Anne Elliott's photos with the keyword: Coaldale Birds of Prey Centre

This photo is from deep down in my archives, taken on 16 May 2009, at the Coaldale Birds of Prey Centre, near Lethbridge. A few, rare sightings have been reported in Alberta. "The Harris's Hawk or Harris Hawk, formerly known as the Bay-winged Hawk, (Parabuteo unicinctus), is a medium-large bird of prey which breeds from the southwestern USA south to Chile and central Argentina. It is the only member of the genus Parabuteo, which literally means 'similar to Buteo'. Its habitat is sparse woodland and semi-desert, as well as marshes (with some trees) in some parts of its range, including mangrove swamps, as in parts of its South American range. It nests in a tree and lays 2–4 eggs, incubated for 28 days to hatching. It has blackish brown plumage with chestnut forewings (above and below) and thighs. The end of the tail and the rump are white. It has a length of 60 cm and a wingspan of 1.2 m; the average weight is about 900 g (2 pounds). Females are typically 10% bigger than males. Harris's Hawks' social behavior is unusual for raptors. Young may stay with their parents for up to three years, helping to raise later broods. They also hunt together, groups of two to six birds often cooperating to flush and then capture prey (group hunting). In contrast, the vast majority of raptors are solitary hunters, and not at all gregarious. This social behavior gives Harris's Hawks an easygoing nature that makes them desirable captive birds. Since about 1980, Harris's Hawks have been increasingly used in falconry and are now the most popular hawks in the West (outside of Asia) for that purpose, as they are the easiest to train and the most affectionate. Hunting with Harris's Hawks often works best with two or more birds. (In contrast most other raptors cannot be flown together, as they will attack each other.) When prey is flushed, the birds can work together to corner the animal – compensating for their relatively low acceleration and speed. Harris's Hawks will happily treat the falconer as a hunting partner, and will follow from tree to tree and perch until the falconer flushes a rabbit from the bushes. They can easily catch and kill a rabbit, a hare or even a pheasant, but its natural prey are small rodents and reptiles." From Wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harris's_hawk www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Harriss_Hawk/id

Photographed this spectacular Ferruginous Hawk at the Coaldale Birds of Prey Centre, near Lethbridge in southern Alberta, on 16 May 2009. These large hawks are rare to uncommon in Alberta from April to September. I have seen several of them in the wild, which is pretty special, but only from a very long distance and much too far for photos. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferruginous_Hawk

I saw this Harris's Hawk at the Coaldale Bird of Prey Centre, southern Alberta, on 16 May 2009. A few, rare sightings have been reported in Alberta. "The Harris's Hawk or Harris Hawk, formerly known as the Bay-winged Hawk, (Parabuteo unicinctus), is a medium-large bird of prey which breeds from the southwestern USA south to Chile and central Argentina. It is the only member of the genus Parabuteo, which literally means 'similar to Buteo'. Its habitat is sparse woodland and semi-desert, as well as marshes (with some trees) in some parts of its range, including mangrove swamps, as in parts of its South American range. It nests in a tree and lays 2–4 eggs, incubated for 28 days to hatching. It has blackish brown plumage with chestnut forewings (above and below) and thighs. The end of the tail and the rump are white. It has a length of 60 cm and a wingspan of 1.2 m; the average weight is about 900 g (2 pounds). Females are typically 10% bigger than males. Harris's Hawks' social behavior is unusual for raptors. Young may stay with their parents for up to three years, helping to raise later broods. They also hunt together, groups of two to six birds often cooperating to flush and then capture prey (group hunting). In contrast, the vast majority of raptors are solitary hunters, and not at all gregarious. This social behavior gives Harris's Hawks an easygoing nature that makes them desirable captive birds. Since about 1980, Harris's Hawks have been increasingly used in falconry and are now the most popular hawks in the West (outside of Asia) for that purpose, as they are the easiest to train and the most affectionate. Hunting with Harris's Hawks often works best with two or more birds. (In contrast most other raptors cannot be flown together, as they will attack each other.) When prey is flushed, the birds can work together to corner the animal – compensating for their relatively low acceleration and speed. Harris's Hawks will happily treat the falconer as a hunting partner, and will follow from tree to tree and perch until the falconer flushes a rabbit from the bushes. They can easily catch and kill a rabbit, a hare or even a pheasant, but its natural prey are small rodents and reptiles." From Wikipedia.

