SHARONVILLE - Sean Sachdeva peered into the cockpit of the helicopter and climbed a few short steps for a closer look.

        “Do you drive the helicopter?” Sean, 12, asked the sheriff's deputy.

        “I sure do,” said Hamilton County Sheriff's Deputy Mark Heitkamp, one of two pilots in the sheriff's office, who had landed the chopper at Sharon Woods minutes earlier.

        The sheriff's helicopter - an MD500 - was just one of the attractions Saturday at Sharon Woods. The occasion was the second Flight Fest, a celebration of flight, both natural and man-made, sponsored by the Hamilton County Park District. It resumes today from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

        Sean, who lives in West Chester Township, was one of dozens of children and adults who attended the two-day event, which concludes today.

        Flight Fest celebrated everything from the 2,500-pound sheriff's helicopter to a diminutive screech owl. Weighing just 4 ounces, it was one of several birds of prey brought to the fest by Raptor Inc., which rehabilitates injured birds of prey. Visitors watched as a hummingbird left a nearby tree and dive-bombed a large, tethered barred owl.

        “There's lots of buttons,” said Sean after checking out the helicopter. “It'd be cool to fly in it.”

        His mother, Nita Sachdeva, stood nearby.

        “This has been really - I don't want to say cool - but really entertaining and educational,” Ms. Sachdeva said.

        At least two dozen children gathered at the start of the day to watch as Julie Herzog, a park district naturalist, prepared to release six homing pigeons. She explained what homing pigeons are and how they will find their way home to Kemper Road after being released. She then reached into a carrier and produced one of the pigeons, inviting the children to touch the bird.

        “It's like a pillow,” said Riley Lange, 5, of Blue Ash, who was there with her brother, Josh, 3, and her father, Tim Lange.

        Ms. Herzog released the pigeons in a flutter of wings, quickly disappearing in the distance.

        Mark Frommayer, a volunteer with Raptor Inc., and two other volunteers brought out the birds of prey one by one - a Great horned owl, barred owl, screech owl, red-tailed hawk and American kestrel. The raptors grasped man-made perches as other birds gathered nearby and chattered noisily.

        “They're talking to each other, warning each other about these birds in their area,” Mr. Frommayer said.

Church finances tight, but sex scandal isn't why
Parish sees no decrease in offerings
Twitty's suspension under scrutiny
Police seek suspect in abductions from mall
Q&A with Dr. Steven Adamowski
SMITH AMOS: Eviction on owners' minds before mold
BRONSON: Carrion lawyers hoover up remaining scandal money
PULFER: Camilla and Rosie, we can still hear your song
Fangman attacked; man arrested
Mega Millions jackpot going to $165M
Dozens fight outside Springdale theater
Festival celebrates all manner of flight
Congrats
Dam work delays boats up to 30 hours
Good News: Volunteers help finish new schoolL
Summer Music Games drum up support
Survey to rate city, business relations
Two firefighters injured in floor collapse
Village puts finances in order
Ky. boating law has stiffer fines
Covington man shot
N.Ky. beauty queen reaches nationals