Bill Whinery of Operation Wildlife (OWL) of Linwood, Kan., will present a program on the “Deluxe Raptor Program at 7 p.m. Oct. 16 in Room 206 of the Hearnes Building at Missouri Western.

This Midland Empire Audubon Society meeting is free and open to the public.

Operation Wildlife is the largest publicly funded wildlife clinic in Kansas, according to Kansas Wildlife and Parks statistics, providing professional rehabilitation services for injured and orphaned wild animals and wildlife education for residents of northeast Kansas and northwest Missouri.

The group receives thousands of wild animals each year. The release rate averages 69 percent — 40 percent higher than the national average.

This program will emphasize the special challenges faced by wild animals today and offer information on native species and habitat.

Operation Wildlife provides permanent housing for 15 unreleasable birds of prey and various reptiles for use in public education.

One of these creatures, a bald eagle, was chosen as the 1996 “poster child” for the Chickadee Checkoff and also can be seen on the cover of the 1995 State of Kansas Tax Booklet.

The Midland Empire Audubon Society is currently inviting members to join the group for the kickoff of its 2008-09 program year.

For more information, call (816) 364-4702.