The sanctuary’s permanent residents include vultures, eagles, falcons, kestrels, goshawks, sparrowhawks, buzzards, hawks, kites and owls. Many of the birds have been named, with a record of their rescue story available to visitors. Eagles are rightly viewed as the mightiest of the birds of prey and the sanctuary’s Eagle Alley allows visitors a close up look at some of these majestic birds. Other sections of the sanctuary are Hoot Hollow for the owls; Honeycomb Habitats housing diurnal raptors; and the Vulture Hide with its eight indigenous vulture species, all of which are considered to be threatened.

In addition to being a popular tourism attraction, the African Bird of Prey Sanctuary is dedicated to ongoing research, including breeding and rehabilitation projects, with a view to conserving the birds in their natural South African environment. The Raptor Rescue operation run by the sanctuary is kept separate from the public area and is not open to visitors. If rescued birds are to be rehabilitated and released into the wild again, it is in their best interests not to be exposed to too many people. In addition to being stressful for them, too much interaction with humans could make the birds tame, thereby hampering their chances of survival in the wild. For research purposes birds are ringed before being released into a suitable habitat, if possible where they were found.

One of the most exciting features of the African Bird of Prey Sanctuary is the flying display, and visitors should be sure to plan their day to include one of these demonstrations, bearing in mind that they are weather dependent. Flying display times are Monday to Friday at 10:30am, and at 10:30am and 3pm on weekends and public holidays. As a privately funded conservation initiative, the African Bird of Prey Sanctuary relies on entrance fees to continue their work. So, why not support this worthy cause, and enjoy an outing you are not likely to forget.

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When hunting, birds of prey use their highly adapted feet and talons to capture and kill prey. Hawks and owls will grab prey from the ground and then kill it by crushing it in their feet. Falcons use speed to effectively kill prey by plummeting down from high up and striking with its feet. Peregrine falcons reach speeds of up to 90 mph/145kph

Birds of prey are carnivorous and gain certain nutrients from the stomach contents of their prey. The entire prey animal is devoured by the bird of prey and later pellets of undigested matter are regurgitated. Falcons have a nook (notch) on their upper bill to break the neck of prey. Vultures have especially large, strong beaks to rip through hide and break bones.

Birds of prey have a highly developed sense of sight, far better than our own, and females are larger than the males (except for vultures and secretary birds) as they need to defend their nestlings.

The heaviest bird of prey is the Andean condor, it weighs in at 27 pounds (12 kg) which is a lot to carry in flight. The largest, however, are the eagles and vultures with wingspans of about 10 feet (3m). The most powerful bird of prey is the Harpy Eagle. The Harpy Eagle’s wingspan is 6.5 feet (2m) and their talons can be as long as 5 inches (12.5cm).

To truly experience birds of prey why not visit a local rehabilitation center and view them up close. Many places offer falconry demonstrations where you can see these wonderful birds in action. If you are interested in finding out what birds of prey are in your area consult a region specific field guide.

Any opportunity to see birds of prey in action will be an awe-inspiring and unforgettable experience.

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All variations of the Gyrfalcon are similar in size and have long, broad-based, pointed wings and a short, dark, hooked beak. The adult-grey morph has grey upperparts and white underparts with dark streaks. The flight feathers are pale and there is a thin moustache mark. The tail is grey with thin white bands. The adult-white morph has white plumage and a white tail with black barring on the back and wings. The adult-dark morph has dark brown upperparts and a dark tail. The underparts are heavily streaked and the flight feathers are noticeably paler than the lining on the wings.

The Gyrfalcon is circumpolar in nature and tends to nest in the arctic regions of North America, Europe, Asia, Iceland and Greenland, though they may be found elsewhere in the world when not breeding. They can live in either open, treeless plains or in swampy, forested areas and can be found near cliffs along shorelines, rivers or even in mountains. They usually nest in depressions on a protected ledge or cliff face and may even make use of an abandoned nest or a suitable man-made structure from time to time. When they nest, they generally lay 2 to 6 eggs that may take 34 to 36 days to hatch. Interestingly, they nest in arctic regions and often begin to lay their eggs in below-zero temperatures. Gyrfalcon‘s take about 2 to 3 years to become sexually mature. They generally feed on ptarmigan, grouse, seabirds, waterfowl, lemmings and ground squirrels, catching their prey either in the air or on the ground.

