With his left hand, 6-year-old Timothy pointed at a falcon.

"I've never seen a big falcon, but I've seen one of those little ones on a telephone wire," said Timothy of Loveland, pointing at the American kestrel that Raptor Inc. volunteer Ginny Fantetti held on her gloved hand. "You can't touch 'em because they'll take a little piece of your finger off."

Another nearby bird - a red-tail hawk with razor-sharp, one-inch talons - flapped his wings as if in agreement.

Hundreds of youths and adults alike throughout Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky had similar first-time experiences during Great Outdoor Weekend, which aspires to be an annual event. The free event continues today at dozens of parks, nature preserves and other environmental venues throughout the region.

"Kids just love it," said Rick Chanin, another volunteer for Raptor Inc., a bird of prey rehabilitation organization that's one of more than 50 nonprofit environmental groups showing their wares this weekend. "You always see them from such a great distance. When do you ever get to see a turkey vulture up close and personal?"

Events today include orienteering in Stanbery Park, climbing trees at the Cincinnati Nature Center in Milford, and touring Split Rock Conservation Park in Burlington.

E-mail rforgrave@enquirer.com