• Raptor Center
• Bird Biographies
• Festival Display
• "Meet the Birds of Prey" Weekend Shows
• Traveling Raptor Shows
• Raptor Classroom Activity Kit
• Honorary Animal Caretaker
• Raptor Center Animal Care Volunteer

 

Raptor Center
Bird Bios—meet the birds at Shaver's Creek

• Bald Eagles (2)
• Golden Eagle
• Broad-winged Hawk
• Red-shouldered Hawk
• Red-tailed Hawks (2)
• Barred Owls (2)
• Eastern Screech Owls (2)
• Great Horned Owl
• Black Vulture
• Turkey Vulture

Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
In May 1989, this bald eagle came to Shaver's Creek from the Tri-State Bird Rescue and Research center in Delaware. Originally found in British Columbia, Canada, the bird had a gunshot wound to its left wing, requiring amputation. Her right wing has also experienced some loss of muscle control. Because of the amputation of the left wing, the eagle cannot fly and must have specially designed perches that allow her easy access to all parts of her enclosure.

At Tri-State this bald eagle was part of a captive-breeding program that used injured, nonreleasable birds to raise young eagles in captivity for eventual release into the wild. However, she did not lay eggs and was transferred to Shaver's Creek. In the spring of 1996 she laid one egg and in 1997 she laid two. Tests conducted at the Animal Diagnostic Lab at Penn State showed no embryonic development in either clutch; consequently, the eggs were thought to be infertile.

Because this bird was injured as an adult, her exact age is unknown; however, eagles can live thirty to fifty years in captivity. The adult eagle has a pure white head and tail feathers. The average weight is 4,000 grams, or 8.5 pounds.

Eagles are protected by the Endangered Species Act, the Eagles Act, and other legislation; therefore, it is illegal to kill, injure, or harass eagles and their young, or to harm their nest sites. It is also illegal to collect, possess, sell, or transport eagles, their young, and their parts (including eggs, nests, feathers, and bones). We do not know whether the individual who shot this eagle was ever identified and prosecuted.

Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)

As an immature bird, this bald eagle came to Shaver's Creek from the South Carolina Wildlife and Marine Resources Department in June 1992. Shot and left to die, the eagle was found on January 1, 1992, by a hunter in Charleston County, South Carolina. An examination at the Sea Islands Veterinary Hospital found no broken bones, only damaged tissue and head trauma. The bird's recovery progressed well at first, but within a month the wounded tissue started to "die," and infection quickly spread throughout the injured wing, requiring a life-saving amputation.

Immature and subadult plumage on the bald eagle is different from adult plumage, appearing more like that of the golden eagle. In immature bald eagles the head is uniformly dark brown, the beak and cere are black, and the iris color is dark brown. (The cere is a cuticle-like area of bare skin at the base of the upper mandible.) Some bald eagles have white streaking where breast and belly meet and on the wings; the tail ranges from solid brown to dirty white. Transition to subadult plumage occurs at about three years of age. Subadult plumage is highly variable; generally, however, the head lightens and the body darkens. At this time these birds often acquire an osprey-like dark eye-line. The white on the head does not extend as far down the neck as on an adult, the iris is pale yellow, and the cere and beak are orange-yellow, with dark smudges on the beak. The dirty-white tail is longer than the tail of an adult. Adult plumage is attained at approximately four years of age. The head is white--sometimes with a few brown or black spots, even in older birds. Initial adult head plumage is usually streaked with brown or black. The beak and cere are bright orange-yellow; the iris is pale yellow; the tail is white. The first tail in adult plumage may have a dark terminal band. The average weight of an adult bald eagle is 4,000 grams, or 8.5 pounds.

Eagles are protected by the Endangered Species Act, the Eagles Act, and other legislation; therefore, it is illegal to kill, injure, or harass eagles and their young, or to harm their nest sites. It is also illegal to collect, possess, sell, or transport eagles, their young, and their parts (including eggs, nests, feathers, and bones). We do not know whether the individual who shot this eagle was ever identified and prosecuted.

Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos)

This female golden eagle was rescued as an immature bird in September 1990, after she flew into power lines on Bald Eagle Ridge in Stormstown, Pennsylvania. When this young eagle collided with the power lines, she sustained injuries to her beak, throat, left wing, and one of the talons on her right foot. Four operations were necessary to repair her deformed lower beak, and several procedures were needed to repair her wing and foot. Because of her damaged beak, the eagle is unable to tear up her food and is fed a specially prepared diet of venison, vitamins, and, as a calcium supplement, oyster shells. Although this bird cannot be released back into the wild, she is making her mark as a part of the educational program Shaver's Creek. Golden eagles are the largest and most powerful winged hunters found in North America.

