'Big Mama', a Large Horned Owl, dazzles the scouts with its huge wingspan and hunting prowess. Last Friday night [June 13] Garden City's Cub Pack 55 held its annual picnic and new scouts induction ceremony at the beautiful grounds of the magnificent Cathedral of the Incarnation where, for the first time, each of the youngsters also learned how to handle wild birds of prey.

Earlier in the day, Master Class Falconer Lorrie Schumacher and her teenaged daughter, Talon Skye, traveled to Long Island from their upstate Hamilton, NY, home with a number of prized birds in order to educate and enthrall the young scouts about the proper way to care for, feed and save the large owls, hawks and falcons. Known as raptors, these birds could be on the verge of extinction as a result of man's carelessness with the environment, including misuse of residential pesticides.

According to Ms. Schumacher, "To look directly into the ancient eyes of a hawk is to truly know humility. Catch one on your fist and your heart will jump like never before. Then, experience the creature's strong wings and sharp talons working together in perfect unison, as they were designed to do, and you'll feel alive!"

Cub Scouts, from left, Joseph Bereswill, Michael Bereswill and Timmy DeMaro, all of Garden City, learn how to get up close and personal with a large nocturnal owl. Her message struck home with the scouts and their families as everyone watched the demonstration intently and eagerly - but respectfully - interacted with the mega-sized birds.

If you think you might be interested in joining Garden City Cub Pack 55, the program starts for boys in first grade in September (older boys welcome to join, too!). Dens are forming now for the upcoming scouting year.

Everyone's eyes grow wider as Talon Skye Schumacher and her mom, Lorrie, introduce their birds. James DeMaro of Garden City reacts to the feel of a raptor's powerful wings and sharp talons working in perfect unison while perched on his hand. No Cub Pack 55 picnic could ever be official without the traditional tug-of-war, which left everyone laughing.