Minnesota State Fair 2018 – Rapture Presentation

The Crested Caracara was most impressive of the rapture presentation, being beautiful, agile, fast, and powerful.

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The following birds were presented:

Harris’s Hawk

Great Horned Owl

Barred Owl

Red Eastern Screech Owl

Gray Eastern Screech Owl

Black Vulture

Northern Crested CaraCara

Bald Eagle

 

Falconer and veterinary technician John Karger, and founder of “Last Chance Forever” The Bird of Prey Conservancy headed the rapture presentation. All birds of prey were from the conservancy and were rehabilitated and were at one time sick, injured or orphaned birds of prey.

Select this link to see info on Last Chance Forever

 

 

Broad-Winged Hawk Bird – Bird of Prey – 12/29/2017

This Broad-Winged Hawk was photographed in Pittsboro, North Carolina

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The Broad-Winged Hawk is a small hawk (about the size of a Crow) with brown back and head, a tanned patterned chest, a white tail banding about as wide as the black, and with white wing linings. Its range is southern Canada and eastern half of United States. It winters in Central and South America. It has a habitat of coniferous forests, and groves often near water and/or clearings. It feeds on small mammals, amphibians, reptiles, and birds. It hunts small prey from a perch in the woods.

 

 

Swainson’s Hawk – Birds of Prey – 6/23/2014

The light phase Swainson’s Hawk was photographed at Freezout Lake Wildlife Management Area in Montana

Select this link to see photos or a slideshow of the Swainson’s Hawk

This Swainson’s Hawk is a light phase brown above with a tan breast band and white face, and a narrow gray-banded rounded tail often ending in white. It has a range of northwestern North America to northern Mexico, mostly western. It has a habitat of plains, range, and open hills, sparse trees. Usually soars over the grassland, or by perching and scanning the ground.

 

Red Shouldered Hawk Bird – Birds of Prey – 5/5/2014

This Red-Shouldered Hawk was photographed in Baxter Springs, Kansas while hunting Starlings-they ganged up on him and gave chase.

Select this link to see photos or a slideshow of the Red Shouldered Hawk

The Red-Shouldered Hawk has a dark patched upper, heavy dark bands on both sides of the tail, rufous shoulders, and pale robin-red underparts. This is a forest buteo recognized by its ample tail and broad wings. It has a range from southeastern Canada, the eastern half of the United States, and California. It has a habitat of woodlands, wooded rivers, and timbered swamps. It feeds on small mammals, amphibians, reptiles, and birds. It usually hunts by watching from a perch.

 

Red Tailed Hawk Bird – Birds of Prey – 3/21/2012

This Red-Tailed Hawk was seen and photographed at the Wehr Nature Center, Franklin, Wisconsin

Select this link to see photos or a slideshow of the Red Tailed Hawk

The adult Red-Tailed Hawk is a large brownish broad-winged wide-tailed hawk with a Rufus tail. An inhabitant of open country it is commonly seen perched on polls or  trees, or sailing over fields and woods. Although adults can be recognized by the reddish brown tail, the rest of the plumage can be quite variable. Red-Tails can range from blackish to rufous- brown to nearly white. Their diet is mammals, many birds, and reptiles. They have a habitat of open country, woodlands, prairie, groves, mountains, plains, and roadside. Their range covers Alaska, Canada, and the United States.