From my archives, a beautiful Great Horned Owl seen at the Coaldale Bird of Prey Centre, near Lethbridge, on 16 May 2009. I had a different owl of this species sit on my hand - the most amazing feeling! I was also lucky enough to hold a tiny Burrowing Owl, and a Barn Owl on a different visit. It's so much fun photographing the birds at this Centre, but of course there is nothing like photographing them in the wild. We are very fortunate to have so many Great Horned Owls in Calgary, LOL! No wonder it was chosen as the Provincial Bird. This Centre is "Canada’s largest birds of prey facility. Situated on a 70-acre wetland area site, the centre is a celebration of nature featuring the hawks, falcons, eagles and owls of Alberta. Throughout the site and along the pathways, a number of birds of prey are sitting on their perches only feet away from visitors. These birds are all in various stages of training and receive lots of exercise in the daily flying programs. At the centre, they have one of North America's largest captive breeding populations for the endangered Burrowing Owl." This morning, 10 March 2014, the temperature is 1C, and it looks like wet flurries could be expected for later this afternoon and scattered flurries this evening. Yesterday's wonderfully mild weather melted a fair bit of our accumulated snow.

Five of us had such a great day on 21 July 2013, when we went on a birding trip to Bow Valley Provincial Park, W of Calgary. It turned out that people from the Coaldale Bird of Prey Centre had brought several of their bird Ambassadors for an exhibit that day, so we were treated to seeing these birds much closer than we would see most of them in the wild. Never fails to amaze me what wonderful, fine feathers birds have when you see them up close.

I photographed this Turkey Vulture last summer at the Coaldale Birds of Prey Centre, near Lethbridge, southern Alberta. It was just over a two-hour drive there and the temperature down south was 37C (98.6F)! They have injured birds there and they use them for educational purposes or to release back into the wild if possible. The Turkey Vulture has a naked head, otherwise feathers would get very soiled when they dig in rotting carcasses. Vultures eat carrion almost exclusively, so they don't need as powerful bills and feet as hawks and falcons.

I love the colour of the bill of these Domestic Ducks. So vivid. There were a number of these gleaming white birds at the Coaldale Birds of Prey Centre, near Lethbridge, southern Alberta. Went with a friend in August 2007 and had a wonderful day there, seeing so many different species of Hawks, Eagles, Owls, etc.. The Centre takes injured birds of prey, releases those that can be rehabilitated and keeps those that they are unable to help enough for release.

Unfortunately, not taken in the wild! I do see American Kestrels in the wild here, but always from a great distance. Seeing this particular bird at the Coaldale Birds of Prey Centre, near Lethbridge, southern Alberta, gave me a chance to see a Kestrel up close. This is a male, as it has a rusty back and blue/grey wing feathers. Really, a very attractive bird. These falcons typically perch on power lines, which helps identify them.

Thought I'd better type a description below this image immediately, just saying that this beautiful Golden Eagle was not photographed in the wild! We saw it down in southern Alberta, near Lethbridge, at the Coaldale Birds of Prey Centre in July 2007. I have seen several Golden Eagles in the wild, but always from a great distance. It was 38C at Coaldale and the birds were so hot.

Saw this magnificent Golden Eagle last year at the Coaldale Birds of Prey Centre, near Lethbridge, southern Alberta. This Centre takes injured birds of prey and either rehabilitates them for release or keeps them if that is not a possible option. A great place to visit! In Alberta, these Eagles are uncommon from March to September - a few overwinter. I've only seen between maybe 3 and 5 in the wild.

On 23rd July 2007, I spent a wonderful day with a friend who had asked if I'd like to go to the Coaldale Birds of Prey Centre, near Lethbridge, southern Alberta. It was just over a two-hour drive there and the temperature down south was 37C (98.6F)! They have injured birds there and they use them for educational purposes or to release back into the wild if possible. This Centre is "Canada’s largest birds of prey facility. Situated on a 70-acre wetland area site, the centre is a celebration of nature featuring the hawks, falcons, eagles and owls of Alberta. Throughout the site and along the pathways, a number of birds of prey are sitting on their perches only feet away from visitors. These birds are all in various stages of training and receive lots of exercise in the daily flying programs. At the centre, they have one of North America's largest captive breeding populations for the endangered Burrowing Owl."