In Québec, there are 27 species of birds of prey. Each one of these species is protected, and 5 of them are considered to be vulnerable. All individuals that are found, be they injured or dead, have to be declared and brought to wildlife protection officers or to the UQROP. As apex predators, birds of prey are at the top of the food chain and are small in numbers. They serve as indicators of the environment’s health by accumulation of toxic products, and they are also considered sentinels for emerging diseases. They occupy a wide variety of habitats and suffer from their destruction. The release of a bird of prey is a powerful symbol for public awareness. These birds are often persecuted and they face several obstacles when cohabiting with humans. It is therefore important to educate the public as to the importance of an ecological equilibrium.

To educate, we must first amaze the public with these birds in order to stimulate their desire to protect something that they find beautiful. Chouette à l’école, the travelling educational program, does approximately 350 conferences per year in schools, libraries, parks, ornithological clubs, companies and shows. These presentations demystify the biology and the behaviour of birds of prey. They encourage new generations to develop an interest towards the richness and the fragility of our environment, thus inciting them to become ecologically responsible citizens.