Birds of Prey

Johnny, Monica, Isabella and I took advantage of the beautiful spring weather and made a trip to the World Center for Bird's of Prey, which happens to be right here is Boise, Idaho.  During all the years that I have lived in Idaho, this is only my second visit.  One of their most well known success stories involves this beautiful bird - a Peregrine Falcon.  They were removed from the endangered species list in 1999 thanks in part to the efforts right here in Boise.

Another success story is the, not quite so beautiful, California Condor.  They are in a fenced enclosure and are difficult to photograph so I found this photo on line. 

At the end of the 1980s there were only 22 left in the wild. Those birds were captured and put in breeding programs.  In 1993 such a program was started in Boise.  The program was very successful and now when they are old enough, the hatched birds go to release sites in Arizona, California, and Baja Mexico. There is a free flying population of about 100 condors that go from the Grand Canyon into Utah.  Matt was lucky enough to see one in the wild just as he reached the summit of Angel's Landing in Zion National Park. 

Phoenix, the Red Tailed Hawk was a star of the bird show.  She hatched in the wild but injured her wing and was taken to a raptor rehab center where she imprinted on people so can't be released.  As she and the trainer entered the room she was very excited because she knew this was her free flying space.  It was obvious that she knew exactly what the trainer wanted her to do BUT wasn't always sure if she wanted to!  Kind of like a child!

My favorite bird was the Harpy Eagle.  They are native to South and Central America.  When we were on the Napa River in Ecuador they told us that Harpy Eagles like to eat sloths.

I think they look like they are wearing pants and should be a character in a Harry Potter movie.

His name is Grayson and he was hatched in Panama and released into the wild but because the tour guides fed him, he lost his fear of humans and for his own safety had to be recaptured.  I would think it would be for the human's safety too.  Just imagine the damage that could be done with those talons if he thought you should feed him and you didn't?

Isabella loved the binoculars I brought for her to use and enjoyed counting how many butterflies she saw. 

 I did talk her into posing with Bob, the American Kestrel.  I saw one of these small raptors on a fence post in Eagle last week.  Bob was found outside of his nest, raised by people so he never learned to hunt and relies on humans for his food.  

They are quite striking.

A very fun afternoon with some of my favorite people plus some very interesting birds!