The TAUNY Center, 53 Main St., Canton, will host a meet and greet with author Mark Manske and his owl on Thursday, Feb. 15, from 3-5 p.m.

The event is free and open to the public.

Manske will be there for a book signing of his latest release "The Goshawk Gabboon."

Books will be available at the TAUNY Folkstore for purchase.

Manske would catch and raise pigeons from his neighbor's barn as a child. From 1984 through 1986, he studied under Dr. Frances Hamerstrom, the first woman in North America to fly a golden eagle. The author became a falconer in 2003 and, by 2009, became a master falconer.

He has flown several red-tailed hawks, American kestrels, Harris hawks, and a northern goshawk. When a person comments that he has a fascinating hobby, he corrects them and tells them that it is not a hobby but a lifestyle.

He has helped secure skunks, squirrels, woodchucks, red fox, red-tailed hawks, American kestrels, great horned owls, barred owls, broad-winged hawks, merlins, bald eagles, Northern saw-whet owls, Eastern screech owls, several species of woodpeckers and songbirds, common loons, great blue herons, American bitterns, raccoons, and green herons.

Event is designed for middle-aged children in 4th-8th grade.

Info: 315-386-4289, info@tauny.org.