Today we took a trip to the World Bird Sanctuary, just a 30-min drive from the house. While they charge for certain events and tours, most of the sanctuary is free to the public and runs solely from donations. It's just a few beautiful buildings set in the middle of a county park but from what I could tell from talking with volunteers and their exhibits, they are doing some pretty awesome work :)
Their mission is to preserve threatened bird species through rehabilitation, propagation, education and field studies. The volunteers and staff were friendly and helpful and it was exciting to see so many new species, foreign and indigenous. They have some educational and entertaining exhibits and even a bird banding station (we narrowly missed this month's banding session). We had some fun making the kids do silly things around the park :)
We look super related...I know ;)
This "nest" is the size of an actual bald eagle's nest
All of the birds have been donated by owners (falconers, etc), rescued locally or from unsuitable owners, or hatched and raised by the sanctuary. The weathering areas for the education animals were an awesome treat. Because wild birds of prey spend 95% of their day perched on a tree or another object, the sanctuary tries to simulate this by tethering the raptors to perches in the open for most of the day (when not being used for education purposes). It was an awesome opportunity to take some great shots and watch them preen and hang out like birds do :)
Andean Condor (Vultur gryphus)
Eurasian Eagle-owl (Bubo bubo)
Tawny Eagle (Aquila rapax)
native to Africa, Asia, and into India
White Hawk (Pseudastur albicollis)
native to southern Mexico, Central and South America
Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus)
Barn Owl (Tyto alba)
Hooded Vulture (Necrosyrtes monachus)
native to South Africa
Eastern Screech Owl (Megascops asio)
Laughing Kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae)
native to eastern Australia
White-tailed Sea Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla)
native to Eurasia
Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)
Great Black Hawk (Buteogallus urubitinga)
native to Mexico and into northern Argentina
Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus)
Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus)
American Kestrel (Falco sparverius)
love these little falcons!
Loved the color of the this hawk's plumage
Harris's Hawk (Parabuteo unicinctus)
And then my top two favorite birds of prey right now, the Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) and Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus). I've been wanting to work with both of these species for years now and I really hope I get an opportunity to get some hands-on action this summer. I always wondered why the Bald Eagle was chosen to be a symbol for this country and then I saw a few and understood instantly. They have this perpetual bada** demeanor that says "How dare you think you are worthy to stand in my presence. Get a little closer and we'll see what happens!" hahaha And while most raptors have this same attitude when it comes to sizing up other creatures, these two eagles have it down to an art. I absolutely love it!! Anyways enjoy our pics of these spectacular raptors and maybe listen to the national anthem and then go blow something up! 'MERICUH!!
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