Photo Diary: Audubon Birds of Prey Center, Maitland FL

The Audubon Birds of Prey Center in Maitland FL (about 20 miles away from Orlando) does rescue and rehab work for raptors that have been injured. When possible, they are released back to the wild; if they cannot be rehabbed, they are placed in an accredited caregiving institution. The Center currently has about 50 birds of prey in either rehab or permanent residence. The whole center is housed in what used to an ordinary suburban backyard.

Some photos from a visit. (Alas, like most such centers, the enclosures here are wire, and they are hell on photographers. I did my best.)

The rescue center

Cage-cleaning

“Newman”, a Short-Tailed Hawk. A species found only in Florida. He was found tangled in a barbed wire fence.

Charley, a Great Horned Owl. He was brought in with a broken wing.

Francis, a Bald Eagle who was brought in as a nestling with a lung infection. Since he is now imprinted on humans, he cannot be released back to the wild.

Gretel, a Swallow-Tailed Kite. She was found as a nestling and kept by a human family for a while, which imprinted her on humans.

Ronia, a Red-Shouldered Hawk. Brought in as a nestling, she was hand-raised and is now imprinted on humans.

Susie, an American Kestrel who was brought in with a broken wing

Tony, an Eastern Screech Owl who is missing an eye

Gopher is a Burrowing Owl with a broken wing

A Kingfisher perches on a wire nearby