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In Cambridgeshire, near St. Ives, is a safe haven for birds of prey. The Raptor Foundation welcomes any bird that has been injured or has been placed in circumstances that requires rehabilitation. Birds that are not able to be released back into the wild are also kept at the foundation, as well as endangered species. Through dedication and commitment, the staff at The Raptor Foundation have created a permanent home for these birds, and strive to educate the public on the importance of protecting raptors by inviting them to spend a day, or two, with them and their wonderful birds.

The main goal and function of The Raptor Foundation, is to provide twenty-four hour care to injured raptors, which includes medical care and rehabilitation. The sanctuary provides permanent residence for birds of prey that cannot be released and works tirelessly on various projects and research, looking into environmental problems, release programs and breeding. Staff will always work towards being able to release raptors back into the wild, but if it is not possible, the birds will remain with the sanctuary for the remainder of their lives.

Visitors to the facility will be astonished at the wide range of raptors at The Raptor Foundation, totaling approximately two hundred individual birds from forty different birds of prey species. Amongst the falcons, hawks, owls and buzzards, visitors will be able to view breathtaking birds such as the Bateleur Eagle, Ferruginous Buzzard, Bald Eagle, Prairie Peregrine, Pearl Spotted Pygmy Owl and the Crested Serpent Eagle.

Flying demonstrations are held three times a day and when the weather is having a bad day, the indoor arena allows demonstrations to continue. These activities give visitors the rare opportunity to appreciate the power, strength and flying skills of the various raptors. Some members of this elite flying team were even used in the making of Harry Potter, allowing guests to come face to face with a few celebrities.

Other facilities at The Raptor Foundation include a bed and breakfast and camping site accommodation for those who would like to spend more time at the foundation, or participating in the falconry courses offered. The gift shop has many unique and stunning souvenirs to take home, whilst the children’s playground will keep the younger guests entertained, and the Silent Wings Restaurant serves delicious meals and refreshments. The facility is also wheelchair friendly, allowing everyone to enjoy the beauty and magnificence of these birds.

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Birds of prey have long captivated the imagination of mankind. These striking yet graceful hunters of the air display some of the most impressive acrobatics and strategies in the animal kingdom. Swooping down on their prey from dizzying heights at incredible speeds with amazing accuracy, raptors continue to awe, thrill and inspire us even after centuries of admiration.

If you have ever wanted to get up close and personal with one of the many different birds of prey that populate our planet, why not make a visit to the Pacific Northwest Raptors visitor centre in Cowichan Valley? The facility is situated only about eight minutes away from Duncan on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, and can be easily accessed via the Trans Canada highway.

This magnificent Raptor centre allows visitors the opportunity to get better acquainted with a wide variety of these magnificent predatory birds. A self-guided bird watching tour will enable family and friends to walk through naturally landscaped grounds where they can view hawks, falcons, owls and eagles. If falconry has always appealed to you, you will be able to learn more about this ancient art at the Pacific Northwest Raptors centre. You will also be able to discover how the birds at the centre are trained for things such as free-fly demonstrations, bird control work and movie work. The flight demonstrations that are put on at the centre on a daily basis (weather permitting) are absolutely breathtaking and guests will be able to marvel at the supreme abilities of these magnificent birds as they show off their natural talents. Along with these demonstrations, visitors will be told more about the specific birds and how they live, how they are perfectly adapted to hunting and how they relate to mankind.

The family-orientated center will appeal to virtually any bird lover, and visitors will find that there is almost always something exciting taking place here. The small interpretive center will further educate visitors about these magnificent birds, while the gift shop provides the perfect selection of gifts and mementos for you to take home. For those who just have to have a more personalized birding experience, the Pacific Northwest Raptors center offers hawk-walks and hands-on courses. So get yourself to Pacific Northwest Raptors and make the most of the excellent birding facility!

