Sat, Dec 3 2011 - Raptor Encounter and a Hike at Mountsberg Conservation Area (View Original Event Details)
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The Raptor Centre is a permanent housing facility for birds of pray that are not releasable into the wild. The centre is not a rehabilitation facility. We started our day looking at the various birds of pray housed in the outdoors enclosures in the walkway around the Raptor Centre. We saw a number of owls, hawks, falcons and 3 bald eagles. Wire fencing tested our photography skills and some of the birds tested our observational skills by camouflaging themselves into their surroundings.
Our Raptor Encounter started at 11 AM. Brad was our guide to the behind the scenes work at the Raptor Centre. He is very knowledgeable about the raptors in general and about the inhabitants of the centre. We had many questions. While our visit was a bit over 45 minutes, we could have spent hours and hours learning about these great birds. Brad also introduced us to 3 special inhabitants of the centre. We met Echo, an eastern screech owl, whose tree - ie her home (woodpecker hole) was chopped down and she was the only chick to survive and was raised by humans. Galina, Laura, Harry and Luliana had the opportunity to hold Echo. Echo was quite comfortable on our gloved wrists and in our company. :) We also met Otus, another screech owl who is blind in one eye due to a cyst. Probably due to his disability, Otus either fell or was pushed out of his nest when he was a chick. He was found at a base of the tree and he too was raised by humans. Victor had a chance to hold Otus. We also met Gwen, a 16 yr old barn owl. Gwen inhabits one of the indoor cages due to her age and her arthritis. We were amazed how much longer the birds live in captivity compared to those in the wild.
Right after our 'behind the scenes' session we attended the birds of pray show which is free to visitors. In this session we were introduced to a red tailed hawk who is suspected of being raised by humans to be used illegally in falconry. We also met a merlin named Scout who was trying to communicate with us the entire time... too bad we did not speak falcon.
If anyone is interested in learning the history of other birds at the Centre please visit the 'meet the birds' pages of their website http://www.conservationhalton.on.ca/ShowCategory.cfm?subCatID=1329
We capped off our visit to Mountsberg Conservation with a a hike on the Lakeshore Lookout Trail while discussing all of the attractions that this area offers that could entice us to come back - like an owl prowl (highly recommended), sleigh ride, skiing on what may be fairly easy skiing trails for novice skiers and obviously the Raptors. The Raptor Centre could be open to organizing a visit/event for a larger group of TOC members who may be interested in learning more about the birds of pray. We also learned that the paid admission receipt would enable one to also visit, on the same day, for free the neighbouring Halton Conservation areas such as Kelso, Crawford Lake, Hilton Falls and Rattlesnake Point. Something to think about for longer summer days... So much to do... so little time....
It's fair to say that everyone enjoyed this event. Thank you to Laura, Harry, Luliana and Victor for coming out and making this event a success.
Voluntary donations: $7.20 collected with thanks!
Until next time.. Galina
Have some photos from this event that you'd like to share in our photo album? Please forward them to Erik Sonstenes at photos@torontooutdoorclub.com. Please note that we prefer to receive the photos in approximately 640x480 or 750x500 pixels - do NOT send original high-res photos. If you have a LOT of photos, please submit up to twenty of your favorites (only) for a day event, or up to forty of your favourites for a multi-day event. Thank you.