STE. GENEVIEVE DAYS AT MALL

Walter C. Crawford is no stranger to Cape Girardeau.

The founder of the World Bird Sanctuary, part of the St. Louis Zoological Park, attended school here, receiving a bachelor's degree from Southeast Missouri State University.

Crawford, now a noted ornithologist, will be in Cape Girardeau this weekend as part of a Ste. Genevieve Days program Saturday and Sunday at West Park Mall.

Accompanying Crawford for his appearances at the mall -- 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. Saturday and 12:30 and 4:30 p.m. Sunday -- will be Kuma, Crawford's 30-year-old golden eagle, as well as barn owls, a red-tailed hawk, a peregrine falcon, and a black vulture.

Crawford, who spent his boyhood in Venezuela where his father worked as a field engineer for a petroleum company, became interested in the exotic birds in the jungles of South American.

This interest eventually led to his life's work -- the care, rescue, rehabilitation and preservation of birds, especially birds of prey.

Crawford obtained a master's degree at Mississippi State University and started work at the St. Louis Zoological Park. With the support of the zoo, he established the World Bird Sanctuary in 1997, where he now works full time.

In 1982, Crawford was named Conservation Federation of Missouri's Conservationist of the Year. In 1987, he was honored with the Distinguished Alumni Award from Southeast Missouri State University.

He has also received recognition awards from the National Wildlife Rehabilitation Association, and last year received the International Achievement Award from the International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council.

Crawford is one of a number of speakers and entertainers who will appear at West Park Mall this weekend for Ste. Genevieve Days.

Also on the entertainment schedule will be Les Petits Chanteurs, a youth choral ensemble from Ste. Genevieve; a Dixieland Jazz Band, and Al Bedford, a strolling street singer.

The French Colonial Merchants of Ste. Genevieve will also present their best -- collectibles, artwork, handicrafts, and gift items -- for sale during the two-day extravaganza.

In addition, visitors information and displays will be presented at the mall, including sample pages from an upcoming book, "Ste. Genevieve: A Leisurely Stroll Through History;" furniture crafted from rosewood, mahogany, teak and oak; scenes from the Gruibourd-Valle House, a 200-year-old home of vertical log construction; and informational brochures form the Ste. Genevieve Tourist Information Office.

"We hope to make this an annual event," said Carol Mazza, of West Park Mall.

Schedule of events:

Saturday

11 a.m. -- World Bird Sanctuary.

Noon -- Al Bedford, special performance.

1 p.m. -- Dixieland Express

2 p.m. -- Dixieland Express

3 p.m. -- World Bird Sanctuary.

4 p.m. -- Al Bedford, special performance.

5 p.m. -- World Bird Sanctuary.

Sunday

12:30 p.m. -- World Bird Sanctuary.

1:30 p.m. -- Dixieland Express

2:30 p.m. -- Dixieland Express

3:30 p.m. -- Les Petits Chanteurs

4:30 p.m. -- World Bird Sanctuary.