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Most falconers would agree that the ancient art of falconry requires plenty of patience, perseverance and time. Training birds of prey (raptors) is a lengthy and complex process, but can be extremely rewarding. With the goal of protecting the birds, most countries have strict laws with regard to the capturing and keeping of raptors, requiring that training be done under the supervision of a licensed falconer. When one considers that many important training details vary between species of raptors, individual raptors, as well as to where and when it is best to undertake training, it is clear that consulting a professional falconer is essential for the raptor as well as the would-be falconer.

Although most falconers are of the opinion that there is a bond of mutual trust between themselves and their birds – the bird trusting the falconer to provide food and protection and the falconer trusting the bird to come back when released – raptors are non-affectionate animals that have no ability to accept a submissive or dominant role in a relationship. Birds of prey are both intelligent and opportunistic and have come to realize that the falconer is the easiest and most dependable source of food and protection. So when a raptor obeys commands from a falconer, it is not because the bird is seeking approval, the relationship is purely a matter of convenience for the raptor. The Harris’ Hawk is the only known exception with regard to falconer-raptor relationships and is known to respond affectionately to its owner.

Many falconers recommend starting off with a kestrel (a small species of falcon) because a light weight bird is easier to handle for falconer training. For those who are serious about pursuing falconry as a sport, it is not recommended to start off with a Harris’ Hawk. The reason for this is that these birds will still hunt successfully despite any mistakes that the novice falconer may make, thereby not allowing the novice to develop true falconer skills.

If taking a bird from the wild, the best age is under a year old while in juvenile plumage. It is estimated that between 30 – 70 percent of these birds, known as passage’s, would die within their first year, so capture of a juvenile hawk does not impact on raptor populations. It is strongly suggested that birds that are in adult plumage (haggards) should not be captured. They are more difficult to train for return, and the capture of an adult bird can negatively impact the local pool of viable breeding adults. There are many pros and cons with regard to hand-rearing a fledgling (downy bird that cannot yet fly) and this should only be undertaken by experts.

Many people are under the mistaken impression that falconry is easy and an unusual way of passing the time. However, the relationship between a falconer and his bird cannot be compared to keeping a pet bird. To do justice to the art of falconry requires financial outlay, plenty of time and a deep sustained commitment. Experienced falconers agree that the effort is well worthwhile.

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Falconry is a sport that involves the training of birds of prey to hunt game for their trainers. Although not all birds of prey are falcons, the previous use of the term “hawker” when hawks were used for hunting has come to commonly be used as a term describing traveling traders. For this reason the term “hawker” has fallen into disuse, with “falconer” and “falconry” applying to the sport irrespective of the species of bird used.

It is not entirely clear when and where the sport of falconry started, but the most widely held view is that it began in Central Asia and the Middle East, possibly as long ago as 1000 BC. In the Middle Ages (5th to 15th century) falconry became a status symbol, as it was only the noble classes that could afford the time, money and space necessary to raise and train birds of prey. In Japan, the issue of status went so far as to place restrictions on who was permitted to hunt and which animals could be hunted, all based on rank within the Samurai – the military nobility.

There are several categories of raptor that are suitable for use in falconry. These are grouped into three classes: broadwings (eagles, buzzards and Harris hawks); longwings (falcons); shortwings (accipiters – commonly goshawks and sparrowhawks).

Falconry is currently practiced worldwide, although not always for the original purpose of hunting game. Falconry techniques are used fairly extensively in bird abatement – eradicating birds that pose a threat to human endeavors or profits such as farming, high air traffic areas where birds can cause airplane crashes and from factories that need to be contamination free.

Falconry techniques are invaluable in the field of raptor rehabilitation, where injured or sick birds of prey are nursed back to health with the goal of returning them to their natural habitat. During convalescence a bird’s muscles often atrophy, and falconry techniques are used to exercise the birds in preparation for their release.

If you have the opportunity of attending a display of raptors being put through their paces by a falconer, you are sure to be awe-struck by the abilities of these amazing birds as they soar upwards until they are a speck in the sky and then swoop down at lightning speed to accurately catch a small piece of meat tossed into the air. Then you will understand why many call falconry an art.

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