Merlin eating a dragonfly
Regal
Gotta love those Golden Eagle feathers
Juvenile Red-tailed Hawk
American Kestrel - or is it a Merlin?
Red-tailed Hawk
Swainson's Hawk
Up close and personal with a Turkey Vulture
Sweet little thing
Rough-legged Hawk on a hay bale
A gleam in the eye
Waiting for me
Peregrine Falcon talons
Ferruginous Hawk
Osprey on the hunt
A blast from the past
Long-eared Owl
Merlin removing dragonfly's wings
A bewildering world for a fallen owlet
First day of fledging
Great Horned Owl - posting just for the record
Happy Thanksgiving to all Americans, everywhere!
A distant Northern Pygmy-owl
A watchful eye
Great Horned Owl male
Time for an afternoon nap
Peekaboo - whooo are yooo?
Shooting in the rain
With a twinkle in its eye
Harris's Hawk
Snowy Owl harassed by Snow Buntings
Ever watchful
That majestic look
Barn Owl
Poor quality, but of interest
Yesterday's treat
A welcome sight on a Christmas Bird Count
'Barn' Owl, alias Great Horned Owl
Same tiny Northern Pygmy-owl
Way, way up
Turkey Vulture preening
Snowy Owl in rehab
Northern Pygmy-owl
Continuing the hunt
Ferocious hunter, but looking cute
Great Horned Owl
Great Gray Owl in early morning sunlight
Winter on the prairies
Sleepy Great Horned Owl
Better than nothing - this is NOT my main photo!
The size of a popcan
Yesterday's treat
Dark-eyed beauty
Northern Hawk Owl from 2016
Two of a family of three
Northern Hawk Owl
Meadow Vole for a tasty snack
Atop a utility pole
A backward glance
Northern Hawk Owl
Snowy Owl along the fenceline
Northern Hawk Owl
Winner with its prey
Such a handsome bird
Merlin on the hunt
Merlin
Juvenile Red-tailed Hawk / Buteo jamaicensis
Barn Owl / Tyto alba
Look into my eyes
Eye contact
Merlin
Long-eared Owl
Juvenile Red-tailed Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk portrait
Bald Eagle portrait
Turkey Vulture
Juvenile Red-tailed Hawk
Predator with prey
Swainson's Hawk female, dark-phase
Swainson's Hawk male, light phase
Swainson's Hawk on an early morning hunt
Wind-blown Osprey
Osprey take-off
Osprey family in the city
Juvenile Swainson's Hawk
Great Gray Owl on a rainy day
Swainson's Hawk in flight
Swainson's Hawk
Swainson's Hawk
Is this what I think it is? Yes, a Ferruginous Ha…
Hawk in Fish Creek Park - juvenile Northern Goshaw…
Hope he's one of the lucky ones
Great Gray Owl in late-morning sun
My first Bald Eagle on a fence post
Way down the fence line
Great Horned Owl owlet, Ellis Bird Farm
I'm baaack ...
Made my day : )
Great Gray Owl in a field of Dandelions
Baby fluff
One of yesterday's two Great Gray Owls
On the fence
Successful hunting
One of a pair
First day out in the big, wide world
Busy parent
The art of preening for a young owl
Watching closely
Always a good mother
Grainy but cute
An over-the-shoulder glance
Rare Leucistic Merlin in different light
Great Gray Owl, side profile
Mixed pair of Red-tailed Hawks
Rare LEUCISTIC Merlin enjoying a snack
Great Gray Owl from 2012
Great Horned Owl, sleeping after a night of huntin…
A quick shot just in time
Without its camouflage
Great Gray Owlet from June 2012
Missed opportunity
Great Gray Owl, focused
Memories
Great Gray Owl - breathtaking
A close landing
See also...
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135 visits
Osprey - stuffed and on display
This particular bird 'resides' at the Alberta Bird of Prey Centre in Coaldale, southern Alberta, a wonderful place that rehabilitates and releases (whenever possible) various birds of prey - hawks, owls, Bald Eagles, Turkey Vultures, and Golden Eagles. Some of these birds act as Wildlife Ambassadors, too, educating the public. This particular bird may have been brought to the Centre after being found injured. A sign by the display case says:
"Why don't rescue centres keep Osprey in Captivity? Osprey are fish hunters! And unlike other birds of prey such as Bald Eagles and Vultures, Osprey do not eat carrion(or dead food). They must hunt for live fish.
Because of their need to hunt in large bodies of deep water, Osprey are notoriously difficult to keep alive in captivity. Sadly, many of them will starve themselves to death, refusing to eat dead fish and refusing to hunt from small pools. Simply put, life is not suitable for Osprey in captivity."
