Raptor Fest 2010 -- Part 2

Some of the educational exhibits at Raptor Fest:

There were plenty of replica raptor skulls and talons. Mikro is holding bald eagle and golden eagle talons below (Golden eagle's are bigger). And this is what a redtailed hawk's skull looks like.



Owl pellet dissection was really interesting. Our pellet had a vole skull, a mouse skull, and a rat skull, as well as lots of smaller bones. Last time we did this project at home, Mikro didn't want to get his hands dirty and I wound up doing most of the work. This time he dove right in and really got into it. I'm not sure if that was because he's older, less easily grossed out, or because, having watched The Owl Box webcam, and seen Molly the Barn Owl hack up pellets, it was more intriguing to him...



We learned about different types of feathers and their purposes.





And we reviewed the science behind flight and looked at the differences in types of raptors.




I have to edit down videos before I can post them, and my back is really bad right now, so I'm hoping to get to it tomorrow... Being on my feet too much two days in a row, in the damp, has made my arthritis sit up and take notice...

Raptor Fest 2010 -- Part 1

Yesterday was the NYC Urban Park Rangers' annual Raptor Fest in Central Park, featuring birds of prey and trainers from the Hawk Creek Wildlife Center.

They had a static display area where rangers were showing off birds to the public and talking about each species, as well as three shows where the falconers actually flew many of the birds. Not without incident, as a territorial wild redtailed hawk decided to get involved and spooked a couple of the birds...

There were also informational booths with educational displays and an owl pellet dissection station.

Mikro had a great time!

First we visit the static display area.




Eastern Screech Owl:


Eurasian Eagle Owl:


Barn Owl:


Saw Whet Owl:


Spectacled Owl:
(Native to the rainforests of South America.)



Harris Hawk:


African Auger Buzzard (closely related to our red tailed hawk):


Ferruginous Hawk:




Gyrfalcon:




Peregrine Falcon:



Saeker Falcon:




Turkey Vulture, aptly named "Barf":




The majestic Golden Eagle. This one, named Canyon, was hit by an airplane, and is not able to fly. Sadly, he can never be released back into the wild. But what a beautiful creature!







This is getting to be a huge post. Guess I'm going to have to split it up. Kev and Mikro are rushing me out the door. Some photos of the educational booths and flight shows when I get back...