Return to the Wild: A hospital for birds of prey in the Hills O’ Brown County, Indiana

Taki, Eurasian Eagle Owl

Mike Madison — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 01:11:19 +0000

Bubo bubo
This beautiful owl is a member of the largest owl species on earth! She is 30 inches long and weighs nearly 7 pounds (compared to our bald ealge that weighs about nine pounds!). She was captive bred for education. Her species hails from continental Eurasia. This photo was taken when she was only three months old, and already weighed five pounds. She is VERY vocal, singing at night a simple ooooHOOooo.

Abby, Harris’ Hawk

Mike Madison — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 01:11:00 +0000

Parabuteo unicinctus
Abby is a retired falconry bird. She is unable to hunt because of a foot injury. She is a large girl, weighing in at 38 oz., and her favorite food is gutted quail. A favorite of falconer’s, they are a great hunting partner as they are one of the few raptor species that will hunt in cooperation with other Harris hawks in the wild. A large female will sit waiting at the end of a valley while a few smaller, more agile males will chase toward her.

Big Red, Red-tailed Hawk

Mike Madison — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 01:08:23 +0000

Buteo jamaicensis
Also known as the Gentle Giant, this four pounder is our most gentle bird. In addition to being an education bird and foster mother, she is also a grand stable mate: we often place our most nervous red-tailed patients with her for calming and reassurance. As a youngster she was hit by a truck in 1996, and despite three surgeries, lost her left eye.

Bailey, Red-tailed Hawk

Mike Madison — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 01:08:01 +0000

Buteo jamaicensis
Bailey has been with us since she was about eight weeks old. She suffered a broken wing that healed badly at the elbow while still in the nest. She was found starving to death beneath the nest and has not been hungry since! She weighs 3 1/2 pounds, is a workhorse of our Indiana Raptors program, and enjoys searching the skies for soaring wild birds of prey.

Gumbo, Rough-legged Hawk

Mike Madison — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 01:07:29 +0000

Buteo lagopus
This buoyant species is seen in the US only during winter when they migrate to warmer climes from their breeding territory in the sub-arctic tundra. They are pan arctic in range and are named for being booted, a term for having feathers all the way down the leg to the top of the toes (an anatomical feature that prevents heat loss in cold habitats). In 1996, Gumbo was shot in the right wing in northern Indiana. Sadly, her mate waited three months for her return to the field where the tragic incident occurred. Finally, the change in season forced him to migrate north. Gumbo is large for her species, weighing in at three pounds.

Zulu, African Augur Buzzard

Mike Madison — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 01:06:58 +0000

Buteo rufofuscus augur
By far our most vocal bird, Zulu charms each audience with her species contact call. This red-tailed hawk differs from our North American version by having much larger wings that enable augurs to navigate the thin-aired habitat of the east African mountain ranges (as high as 17,000 feet!) with ease and grace.

Zulu is on permanent loan to us from the World Bird Sanctuary in St. Louis. In a US led sting operation, her parents were confiscated from bird smugglers in South America. She and her three siblings made up the first brood of this species ever hatched on this continent. At just over three pounds she is handful!

Rhiannon, Eastern Screech Owl

Mike Madison — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 01:06:26 +0000

Megascops asio
Hatched in 1994 in the South Bend area, she is a transfer from the Potawatomi Zoo. This six ounce dynamo is charming and enjoys outings, but declares her territory well when housed with other screech owls! She often in the late evening, using her soft tremolo to call in other owls. Despite our offerings of fancy wooden owl boxes to roost in, she prefers a beat up cardboard box for daytime sleeping.

Shaman, Gyrfalcon/Peregrine hybrid

Mike Madison — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 01:05:56 +0000

Hatched in 2000, this beautiful male is a retired falconry bird who took over 300 ducks during his hunting career. He is a voracious eater and is the watchdog of the property, sounding off at the slightest disturbance on the property. He is sweet and cooperative, and demands a bow from visitors as he offers a bow to greet to them.

Oliver, Peregrine Falcon

Mike Madison — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 01:03:26 +0000

Falco peregrinus
Hatched in the South Bend area, this anatum (medium sized) peregrine fell from his nest resulting in a broken pelvis. Though that is healed and he can achieve some flight, his major problem is poor vision. This personable fellow hatched in 2003, weighs 19 ozs., and enjoys sunning after a thorough bath. Ancient falconers referred to this species as the falcon gentle for its ease in training and adaptability.

Onslow, Barred Owl

Mike Madison — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 00:57:24 +0000

Strix varia
This terrific owl came to us in the fall of 1996. She had a broken wing from a car strike that left her with poor flight. She is a veteran of over 800 education programs and serves as a foster mother for orphaned barred owlets. She weighs about 1 1/2 pounds and is a finicky eater.