Raptors of the High Desert Museum
By Melanie Reynolds
At the end of August my family drove down to Oregon to visit a very dear friend of ours before school started. We drove through Portland, had lunch in Gresham, wound our way through the beautiful forests in the shadow of Mount Hood and eventually dropped down into the modest canyon lands of the high desert outside Madras. All in all, a six-hour drive for us from our home in Washington state.
Please meet some of my newest friends’ worth fighting for:
A huge shout out to the High Desert Museum in Bend, Oregon for their fantastic raptor show and conservation work! These gorgeous birds are survivors, for one reason or another, they are not able to be fully rehabilitated and released back into the wild. As such, they now live here as ambassadors of their species. https://highdesertmuseum.org/
The two biggest threats to Raptors are:
- Rodenticides that do more than just poison the rats and mice, it poisons up the food chain.
- Over-developing large swaths of forests, fields, and prairies.
Swainson’s Hawk
While I loved all the Raptors. I immediately felt bonded with this Swainson’s Hawk who seemed reluctant to leave the perch closest to me. They’re supposed to fly over our heads from perch to perch following the treats their handlers put out, but this one seemed content to hang out with me. They were feeling extra cute today. Is that not a happy raptor look?
Harris’s Hawk
This one definitely had their eye own the prize, living up to the American idiom “to watch something like a hawk.” (To watch with shrewdness, ready to strike.)
Turkey Vulture
The largest raptor we got to meet. While many people may not like their role as nature’s cleanup crew, it is a vital role, nonetheless.
Gyrfalcon
This falcon was not able to fly the circuit above our heads, but it still got the chance to come out and say “Hi” while one of the handlers answered questions. The Gyrfalcon is the largest falcon in the world.
Peregrine Falcon
The most well-known type of falcon, I believe. Every time I hear the name I can’t help thinking of the children’s horror book series: Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs. I liked it! I should give the 2016 movie a try, but I digress. The Peregrine is a beautiful raptor to have the opportunity to see up close.
Barn Owl
Another striking raptor. This one seems on the small side to me. I remember driving out with my dad late one night when a barn owl the size of a toddler dropped down right in front of the truck’s headlights! Jeepers!
The best for last? The owl was the only one I was able to catch a picture of “in flight.” I love it!
Thank you for stopping by! What raptors do you have in your area?
The Nature-led Life 