History
The Birds of Prey Clinic of the Université de Montréal opens its door in August thanks to the precious help of Dr. Raymond S. Roy, dean of the veterinary school, and the finacial support of the Student Union (AEMVQ).
A sketch of a provincial network for the rehabilitaion of injured birds of prey is presented to Dr. David M. Bird, director of the Macdonald Birds of Prey Center and Dr. robert Patenaude, veterinarian at the Québec Zoological Garden. To complete the picture, steps are taken to set up a clinic to treat the birds of prey at the Faculté de médecine vétérinaire of the Université de Montréal and thus fill the gap as to the veterinary side of the rehabilitation.
Working at the Macdonald Birds of Prey Research Center of McGill University, Guy confirms his passion for avian medicine. Since its early days in 1972, the Macdonald Birds of Prey Center had to take care of injured birds of prey but without any organized veterinary structure. In those days, calls were made to practician veterinarians interested in taking care of these birds, which included sometimes surgery, and this without charge.
Open House at the Faculté de médecine vétérinaire of the Université de Montréal in Saint-Hyacinthe. Guy Fitzgerald, then a student in veterinary medicine and in charge of the birds of prey booth, invites the Macdonald Birds of Prey Research Center to participate by showing off a live peregrine falcon.
In September, the Wildlife Service of the Ministry of Leisure, Game and Fisheries of Québec joins the list of collaborators.
The idea of a provincial network comes to fruit in January with the creation of the Union québécoise de réhabilitation des oiseaux de proie (UQROP) having as partners the Macdonald Birds of Prey Research Centre, the Québec Zoological Garden and the Birds of prey clinic of the Université de Montréal.
A market study funded by the Ministry of Leisure, Game and Fisheries of Québec directs UQROP towards acquiring a private property and integrating the aviairies into a birds of prey interpretation center.Since its beginning, UQROP wanted to build aviairies for its birds of prey rehabilitation program.
Guy Fitzgerald shows off birds of prey in the St-Hyacinthe region schools.
Launching of the roaming educational program, a presenter is hired. A radius of 150 km around St-Hyacinhte constitutes the area covered.
Analysis of the proposal by the Agricultural Territory Protection Commission of Québec to use the land on the Chouette à voir! site for non-agricultural purposes.
Search for a site appropriate to set up a center for a birds of prey interpretation centre. Out of twelve proposals, the one from the municipality of St-Jude was retained.
Preparation of the future Chouette à voir! site by Flore-Aimée and Guy Benoît. The infrastructures to set up on the site include an access road, a bridge over the Salvail River, a parking area, an educational pavilion, interpretation cages and a rehabilitation aviaries complex.
Installation of the last Coroplast sheets over the aviairies.
The Canadian Armed Forces have collaborated to the project by opening the access road, setting up a parking area and building a Bailey type bridge over the Salvail River. The bridge was inaugurated on October 20th, 1994.
81 telephone posts are set in the ground and will serve as the foundations to the rehabilitation aviairies complex. It is the beginning of the construction.
Development of trails on the site of Chouette à voir! There are 11 interpretive panels strung out along the trails.
In addition to the educational animation adapted to the different age groups, a training is offered to teachers to allow them to know better birds of prey and to use the kit «Lets talk falcon».
Inauguration of the rehabilitation aviairies
Inauguration of the exhibit «Shy Hunters», a co-production of UQROP and the Museum of Sherbrooke's Seminary. The exhibit will tour the province of Québec during 10 years.
First visitors at Chouette à voir!
The site Chouette à voir! is declared «Regional winner, Grand Prizes of Québec Tourism, Sustainable and responsible Tourism».
Setting up of the «Discovery Hall», a collection of interactive games traveling through the schools of the St-Hyacinthe School Board. Students and teachers do autonomous visits.
Presentation cages are added in the Owls trail. New cages are added until 2002.
Showing off of birds of prey at Granby Zoo. These will take place until 2005.
Running water is available at Chouette à voir!
Construction of the visitors Welcome Pavilion at Chouette à voir!
Permanent installation in the Welcome Pavilion of the exhibit «Sky Hunters», created by UQROP and the Museum of Sherbrooke's Seminary.
UQROP's becomes the owner of land located next to Chouette à voir! A grant from the Hydro-Québec Foundation for the environment and a second one from the EJLB foundation has made this purchase possible. The natural site of UQROP now covers 21 hectares.
Gala Coup d'Éclat (SATQ) : nomination in 2 categories (volunteers management, future project).
Gala Constellation of the "Chambre de commerce de la région de Saint-Hyacinthe": Winner of the Event or organization that has contributed to the tourist influence of the region prize, presented by the MRC des Maskoutains.
Redesign of the display of UQROP's website.
New activities on the site of Chouette à voir!: Birds of prey identification workshop « Serres »-toi de ta tête! and VIP photoshoot « Flash nature-aile » (on reservation).
Prize Harfang des neiges of the Ministère des Forêts, de la Faune et des Parcs : Winner of the « Bâtisseur » category.
