Tag Archives: Hawk

A Red-tail At The Spring Festival

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Thursday, April 12, 2012,

More Sweetbriar goodness here. Last Saturday, Sweetbriar Nature Center had their annual Spring Festival. I came by to take some pics. The place was hopping. And I’m not talking about just the Easter Bunny. We drew a huge crowd this year. 

I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised. It was the day before Easter and Sweetbriar had a jam-packed schedule of fun for everyone. There were games, stories, wildlife programs, face painting, and egg hunts. The egg hunts were the big favorite. For more pics of the festivities, check out Sweetbriar’s Facebook page. I posted some pics there as well.

My favorite part, as always, was the wildlife presentations. It was a beautiful day with lots of sun, perfect for taking pics. This Red-tailed Hawk was just one of the day’s attractions. Such majestic birds, don’t you think? JK  

In Good Hands

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Tuesday, April 3, 2012,

I stopped into Sweetbriar Nature Center a couple days back. I stop into Sweetbriar fairly often but on Sunday I was there to hear a lecture on the talon strength of various raptors. That’s raptors as in birds like falcons, hawks, or owls – not those wonderful critters that Steven Spielberg brought to the big screen. While I was there, I got to meet some of the new charges in the rehab room. This is one of the perks to being a volunteer there. You get to see all the really cool stuff. As chance would have it, two of the cooler new patients were raptors. The bird at the top of the post is a baby Great Horned Owl.  These guys are beautiful from the get-go. Super cute when they’re young, and then just plain magnificent as adults. Check out the size of him. I’ve got a cat that isn’t any bigger. This “little” one apparently has some soft tissue damage in one or both of its legs and has difficulty standing upright. He’s greatly improved since his arrival but he’s not quite ready for the great outdoors just yet. Don’t be alarmed by those eyelids. That’s its nictitating membrane. It’s sort of a second eyelid.

   

On the other hand, there is definitely something wrong with this bird’s eye. This adult Cooper’s Hawk has an infection and its eye is both very swollen and clouded. It was really nasty looking on Sunday but I’m told it’s already looking much better. Another feel-good story at Sweetbriar. JK  


Red-tailed Hawk At Sweetbriar

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Sunday, October 3, 2010

Red-tailed Hawk

This is one of a pair of Red-tailed Hawks at Sweetbriar Nature Center. Sweetbriar, in Smithtown, NY, is one of my favorite haunts. The place has a lot to offer a guy like me. There are several well-maintained trails that take you through varied habitats, including woods, open fields, and since the Nissequogue River passes by, even wetlands. Lots of photo opportunities.

Isn't this bird is beautiful?

Sweetbriar specializes in nature-geared educational programs and animal rehabilitation. Housed on the grounds are several animals that are too badly injured to be released back into the wild. This Red-tail is one of many “animal ambassadors” living here. They complement the educators and really help to make the lesson stick. I also feel that when anyone gets a good, close look at these animals, or any animals, they can’t help but come away thinking that we should do everything we can to preserve these creatures and the places they need to live. JK

So regal, so impressive.JK