DAILY PICS VOL. 248

Welcome everyone to Volume 248


A couple weeks ago I went to an event at which the Northern Illinois Raptor Rehab were showing some beautiful birds.

Let's start off with this bird, since it is the only one I couldn't completely remember the name. It is a hybrid Gyrfalcon. I suppose it is crossed with a Peregrine, but I'm not sure. What I do remember is that if it was a pure Gryfalcon, the handler said he'd have to keep it in air conditioning (it's a wayyyyy north bird), but crossing it with a desert bird allows it to live in this area.

We came from here:
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1043178/

This message was edited Oct 5, 2009 6:30 PM

Speaking of Peregine falcons…

They were a bit jumpy because there were some draft horses there.

Northern Harrier

These two were so cute. Eastern Screech Owl in both brown and gray forms.

Barred Owl

Long-earred Owl

Great Horned Owl

Harris's Hawk. The handler told me that these are a Southwest bird and that they sit on Cactus. They are group hunters. One will flush out the prey while the other sits on the cactus and then swoops down. He also said that some believe this is where the Native Americans got the idea of a totem pole.

American Kestrel

And finally, Red-tailed Hawk.

Very nice shots. The birds of prey are fascinating. Still waiting for my first Buntings, although Beckygardener, who lives just south of me got a nice pic of a Painted Bunting at her feeder yesterday.

White-winged Dove.

Grackle with a peanut.

Beautiful photos Mrs. Ed!!! You know I just love the raptors....my favorites!^_^

Female Red-Bellied Woodpecker.

Blue Jay at the feeder.

Grackle showing his true colors at the birdbath.

Nice photos from the rehab Mrs_Ed!

Nice way to start the new thread with the Bird's of Prey Mrs_Ed, nice shots GP! Some Turkey Vultures taking a break.

pic 2

pic 3 I hope I cropped this one right this time.

Nice series of photos Mrs. Ed, from the rehab. That's a nice collection. Yesterday, I took this photo of a Great Horned Owl which was being rehabbed, also.

Also, excellent photos, gardenpom.

Great Turkey Vultures, Burd.

I went to the release from rehab, of a Great Gray Owl, and a Northern Goshawk, Sunday afternoon. A strange coincidence of rehab pictures in this thread! This is a staff member from the Bird Treatment and Learning Center preparing the Goshawk for release back into the wild.

This message was edited Oct 4, 2009 9:11 PM

In order to protect the Goshawk's long tail feathers while in a cage, special tail covers are used. The bird has to be handled to remove the cover at the time of release. A member of the public was chosen to release the hawk. Here the staff member is instructing a lady on how to take a hold and then due the release.

The look of, "well lady I'm ready - let go!"

Two seconds later the Goshawk is a speck over the edge of the bluff. Not a decent shot of the departure, but nice fall colors with Cook Inlet in the background.

Then it circled around some, and landed on the back side of a tree top. This was the last we saw of the Goshawk, as it landed. Almost as if waving good-by.

To remove the tail cover a blanket was put over the Goshawk to remove it from the cage, and control it. By the time the cover was removed, the talons were well tangled in the blank. It took three people to untangle the mess without hurting the hawk or loosing a finger.

The Great Gray Owl was released directly from it's cage. It exploded out so fast all I got were a couple of shot with gray streaks across the frame. This is a Snowy Owl which can not be released. It has been trained as an educational bird, and is quite mellow around groups of people.

Some fabulous birds of prey in this thread! What a priviledge for that lady to be given the Goshawk to release - it sure looked ready!

Great pics everyone!

So heartwarming to see these wonderful birds nursed back to health for release back into the wild.

Nice shots Mrs Ed! Thanks for starting the new thread!

Good pics of the Vultures Burd!

Pretty pics GP!

Wonderful pics Gary!

Awesome start Mrs. Ed...and thanks for the new thread.

I love all the raptor shots, such awesome and powerful birds. I can only imagine how that Goshawk must have felt when it was released...great series Gary.

Wonderful start everyone!

Our yard birds still haven't returned so I went to the brush pile again to get my fix!!

Here is a Lincolns Sparrow...

Front view...

There were still several Indigo Buntings...thought they would have been at GP's house by now!

The Carolina Wrens come to the house now...but they seem to be wherever I go!

This Field Sparrow looks very young.

The Eastern Bluebirds love the brush pile...they love the poke berries!

another Blue...