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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!

Adopt a Raptor

The Leslie Science & Nature Center's Adopt-a-Raptor Program gives you an opportunity to provide direct support to our birds of prey. Our education birds are non-releasable and need permanent care. Your adoption ensures that these birds continue to inspire and educate our visitors. Your adoption gifts are put to work immediately.
Adopt A Raptor now!