Sweet treat: Wild About Chocolate fundraiser a mix of desserts, raptors

Everyone wants something special to do with their loved ones on Valentine’s Day, but how often do couples spend the holiday with chocolate and raptors?

On Feb. 10, the Alabama Wildlife Center is giving people the chance to do just that with its annual event, Wild About Chocolate.

Wild About Chocolate, the center’s biggest and most important fundraiser of the year, features both live and silent auctions that offer a variety of winning items ranging from African photography safaris to vacation getaways to original artwork. 

Executive Director Doug Adair described the selection as “a wide range of exceptional items that folks can bid on, again while supporting the AWC.”

The highlight of the night, however, will be the chocolate and the birds. 

“We will have delicious food of course, and a lot of great chocolate and other desserts provided by some of … the Birmingham area’s best restaurateurs and caterers,” Adair said, in addition to savory snacks and beverages.

The center’s conservation education birds will also be present for meet and greets, and Adair said they’re hoping to introduce a new addition to their educational ambassador flock at the event: the bald eagle.

“That’ll be a really … neat aspect of the event,” he said. “We’re excited to be adding bald eagles to our conservation education program.”

Wild About Chocolate begins at 7 p.m. at The Harbert Center in downtown Birmingham with parking available in a deck across the street. Tickets, which are $75, are available online at awrc.org/wac or by phone at 663-7930. Tickets can also be purchased at the door for $100.