Ecofest in Derby informs, entertains

Todd Secki of A Place Called Hope in Killingworth shows off Zen, a barred owl, at Saturday's Ecofest in Derby.

Grace Krick, also from A Place Called Hope, tells the audience about her friend, an American Kestrel.

This robot created by Derby artist Rich DiCarlo took the honors in a "trashformation" contest, along with ...

.... this birdhouse constructed out of various pieces of repurposed junk by Ansonia artist Rich DelValle.

Congratulations to both men on their award-winning creations.


And kudos to members of the Derby Cultural Commission for a successful, first-ever Ecofest.

I'm looking forward to next year's event.

Birds of prey on display at Earth Day celebration in Ansonia

Todd Secki of Killingworth shows off Autumn, a red-tailed hawk, Saturday at the Ansonia Nature and Recreation Center's annual Earth Day celebration.  

Secki said red-tailed hawks are the most common hawks found in North America and often live for 25 to 30 years in the wild. 
He and his wife, Christine Cummings-Secki,  are licensed wildlife rehabilitators who run the nonprofit raptor rescue organization, A Place Called Hope. 

Deep River resident Grace Krick and Chestnut, a Great Horned Owl, seem to be having a staring contest Saturday at the nature center. Krick is a volunteer with A Place Called Hope.