a group of children and adults, seen from behind as they walk across Black Pond's bridge

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Plan Your Visit › Raptor Enclosures ›

Meet our birds of prey

American Kestrel

Falco sparverius

  • 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!
Bald Eagle

Haliaeetus leucocephalus

  • 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 Bald 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!
Barred Owl

Strix varia

  • Habitat: A medium sized owl, they prefer large heavily wooded forests, often near water.  Squirrels, chipmunks, voles, birds, and amphibians are a sample of their diet.
  • Story: Suffering neurological damage after a car collision, this Barred Owl came to LSNC in 2007.
  • Fun Fact: Although Barred Owls are predators, they can also fall prey to Great Horned Owls.
  • Adopt This Raptor: Support the care of this raptor, or see who else supports this bird!
Eastern Screech Owl

Otus asio

  • 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!
Eastern Screech Owl

Otus asio

  • 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: This bird is non-releasable because of its damaged left eye. 
  • Fun Fact: Screech is a misnomer. Their call is a melodious trill.
  • Adopt This Raptor: Support the care of this raptor, or see who else supports this bird!
Eastern Screech Owl

Otus asio

  • 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: With an injured right wing, it is suspected she was involved in a car collision in 2010.
  • Fun Fact: Eastern Screech Owls can accept nesting boxes as their home.
  • Adopt This Raptor: Support the care of this raptor, or see who else supports this bird!
Great Horned Owl

Bubo virginianus

  • 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!
Northern Saw-whet Owl

Aegolius acadicus

  • Habitat: Saw-whet Owls are found in all types of forests but prefer dense conifer stands.  They hunt mice and occasionally small birds or insects.
  • Story: She injured her wing and eye in a suspected car collision. 
  • Fun Fact: In the winter they will cache or save food and incubate it later to eat.
  • Adopt This Raptor: Support the care of this raptor, or see who else supports this bird!
Peregrine Falcon

Falco peregrinus

  • 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!
Red-tailed Hawk

Buteo jamaicensis

  • 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!
Turkey Vulture

Cathartes aura

  • Habitat: Turkey Vultures can be found in farmland, forest, and rangeland.  They will scavenge and eat carrion or dead animals.
  • Story: She injured her right wing in a suspected car collision possibly while feeding on road kill.
  • Fun Fact: Using their sense of smell, Turkey Vultures locate carrion - in some cases a mile away.
  • Adopt This Raptor: Support the care of this raptor, or see who else supports this bird!
Turkey Vulture

Cathartes aura

  • Habitat: Turkey Vultures can be found in farmland, forest, and rangeland.  They will scavenge and eat carrion or dead animals.
  • Story: Unable to migrate in the winter of 2009, he ended up loosing several of his toes to frostbite
  • Fun Fact: The scientific name Cathartes aura means “purifying breeze” which reflects vultures’ ability to clean-up animal remains.
  • Adopt This Raptor: Support the care of this raptor, or see who else supports this bird!

LSNC birds visit businesses

We were looking for something refreshing and different to energize our conference exhibition hall, and we succeeded. — Tom McKarns, President, Ecophysics
Since these birds make their home in the area, the program was especially appropriate. — John Johnson, President, Total Management Services