Gwen Rice of Waterford, founder of Freedom First Wildlife Rehab, educates attendees about owls, as she hold “Sebastian” a Barred owl, during her presentation titled “Owls Among Us” at the Waterford Public Library Saturday, March 23, 2024. The audience consisted of about 150 people. (Tim Martin/Special to The Day)

Kathy James, left, of East Lyme, photographs Gwen Rice of Waterford, founder of Freedom First Wildlife Rehab, as Rice educates attendees about owls, as she hold “Sebastian” a Barred owl, during during a presentation by James titled “Owls Among Us” at the Waterford Public Library Saturday, March 23, 2024. The audience consisted of about 150 people. (Tim Martin/Special to The Day)

Kathy James, left, of East Lyme, photographs “Texas Pete” a Screech owl, perched on the hand of Brighton McShane of Quaker Hill, son of Gwen Rice of Waterford, founder of Freedom First Wildlife Rehab, as Rice educates attendees about owls, titled “Owls Among Us” at the Waterford Public Library Saturday, March 23, 2024. The audience consisted of about 150 people. (Tim Martin/Special to The Day)

Owl enthusiast Aidan Vernon, right, 8, of North Stonington, yawns as he raises his hand to ask fGwen Rice of Waterford, founder of Freedom First Wildlife Rehab, a question, as Rice educates attendees about owls, during her presentation titled “Owls Among Us” at the Waterford Public Library Saturday, March 23, 2024. The audience consisted of about 150 people. (Tim Martin/Special to The Day)

“Minnie Mae”, a Screech owl perched on the hand of Gwen Rice of Waterford, founder of Freedom First Wildlife Rehab, educates attendees about owls, during Rice’s presentation titled “Owls Among Us” at the Waterford Public Library Saturday, March 23, 2024. The audience consisted of about 150 people. (Tim Martin/Special to The Day)

Heidi Joslyn, right, an artist from Quaker Hill, photographs Texas Pete, a Screech owl perched on the hand of of Brighton McShane of Quaker Hill, son of Gwen Rice of Waterford, founder of Freedom First Wildlife Rehab, as Rice educates attendees about owls, during her presentation titled “Owls Among Us” at the Waterford Public Library Saturday, March 23, 2024. The audience consisted of about 150 people. Joslyn is planning on painting the owl using the image from her camera. (Tim Martin/Special to The Day)

Gwen Rice of Waterford, founder of Freedom First Wildlife Rehab, educates attendees about owls, as she hold “Sebastian” a Barred owl, during her presentation titled “Owls Among Us” at the Waterford Public Library Saturday, March 23, 2024. The audience consisted of about 150 people. (Tim Martin/Special to The Day)