Saturday, April 5, 2008

Raptor Guy Returns

Thursday night Backyard Boutique hosted our most popular "event" - The Raptor Conservancy of VA - and live owls, falcons, and a red-tailed hawk. The weather was miserable, but we still had a nice turn-out. The audience was rapt - the show was great. The photos are certainly not optimal - I didn't want to use flash; there was no room for a tripod, and at slow shutter speeds, my hands aren't very steady. Screech Owl

Barred Owl

Barn Owl

Kestral

Hybrid Falcon
Nobody knows for sure exactly what this guy is.



Red-tailed Hawk

Everyone really enjoyed the presentation; we can hardly wait till we can do this again. Thanks, Kent.


9 comments:

Stacey Olson said...

Beautiful. It is so great that he came and did a presentation for you! I don't know if you saw the link on my page, but I am a falconer and a subpermittee with a local bird rescue center. I get the good part, when I have time I work with wounded or orphaned raptors to be sure they have a reasonable chance at returning to the wild successfully. I have also worked with a couple birds that were NOT releasable and are now being used for education programs like this one. Way cool.. I wonder if any of their birds came from Wyoming.. :)

Sandpiper (Lin) said...

They are wonderful! We have a place in Connecticut called Wind Over Wings. Their website is windoverwings.com and they have a great video there, if you want to see it. I met the women (Hope & Pat) in the video a few years ago when they were showing the birds. I'm sure they wouldn't remember me, but I'll never forget them.

The Birdlady said...

Thanks Stacey. Yes, I did notice you are a falconer...Good for you -that must be really cool. These folks, of course, also work towards release, but he has a lot of education birds - they adore him. The barn own will nestle up against his neck! I'll have Kent ask them if they've been to Montana! lol

The Birdlady said...

Lin, thank you! I'll look up the website for sure.

Mike said...

Good series of candid shots.We have a Kestral that's just returned for the season. Say it for the first time yesterday.

Anonymous said...

That's pretty cool!
And a great opportunity to see those magnificent birds up close and personal!
Cheers, Klaus

Nick S said...

I would have LOVED to have gone to that show ! :-)

The Birdlady said...

Thanks Mike - I'll be watching your blog for kestral photos.

Barb - These seem awfully "staged" after seeing your blog - I can't even believe those owl pix you got!

OK, that was Maine and Pennsylvania; now to Florida - Klaus, yes they were very up-close - you'd think I could have gotten better pictures...but it is always a good show.

And now Canada - Nick - I wish you could have - but judging from your blog (which I loved, by the way) you had plenty of raptors to "shoot." Thanks for visiting.

SweetAnnee said...

Wonderful!!
I love all the pics..
can't believe the hybrid
..AWESOME!!

smiles
Deena