Winterfest in Mendon Ponds Park celebrates nature and more

[Donna]

Winterfest in Mendon Ponds Park celebrates nature and more
Leo Roth
Features (Recreation) – January 14, 2010 - 5:00am
SHAWN DOWD staff photographer
Volunteer Pat Rose of Henrietta takes a peregrine falcon out for its walk at Wild Wings in Mendon.

Terry Kozakiewicz shakes her head whenever she hears people utter the tired expression “There’s nothing to do in Rochester.�

As director of Wild Wings birds of prey facility at Mendon Ponds Park, Kozakiewicz is very familiar with the park’s trails, wetlands and myriad wildlife. It’s a four-season haven for nature lovers that despite what some may think, brims with life and takes on a magical quality on a cold winter’s day.

“There are many seasons in Rochester, and there is a lot to do,� says Kozakiewicz, 45, who enjoys numerous outdoor activities with her family.

“In wintertime here, you can ski and snowshoe, you can feed the chickadees, see the deer, and we’re open. We ask for a donation but for all intents and purposes, Wild Wings is free,� she says. “So come see the birds and hike the trails. With the leaves down, there are more animals to see and it’s quiet. Just dress the kids up, get them warm and get them out.�

There won’t be a better time to get out than from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday when the 15th annual Winterfest takes place at seven locations around Mendon Ponds Park. The annual rite of winter celebrates all things snowy and cold — and a lot of things that aren’t.

While people can learn about cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and dog sledding, kids arts and crafts, face painting, a dulcimer music demonstration and educational displays by various outdoor sports and conservation organizations can be enjoyed in the park’s many heated lodges.

Chief organizer Ken Hann is quick to note that Winterfest takes place with or without snow.

“The idea is get people excited about winter activities that are educational and fun,� Hann said.

No place is more educational and fun than Wild Wings, where 24 raptors — eagles, hawks, falcons and owls — are cared for. The non-releasable birds have suffered various injuries and couldn’t survive in the wild. Here they receive expert care and are used in educational programs.

Wild Wings will be raffling a quilt and refreshments will be for sale in the quaint 1920s cottage that serves as the facility’s entranceway. Winterfest is an important day for Wild Wings to raise money and awareness for its mission.

“It’s a huge day for us,� Kozakiewicz says. “We’ll average 800 to 1,000 visitors through the facility and we will have volunteers at every enclosure so people can see the birds that day up close.�

Her advice for those feeling blue on a white winter’s day?

“It’s Rochester,� Kozakiewicz says. “Get outside and enjoy.�

Caption: Volunteer Pat Rose of Henrietta takes a peregrine falcon out for its walk at Wild Wings in Mendon.