Tag Archives: Center for Birds of Prey

Spectacled Owl Chicks

April 25, 2018 Ellen Jennings 7 Comments

The Center for Birds of Prey has an active breeding program. The chicks they raise are used in educational programs here and also are swapped to other similar facilities around the US.

These cuties were not on the schedule for our Photography Day, but conditions were good for these two Spectacled Owl chicks to come out and strut their stuff.

Well, mostly they just sat; they could walk and did a little wing flapping. I neglected to note how old they are, somewhere in the few week range.

Cuteness times two:

The Center for Birds of Prey offers photographers an opportunity to take close-up photographs of owls and other birds of prey a few times a year.

The Center for Birds of Prey, Photography Day, April 22, 2018, Awenda, SC.

Raptor

Lanner Falcon

April 24, 2018 Ellen Jennings 4 Comments

The first bird for the Birds of Prey photography day on Sunday was a Lanner Falcon. A native of Africa and southeast Europe they are often used in falconry.

It was a bit breezy and the falcon faced into the wind with his wings up after jumping onto the perch, showing off his well-feathered legs.

In the full side view after he settled you can see the beautiful grey coloration of his body feathers.

The head markings are quite distinctive.

Close up profile shot.

Lanner Falcon, Falco biarmicus

The Center for Birds of Prey offers photographers an opportunity to take close-up photographs of owls and other birds of prey a few times a year.

The Center for Birds of Prey, Photography Day, April 22, 2018, Awenda, SC.

Raptor

Barn Owl

April 23, 2018 Ellen Jennings 2 Comments

Excellent eye sight and hearing make the Barn Owl top-notch night time hunters. They have been the subject of numerous studies of their senses, including experiments where the readily locate mice in a room with no light.

The Barn Owl’s speckled earth tone feathers help it hide during the day, and make it a striking bird to my eye.

Showing off his wings with a stretch, this fellow was quite sedate for his photography session.

Barn Owl, Tyto alba

The Center for Birds of Prey offers photographers an opportunity to take close-up photographs of owls and other birds of prey a few times a year.

The Center for Birds of Prey, Photography Day, April 22, 2018, Awenda, SC.

Raptor

Savigny’s Eagle Owl

April 22, 2018 Ellen Jennings 4 Comments

I spent Earth Day photographing birds of prey at an avian conservation center. This opportunity is part of the center’s education mission, along with research, conservation and providing medical care to injured raptors and large shore birds.

The first owl we photographed was a Savigny’s Eagle Owl, a native of much of northern Africa and the Arabian peninsula.

The variable brown coloring is a camouflage asset in its home desert regions.

Savigny’s Eagle Owl, Bubo ascalaphus

The Center for Birds of Prey offers photographers an opportunity to take close-up photographs of owls and other birds of prey a few times a year.

The Center for Birds of Prey, Photography Day, April 22, 2018, Awenda, SC.

Birds, Raptor

Great Horned Owl

May 30, 2017 Ellen Jennings 2 Comments

It’s easy to see why Owls are one of the biggest attractions at the Center for Birds of Prey. Trained to participate in the Center’s Environmental Education programs, they tend to sit calmly on a perch giving a wonderful opportunity to see them up close. This Great Horned Owl, however, was intent on getting on the ground for a few minutes.

Great Horned Owl – click photo for larger view

His handler waited for him to look around and settle.

After a bit he went back to the perch and showed off with a lovely pose.

The Center for Birds of Prey, Photography Day, April 2017, Awenda, SC.

Birds, Raptor, South Carolina

Saker Falcon

December 11, 2016 Ellen Jennings 2 Comments

Found from eastern Europe to central Asia these hunters face survival pressure due to development driven habitat loss and black market sales into falconry. The most sought after hunters also would make the best parents if they were left in the wild.

This bird was bred in captivity and is part of the Center for Birds of Prey’s education program.

On this November day there was enough breeze that she kept turning into the wind to keep her feathers un-ruffled.

Click on any image for larger view.

Center for Birds of Prey, Awenda, SC.

Birds, Raptor, South Carolina

Bald Eagle Portraits

December 10, 2016 Ellen Jennings 2 Comments

This Bald Eagle posed for portraits at the Center for Birds of Prey Photography Day in November. He recovered from a back injury under the Center’s care but cannot fly to catch food so he will remain part of their education program.

This was the first bird of the day and the song birds that had been flitting in and out of the pine trees at the edge of the demonstration field all disappeared from view when he was brought out.

The size of the Eagle’s claws are even more amazing up close.

Click on any photo to enlarge.

Birds, Raptor, South Carolina

Harris’s Hawk

December 4, 2016 Ellen Jennings 5 Comments

Beautiful in flight and perched, the Harris’s Hawk was part of the Center for Birds of Prey’s Photography Day in November.

The turning leaves around the edge of the flight field added some color to the perch background.

This hawk was a smooth flyer, skimming the ground as he returned to the perch.

Flying right over the line of photographers, I was disappointed I could not get the entire wingspan with my 100-400 mm lens, but did capture the beautiful feather pattern of his underbelly.

Birds, Raptor, South Carolina

Eurasian Eagle Owl

November 24, 2016 Ellen Jennings 4 Comments

Another owl from the Center for Birds of Prey Photography Day, this Eurasion Eagle Owl is graceful and beautiful.

His claws are designed for hunting!

Center for Birds of Prey, Awenda, SC.

Birds, Raptor, South Carolina

Asian Brown Wood Owl

November 21, 2016 Ellen Jennings 2 Comments

I participated in my second Photography Day at the Center for Birds of Prey on Sunday where we had the opportunity to photograph sixteen raptors.

Most of the birds were limited to perches and handler-held closeups, but a few performed flying demos. The area is host to a large hawk population and the Center has limited some of their birds’ free flying.

This was one of seven Owls–all of them exceptionally beautiful.

Center for Birds of Prey, Awenda, SC.