The Raptor Trust



The Raptor Trust (2/15/2009)

We usually visit the wonderful Raptor Trust, just 20 minutes from our house, once every year or two. But it's been well over three years since our last visit, so we were due. On this sunny but cold winter day we saw all the regulars, the hawks, the vultures, the kestrels, the owls. And once again I was reminded of how amazingly difficult it is to photograph the birds, many of whom are huddled in dark corners of their houses, always behind two or three layers of fencing and fine wire mesh (that mesh is the worst). But thanks to manual focus and some nice post processing, many of the photos actually came out quite nicely. The birds never fail to amuse, especially the owls.

(Click on the thumbnail to bring up a bigger image in a pop-up window)


The sanctuary is in the Great Swamp



The wooded pathway



Red-tailed hawk


Broad-winged hawks

 

Bald eagle


Golden eagle

Golden eagle eating
 


Close-up

Broad-winged Hawks

Long-Eared Owl

Long-Eared Owl
 


Broad-winged Hawk

Broad-winged Hawks


Great Swamp
 


Great Swamp

Red-tailed hawk

Raven

 


Snowy owl

Snowy owl

Great gray owl

Screech owl
 


Barn owl

Perergrine falcon

Perergrine falcon

Perergrine falcon talons
 


Perergrine falcons

Barred owl


Kestrel
 


Kestrel

Barred owl

Barred owl

Red-tailed hawk
 




Red-tailed hawk

Laura and the Great Horned Owl
 


Great Horned Owl

Great Horned Owl

Harris Hawk

Laura and the vultures
 


Black vulture

The vulture house

Turkey vulture

Turkey vulture
 


Black vulture


Red-tailed hawk

 

Photographs and content copyright © Dan Balogh
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