Doris Mager with her gray phase screech owl. Image courtesy of the National Park.

It’s that time of the year when Great Smoky Mountains National Park presents its Birds of Prey demonstration. Everyone is invited to sit on the porch of the Oconaluftee Visitor Center as Doris Mager gives a very interesting presentation on Friday, July 25 at 10:00 a.m.

Ms. Mager has been working with raptors for over 35 years. Known as “The Eagle Lady”, she has cared for over 80 injured eagles and hundreds of other raptors, housing up to 36 birds at one time. In 1983, she established an educational and research group called Save Our American Raptors (SOAR). Part of her research work included conducting aerial surveys of bald eagle nesting sites for scientists studying the population and habits of birds in the wild.

At age 88, Mager continues to travel throughout the U.S. doing educational programs with a 31-year-old great horned owl known as E.T., screech owl, and American kestrel. Mager’s program provides a unique opportunity for visitors to see raptors up close as they learn about features and habits of these fascinating birds.

The Oconaluftee Visitor Center is located on Newfound Gap Road approximately 2 miles north of Cherokee, N.C. If you’re lucky, you will also have an opportunity to view elk grazing in the pasture next to the Center, making it worth a drive across the mountain from Knoxville to Cherokee.