The 27th annual Facility for Animal Care and Treatment (FACT) Barbecue for the Birds and Open House will be held at California State University, Bakersfield's Environmental Studies Area on Saturday, Oct. 3 beginning at 2 p.m.; dinner will be served at 5 p.m. 

Tours of FACT feature talks and demonstrations with live birds of prey. Biology students will give visitors an opportunity to dissect owl pellets and study bones of animals eaten by the owls.

Members of CSUB's 60+ Club will sell nature gifts, such as FACT t-shirts, note cards, coloring books, Zoobooks, and other items.

Dinner includes live folk music, and a menu of deep pit beef and turkey, a variety of side dishes catered by Jake's Tex Mex, homemade desserts, coffee and tea. Beer, wine and soda will also be available for purchase.

Silent auctions will be held before dinner and a live auction will begin after dinner along with an opportunity drawing. Door prizes will be awarded throughout the evening.

Dinner tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for students and seniors (60+), and $6 for kids 5-12. Reservations should be made in advance. For details and reservations call (661) 654-3167 or log on to www.csub.edu/fact/Annual_BBQ.htm.

FACT is a wildlife rescue/conservation education project founded in 1975 by Ted Murphy, CSUB emeritus professor of biology. FACT students and volunteers care for hundreds of injured or orphaned birds of prey and conduct tours of the facility and classroom programs for thousands of Kern County school children each year. 

FACT is supported by the annual barbecue, members of Friends of FACT, and the sale of gift items.