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Nature Nurture

Paul Hara

Lindsay Wildlife Museum Re-introduces Wonders of the Great Outdoors

“Wanna fly?”
     It was the first thing my son was asked as we entered the exhibit area of the Lindsay Wildlife museum. I was sure the ‘’yes” was coming, though he spent a moment in silent skepticism. He had been to the museum numerous times before, and never was there flying of any kind. But as we turned the corner into one of the museum’s new and improved exhibits, he could see that no one was pulling his leg. That is when his excitement unleashed. “Yes!”
     Hawk flight simulation is just one example of the many new, engaging and interactive features at the Lindsay Wildlife Museum, thanks to a recent capital campaign fund-raiser. Visitors to the Walnut Creek Museum can see like an eagle, look at different types of feathers under the microscope and play a game to match birds with the right beaks and types of food. But the highlight of the new additions is the wildlife hospital viewing area. Lindsay’s hospital sees more than 5,000 animals in need of rehabilitation every year, and until now, it has all been behind the scenes.
     “People who came all the time never got a chance to see all the amazing work that was going on behind closed doors,” says Julie Ross, director of public relations and marketing. She proudly guided me through the museum. “This gives visitors the opportunity to see what we do.” Budding veterinarians can now watch procedures through one-way glass and even get an up-close look, as images are captured on a large flat screen television above the examination room.
     The fancy new digs at Lindsay Wildlife Museum, named for its founder Alexander Lindsay, only enhance the original mission of this Bay Area gem: “[to connect] people with wildlife, to inspire responsibility and respect for the world we share.” Lindsay himself kicked off this mission in the early 1950s by teaching neighborhood children about nature. Today, the museum continues to bring children closer to the natural world. Daily programs like feeding and training demonstrations, petting circles and live animal encounters all enable guests to make connections with the “ambassadors,” as they are referred to. These animals include a bald eagle, a great grey owl, a red-tailed hawk and the latest member, an adorable grey fox. “My husband and I named him Kin-Tah,” says Ross.  She and her husband were the top bidders at a fund-raiser to have the honor of naming the little guy and chose a California Native language. “In the Hupa language, it means, ‘among the trees.’ ”
     No one is saying that bringing a child to a museum is equivalent to invaluable, unstructured time in the great outdoors, particularly at a point in our history when children are collectively suffering from “nature deficit disorder,” a term coined by Richard Louv in his 2005 book, Last Child in the Woods. However, the up-close look at wildlife and long list of classes on everything from insects to animal sounds to weather will certainly enhance their experience when they step outside. I realized this shortly after my son took a class on amphibians at the museum. We came across some baby salamanders playfully squirming around in a creek in Berkeley’s Tilden Park. I watched him move closer to them and gently crouch down as if he were going to reach out and touch one. But he stopped. “I’m not going to pick them up,” he told me softly. “They breathe through their skin.”
     When planning a visit to the Lindsay Wildlife Museum, keep in mind that weekday hours for the general public begin at noon during the school year. However, it’s worth it to show up a bit early as you just might catch the owls out for some exercise or the turkey vulture hanging out in his gigantic birdcage. Volunteers are always happy to answer questions from precocious onlookers like my son, who became fascinated with the great grey owl and his “weird pointy hairdo.” Even if the animals are not out and about, the two playgrounds in the adjacent park make it well worth showing up early. There is no food for sale at the museum, so pack a lunch if you plan to spend the day. Parking is free but limited, though street parking is usually available. If you plan on returning to the museum or taking advantage of the slew of programs in the brochure, it may be worth it to get a membership, which offers free entry to the museum, discounts on classes and free or discounted entrance fees to more than 250 cooperating attractions in the Bay Area and beyond.
      “Look Mom, I’m a red-tailed hawk!” my son yelled as he tilted his body, to navigate through the trees on the screen of the flight simulator. It was fun watching him on the machine. But it was even more fun to watch him flap is arms on and off for the rest of the day. It is amazing to see your child inspired to fly.

Lindsay Wildlife Museum
12 – 5 p.m. Wed.–Fri., 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Sat.–Sun. (winter hours); free–$7. 1931 First Ave., Walnut Creek, (925) 935-1978, www.wildlife-museum.org