he grows up," Mr. Joseph said. "I'd like him to have an appreciation for this kind of thing."
The younger Joseph shared that he liked the owls, but his favorite bird wasn't featured Sunday.
"The cardinal," he said with a grin.
The topic of the program was determined by the Audubon Society, but curator John Fielding said the museum was happy to host the talk.
"It's just a way of getting a different crowd into the museum and helping out another local non-profit," he said.
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