Flying High!

Linda Sue planned a wonderful day for us at the Eagle Valley Raptor Center

very nice facility for the rescued birds of prey 

5-7-14:  Greg and Linda Sue drove us out to Cheney for a great adventure with raptors! We were so lucky to have a beautiful day for this.  The forecast in Kansas is pretty sketchy these days.  David tells me not to look at a forecast in the Midwest beyond tomorrow because it's forever changing. And even though rain/storms are often predicted, they usually don't pan out.  Sadly, Kansas is having a severe drought. Greg says the forecasts include rain/storms as a means of water conservation so people won't water their yards. lol. Might be some wisdom there.

 Ken Lockwood runs a refuge for birds of prey that have been abandoned or injured.  He gave us a tour through this topnotch facility and let us see and interact with the birds that will not be released back into the wild.  He has others that he is preparing for release and doesn't want them getting used to people. Makes sense.

We saw eagles, hawks, a vulture, and owls. The Cottonwood trees in Kansas provide great nesting for these birds.

Greg and Linda Sue with some "shocking" pieces of art by Ken Lockwood

Ken Lockwood is quite the woodcarver, too.  Since WSU has had such a great basketball team, Ken donated some of these to Coach Marshall to use in an auction.  The Shockers rec'd a pretty penny for his work.

Ken also rescues tables from Sonic when they are ready to discard them

owl talons -- not sure where the rest of the owl is

wonderful facility for the rescued birds

some more artwork 

this Eagle Scout created the perfect observation deck for the bald eagle

Linda Sue peeking in at the eagle

treats for the birds

He receives these mice from Fort Worth's Big Cheese Rodent Factory.  Yes, there's such a thing as rodent factories. There was even a big to-do once when the rodents "escaped" from the factory there.  Evidently there were so many that it looked like the earth was moving.

cute little Screech Owls

beautiful colors on the American Kestrel - can you see the malar under his eye?

Some of the birds, including the American Kestrel, will snatch their mouse and then head to the corner of their cage to mantle.

Ken showing off Baron, his Barred Owl

posing for us

Owls have 3 sets of eyelids

Whooooo is that behind me?

 Barred Owls are named for the "bars" on their chests. Turkey hunters tend to use Barred Owl calls because toms hate the Barreds so. Baron showed off his 3 eyelids for us. And he was pretty good about doing that 360 thing with his head. Baron was rescued after chasing outfielders and stealing beer at the Wichita baseball field.

This guy is a beaut!  Their eyes are bigger than a human's eyes

Durango, the huge African Eagle Owl

The African Eagle Owl was not only gorgeous, but was HUGE! And, he gets to ride shotgun in Ken's van!  Not in a crate or anything, just up in the front seat.  Wouldn't that be a sight to see?

Miley Cyrus, the Barn Owl

This beautifully colored barn owl is named Miley Cyrus because she "twerks" before using the restroom. Barn owls are a farmer's best friend because they can keep the unwanted critters away by hissing like a snake.

Linda Sue stepped in the cage with Miley to help Ken put her jesses back on

love the heart-shaped face

David trying to get pix of hooters

Templeton, the Great Horned Owl

this guy was beautiful

Templeton, the Great Horned Owl, was raised as a pet and then given up to the rescue. He's a big ole boy!

replica of an eagle's nest

recycled telephone poles from the Greensburg tornado -- excellent benches

Today is the 7th anniversary of the Greensburg, KS tornado which demolished the town. Ken rescued many owls that day.

Herman Munster, the Turkey Vulture

Linda Sue and I got to feed him mouse heads

per instruction from Ken, we hung onto the bodies

Hermie showing off his wingspan for David and Greg

Greg, Linda Sue, and David listening to Ken's story about Gracie, the Golden Eagle

Gracie perched when told and then flew to the other perch for her mouse

She was very observant of what was going on around her

Look at her stocky legs!

Gracie the Golden Eagle is there because of a gunshot wound.  She obeys commands from Mr. Ken.  She has 2 places in her cage to perch and will go there upon hearing that word.  She's not stupid, she knows there's a TX mouse involved! Majestic bird. Would love to see one in the wild!

Gracie is the only Golden Eagle in Kansas that can be traveled with. Goldens are becoming more endangered than Balds.  Wind turbines are their demise many times. 

Ken giving me a "lesson" before flying the hawk

Ken asked for a volunteer to "fly the hawk".  I pushed my way to the front and offered! Hannah Montana is a Harris Hawk and she is so pretty.  And very outspoken!

I had to hide my glove until Ken was ready to release Hannah

What ya don't see is a mouse head in my glove -- but Hannah knew it was there!

She let me turn her a bit so all of her colors showed

I believe she's done this before

good baby

talking to us!

catching a mouse in mid-air

After I joined the others against the wall of the cage, Ken threw a mouse in the air in front of us.  Hannah squawked and flew at us, caught it, dropped it, squawked a lot more til she retrieved it, then headed for the back corner.

Mantling

She has that mantling thing down pat!

 Wazoo (named for WSU) was rescued after being hit by a truck

Majestic 

What are you looking at?!

Wanna take a picture with me?

Linda Sue asked Wazoo if he would take a picture with her and he knew just what to do. Amazing!

Heading on over to pose for a pic

Just about ready

 Greg and Wazoo
This is as close as we could get -- but what a treat to be this close to America's bird!

David and Wazoo

Wonderful finale to a wonderful tour!

After our tour with Ken, the 4 of us enjoyed a picnic on the premises.  It's kinda hard to imagine a picnic in the Kansas wind.  But they had a very nice covered picnic area with wind guards.

Thanks so much to Linda Sue and Greg for introducing us to this wonderful spot just outside of Wichita.

Hundreds of nesting Egrets and Herons in this neighborhood

When we got back to Wichita they showed us a newsworthy spot right in town near the Big Ditch that is a seasonal home to hundreds of Egrets and Herons.  Wow!  It was amazing.  I'm sure the residents in the neighborhood there aren't as dazzled as we were.  We will def go back to take more pix!

G and L always know how to plan a wild adventure!

Much Love and Fly High,

Wazoo, Gracie, and Templeton