Meet our birds of prey

Falco sparverius
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• Habitat: Kestrels hunt for large insects, mice, songbirds, voles, and snakes in meadows, parks, farm fields, grasslands.
• Story: He came to LSNC in 2011 from Brave Heart Raptor Center in Western Michigan with a right wing injury.  He is most comfortable around people and can often be seen perched out in the raptor office.
• Fun Fact: The American Kestrel is the smallest North American falcon.
• Adopt This Raptor: Support the care of this raptor, or see who else supports this bird!

Haliaeetus leucocephalus
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• Habitat: Typically nesting in forests adjacent to large bodies of water. Fish are a staple of a Bald Eagle’s diet as well as birds, muskrats, and carrion.
• Story: This young eagle was pinned under a tree and broke many bones in the wing, compromising her flight ability.
• Fun Fact: Immature eagles are largely nomadic and can cover hundreds of miles per day.
• Adopt This Raptor: Support the care of this raptor, or see who else supports this bird!

Strix varia
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• Habitat: A medium sized owl, Barred Owls prefer large heavily wooded forests, often near water. Squirrels, chipmunks, voles, birds, and amphibians are a sample of their diet.
• Story: She was pulled from the nest by a predator in 2004, breaking her facial bones. This now causes her beak to grow in crooked. 
• Fun Fact: Fossils have been found of Barred Owls that are at least 11,000 years old.
• Adopt This Raptor: Support the care of this raptor, or see who else supports this bird!

Buteo platypterus
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• Habitat: A small hawk preferring to breed in deciduous or mixed-deciduous forests and winter in tropical forests.  They typically hunt small mammals, birds, reptiles, and large insects.
• Story: Suriving West Nile virus, he suffered neurological damage and is blind in his right eye.
• Fun Fact: Their average roundtrip migration is more than 8,000 miles to northern South America and back.
• Adopt This Raptor: Learn how to support the care of this raptor, or see who else supports this bird!

Otus asio
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• Habitat: As cavity nesters, Eastern Screech Owls are successful in city parks, farm fields, and city neighborhoods, where they find large insects, mice, and songbirds.
• Story: She was suspected to have been pushed out of the nest and was found on the ground by a jogger.
• Fun Fact: Only about one-third of the population are rufous, red in coloration.
• Adopt This Raptor: Support the care of this raptor, or see who else supports this bird!

Bubo virginianus
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• Habitat: Found in a wide variety of habitats, the Great Horned Owl hunts a wide array of prey including amphibians, birds, reptiles, and mammals.
• Story: After injuring her wing in a suspected car collision, she is our longest resident at LSNC.  She has been in captivity since 1997.
• Fun Fact: Great Horned Owls are the only animals that regularly eat skunks.
• Adopt This Raptor: Learn how to support the care of this raptor, or see who else supports this bird!

Falco peregrinus
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• Habitat: Peregrines are often found along rivers and coastlines or in cities where skyscrapers emulate cliff nesting sites. They mostly hunt other birds.
• Story: She came to LSNC from California where she was bred in captivity for the sport of falconry. Unsuccessful as a hunter and not a candidate for release, she makes a wonderful education bird.
• Fun Fact: Of any North American falcon, the Peregrine Falcon has one of the longest migration routes, which is fitting because the word “Peregrine” means wanderer.
• Adopt This Raptor: Support the care of this raptor, or see who else supports this bird!

Buteo jamaicensis
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• Habitat: Red-tailed Hawks are very versatile in type of preferred habitat which includes scrublands, deserts, grasslands, as well as fields and pastures.
• Story: After a storm in 2004 his nest tree blew down.  He was found in a field with a broken right wing.
• Fun Fact: Construction of their stick nests takes between 4 to 7 days.
• Adopt This Raptor: Support the care of this raptor, or see who else supports this bird!