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| Bald Eagle |
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| Bald Eagle |
June 22nd most likely was my last alternate Friday off. Wanted to do something special, kayak in a new place or at least go to one of our top 3 places. The weather forecast was not good anywhere so did not know what to do. Stay at home? No thanks. So my wife asked me to go to go to Black Point Wildlife and we headed that way. But changed our mind when look at the huge cluster of dark gray clouds covering all as far we could see to the East. Rats!!!! Now what? Decided to take wifey then to Mead Gardens. I take my lunch breaks there whenever have the chance, if working in the area, and the last time was able to take pics of a Cooper's Hawk and her two young ones. We spent almost an hour and a half there and came out with a couple of nice pics, not too many. Then, on our way back home saw a brown sign: Birds of Prey, and decided to make an unscheduled stop at the Audubon Center for Birds of Prey. Click on the link for information about the place. The fee is $5 per adult and $3 for kids over 3 years old. Let me tell you that those were $10 well spent. Before we continue, my wife asked not to post too many pics showing the birds and the restrain methods used at the center. While most of these birds are kept because they will not survive in the wild that is not their natural status and we do not want to give the wrong idea here.
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| Red Tailed Hawk |
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| Red Tailed Hawk |
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| Juvenile Red Shouldered Hawk - 3 months old |
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| Barred Owl |
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| Red Shouldered Hawk - 3 months old |
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| 3 months old Red Shouldered Hawk |
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| Barred Owl |
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| Barred Owl |
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| Horned Owl |
The following birds are in a porch. Sorry to show some of them with the restrains. Just want you to appreciate the beauty of these birds.
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| Merlin |
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| Eastern Screech Owl - Tony |
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| American Kestrel - Newton |
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| American Kestrel - Newton |
Before finishing this one, and to put things in perspective, here are some of the pics wifey shot at Mead Gardens. No restrains, just birds in the wild.
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| Cooper's Hawk - Juvenile |
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| Cooper's Hawk - Juvenile |
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| Red Shouldered Hawk |
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| Red Shouldered Hawk |
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| Blue Jays |
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| Red Shouldered Hawk |
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| Great Crested Flycatcher |
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| Great Crested Flycatcher |
And that is it for this one. Not the kayaking post you probably expected but I do think it is important to show the work the volunteers working at the center do. There are many more birds at the center, Swallow-Tailed, Snail, and Mississippi Kites, Short Tail Hawks, Crested Caracaras, and more but they are in cages. Not the way we want to show them anyways. If you have the chance visit the center and contribute so they can continue the work they are doing. Thanks for reading. Hope for a next kayaking post.
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| Barred Owl |
So jealous of your camera. My photos there did not turn out nearly as good. Everything in my photos looks further away than it really was, it's infuriating!
ReplyDeleteDo not be. It is a risk reward thing. One of these days is going to end at the end of one of our paddling places.
DeleteWonderful pictures, as always. I love the Audubon BOP Sanctuary. They do a great job rehabbing and releasing birds that can survive in the wild, and the ones that can't are cared for and used for education. Great staff and volunteers.
ReplyDeleteHumbling experience. Knowing how most of the birds made it there makes me wonder if we, humans, are as intelligent was we think we are.
DeleteThe bald eagle with the bent beak is one of the first photos I took with a digital camera. Not at the BOP, but at a vets office near my house.It was celebrating a birthday, as was I, with a new camera. Birds from the Center were there as part of the celebration. I just happened to be walking by.
ReplyDeleteYou'll never guess the first photo I took. On second thought, you probably did. My kayak, in the garage.
You meant Trouble? That is the name of the eagle with the crooked beak. We were able to shoot a video of the eagles screeching, or screaming. Did not post it because it shows the restrains and it is not what we want to show in the posts.
DeleteI love the BOP center! They do something they've dubbed the "Bird Parade" every day at closing. The handlers move each bird back to wherever they stay at night, and they always stop to speak to visitors. It's a great opportunity to see the birds up close and hear their back story.
ReplyDeleteThose folks at the center are doing a heck of a job.
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