It had been a few years since my last visit to the Alberta Bird of Prey Centre - I've only been maybe three or four times - and I had been longing to go back. Much too far and all new driving territory for me to even think about driving there myself. However, a month ago, on 9 September 2016, that is exactly what I did. A friend had said she would come along, too, but she emailed me at 1:00 am that morning to say that she assumed our trip had been cancelled, as she hadn't heard back about the time to meet. In fact, I had sent two emails giving the time, so I don't know what happened there. Very unfortunate, as it would have been great to have had company on such a long drive, and I know she would have had great fun with her camera.
I knew it would be a long day and further than I would normally drive - and in a brand new car that I have yet to learn to drive! It doesn't look or feel quite as new now, after travelling 481 km, plus a long trip the next day! Only got lost twice, one minor and the other major. Must have taken a wrong turn somewhere way down south and I ended up in the city of Lethbridge, that I had very carefully planned to avoid. After driving for three and three-quarter hours, I finally arrived, to my huge relief.
Despite getting there later than I had hoped, I still had more than enough time to wander round the grounds and photograph the various raptors. Some were tethered out in two grassy areas and others were in outdoor cages. Wonderful to get such a close look at the various majestic birds.
I took a slightly different way home via #845 (?), making absolutely sure that I didn't accidentally find myself in Lethbridge again and it wasn't too long before I found myself in the area that I had driven a few weeks before, when I went SW of Vulcan to look for Common Nighthawks (without any luck).
Just so happy that I finally made myself do this drive. When I Googled the Centre's website, I had discovered that they were closing two days later for the winter. So, it was either a case of going the next day or not at all till next May onwards.
The day after this adventure, 10 September 2016, I took my daughter on a long drive in Kananaskis. This was yet another place that I had longed to be able to drive for many years - and finally I did it! I had been lots of times with various friends, but this was the very first time I had ever driven myself. We had planned to do this a few weeks earlier, but then my car had major repairs that needed to be done. Instead, I knew I just couldn't put any more money into my 17-year-old car, and I ended up replacing it. So glad we went to the mountains on this particular day, as it snowed the following day.
"Why don't rescue centres keep Osprey in Captivity? Osprey are fish hunters! And unlike other birds of prey such as Bald Eagles and Vultures, Osprey do not eat carrion(or dead food). They must hunt for live fish.
Because of their need to hunt in large bodies of deep water, Osprey are notoriously difficult to keep alive in captivity. Sadly, many of them will starve themselves to death, refusing to eat dead fish and refusing to hunt from small pools. Simply put, life is not suitable for Osprey in captivity."
It had been a few years since my last visit to the Alberta Bird of Prey Centre - I've only been maybe three or four times - and I had been longing to go back. Much too far and all new driving territory for me to even think about driving there myself. However, a month ago, on 9 September 2016, that is exactly what I did. A friend had said she would come along, too, but she emailed me at 1:00 am that morning to say that she assumed our trip had been cancelled, as she hadn't heard back about the time to meet. In fact, I had sent two emails giving the time, so I don't know what happened there. Very unfortunate, as it would have been great to have had company on such a long drive, and I know she would have had great fun with her camera.
I knew it would be a long day and further than I would normally drive - and in a brand new car that I have yet to learn to drive! It doesn't look or feel quite as new now, after travelling 481 km, plus a long trip the next day! Only got lost twice, one minor and the other major. Must have taken a wrong turn somewhere way down south and I ended up in the city of Lethbridge, that I had very carefully planned to avoid. After driving for three and three-quarter hours, I finally arrived, to my huge relief.
Despite getting there later than I had hoped, I still had more than enough time to wander round the grounds and photograph the various raptors. Some were tethered out in two grassy areas and others were in outdoor cages. Wonderful to get such a close look at the various majestic birds.
I took a slightly different way home via #845 (?), making absolutely sure that I didn't accidentally find myself in Lethbridge again and it wasn't too long before I found myself in the area that I had driven a few weeks before, when I went SW of Vulcan to look for Common Nighthawks (without any luck).
Just so happy that I finally made myself do this drive. When I Googled the Centre's website, I had discovered that they were closing two days later for the winter. So, it was either a case of going the next day or not at all till next May onwards.
The day after this adventure, 10 September 2016, I took my daughter on a long drive in Kananaskis. This was yet another place that I had longed to be able to drive for many years - and finally I did it! I had been lots of times with various friends, but this was the very first time I had ever driven myself. We had planned to do this a few weeks earlier, but then my car had major repairs that needed to be done. Instead, I knew I just couldn't put any more money into my 17-year-old car, and I ended up replacing it. So glad we went to the mountains on this particular day, as it snowed the following day.
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