Went to the Raven Ridge event in Lancaster, Pennsylvania today.
The big star today was this amazing Siberian Eagle Owl. A subspecies of the Eurasian Eagle Owl, these tend to be some of the largest.
It was very beautiful and impressive, though he did have an eye condition they were treating, so he was a bit squinty.
The spare Barn Owls
They look very squishy. Not awe inspiring like the rest of the show, but nice to have a place to pause from the sharp bits.
They did look to be of fairly correct anatomical size and I thought of picking one up for my educational display, but I’ve already spent a good deal on it for this year. I like when these events have at least reasonably educational merch instead of just cutesy stuff. Saw a kid carrying around a nice looking Long Eared plush as well.
Adorkable molting Screech Owl
Awwwww my Skreechzz!! It gets better, li’l bro
I dunno, this one looked exactly this raggedy last year. 😀
They look so pathetic, I love molting Screeches so much!
A spirit animal if ever there was, eh.
I always love the odd ones out. Those are my people/animals.
Big owl feets
Fluffy murder mittens
They were fabulous 😍
Sweet little Barn Owl
Augur Buzzard
Handsomest buzzard around!
Buzzard is a really strange word that seems to take on quite a wide range of meanings depending on where one is in the world.
The one thing that popped up as a quick fact was buzzard comes from the Old French buisart, meaning “inferior hawk,” which I felt was quite rude. A little more reading though seemed to indicate that it was just the hawks they felt weren’t great for falconry purposes.
Buzzards are genus Buteo, which includes the Red Tailed Hawk, probably the most popular falconry bird here in America, so I think the buzzards should get an apology.
Agreed. Also they are extremely needed!
They’ve all got important roles to play!
Interesting this guy and the barn owl got flat perches, where the other birds got something to wrap their toes around.
I think they were just larger and probably heavier in general. All the flat-topped ones were on the ground with the medium and large birds. The Screech and Boobook were on the folding tables.
Gorgeous! Fantastic! No notes!
The photos didn’t do it justice. Such an amazing bird, beautiful colors, those orange eyes… I wanted to squish the dickens out of it. 😍
It looks like he/she knew that 😄
😇
Fable, the grumpiest little Australian Boobook
My wife was off today since we had a wedding to go to last night, so she got to come with me this year. We both got to hold Fable and take pics, but they really didn’t come out great due to sun and Fable got a bit distracted looking every which way but to make a nice photo.
I did get some direct eye contact, with her, and the speed she can dilate and constrict her pupils is unreal! Some photographers would love to have autofocus like she has.
“I will keeeeeel you! . . . Now feed me some vole!”
Unsure if Aussies have voles. 🤔
Wiki says they like mice, rats, and insects.
Sharp Shinned Hawk had such a tiny face!
I don’t know anything about owls, but this picture looks like the same bird from your buzzard image. Are they different or was there an oopsie?
Thanks! Between the sun and these lovely Pennsylvania “roads” I fat fingered that one.
Red Tailed Hawk
Tobias, my homie.
(Animorphs reference)
The animal express
Royalty accepting the paise of the people
Yeah, this guy seemed to be enjoying himself pretty well. He deserves it. He was fabulous!