Broad-winged Hawk (Buteo platypterus)

In her first year of life this broad-winged hawk was transferred to Shaver's Creek from the Delaware Valley Raptor Center in Milford, Pennsylvania. A vehicle had struck her, leaving her with a broken ulna and humerus of the left wing. A surgical pin was placed into the humerus; after a month of therapy the pin was removed. After treatment the bird remained unable to fly and was determined to be nonreleasable. She is now viewed by thousands of visitors per year at Shaver's Creek.

Immature broad-winged hawks can be identified by their more numerous tail bands, ranging from four to five dark brown bands on a light brown tail, with the widest band subterminal, and white or rufous-colored edging on the dark brown head, nape, back, and upper-wing coverts. The adult broad-winged hawk has a uniformly dark brown head, nape, and upper-wing coverts and a dark brown tail with one wide, white band and another, narrow band usually visible only when the tail is fanned.

Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus)
This red-shouldered hawk has been at Shaver's Creek since June 1989, when she was transferred here from the Wildlife Center of Virginia. The injury to her right wing was caused by collision with a vehicle, which occurred in November 1988. The hawk was treated at the facility in Virginia for several months before being determined nonreleasable. Although both wings are intact, the bird cannot fly and must rely on hopping from perch to perch.

Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)

This red-tailed hawk was rescued from a pasture in Petersburg, Pennsylvania, by Shaver's Creek staff members. She had gunshot wounds to her left wing and right leg and was suffering from dehydration and starvation. Veterinarians at Animal Medical Hospital in State College helped with her care. She was originally considered a candidate for release but was deemed nonreleasable when her flight-conditioning performance proved to be poor. The injury to her left wing involved the metacarpals (similar to hand and wrist bones), which are fine, delicate bones used for precision flight (such as soaring and active hunting). Extensive damage to these bones is almost always disabling for a bird, such as a hawk or an owl, that must rely on perfect flight control for catching prey and (in the case of some species) migrating. Therefore, although this bird can fly around in her cage, she cannot soar or actively hunt—activities that would be vital for her survival in the wild.

Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)

This adult red-tailed hawk has been at Shaver's Creek since the fall of 1999. Brought to the center as an immature bird, it acquired the red tail and darker breast feathers that are consistent with an adult bird during the summer of 2000. An immature red-tailed hawk has a barred tail instead of the characteristic red tail. Around 18 months of age a hawk molts into adult plumage, which includes the darker breast feathers and the red tail. The eyes gradually change from yellow to brown over time. Since 2000 the eyes of this hawk have gradually been darkening. The bird was rehabilitated at Blair County Wildlife Rehabilitation Center after being injured by a gunshot.

Barred Owl (Strix varia)

In July 1989 this barred owl was transferred to Shaver's Creek from the Sharon Audubon Center in Connecticut, where it was treated after being struck by a car. Its left wing was badly damaged in the accident and was subsequently amputated to save the beautiful bird's life. The owl is now a permanent resident and an integral part of the educational program at Shaver's Creek. Currently it is housed with one other permanently disabled barred owl.

Eastern Screech Owl (Otus asio)

In December 1988 this eastern screech owl was hit by a car, resulting in injury to his left eye and possibly to his left ear as well. Because of the position of the ear on an owl's head, severe trauma to the head or eye frequently results in damage to the ear as well. The injured eye became infected and was surgically removed to stop the spread of infection. Owls with limited sight and hearing are considered nonreleasable because they are unable to hunt and capture prey effectively. This bird is a permanent resident of Shaver's Creek, where he is housed with one other permanently disabled screech owl.

Eastern Screech Owl (Otus asio)

In June 1989 this eastern screech owl was transferred to Shaver's Creek from the Wildlife Center of Virginia. The damage to its left eye and the detached retina in the right eye were caused by collision with a car. The owl retained most of the vision in its left eye but is completely blind in the right eye, which is being absorbed back into the body. The bird probably also has ear damage from the impact of the vehicle. Owls with limited sight and hearing are considered nonreleasable because they are unable to hunt and capture prey effectively. This bird is a permanent resident of Shaver's Creek, where it is housed with one other nonreleasable owl.

Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus)

This great horned owl was acquired in April 1993 when a landowner in Piney Ridge, Pennsylvania, discovered the bird entangled in a barbed wire fence. The wire was so deeply embedded in the owl's flesh that the fence had to be cut to rescue the bird. The bird was transported to Shaver's Creek by the Pennsylvania Game Commission; the wire was removed from the wing, and the damaged tissues were treated for infection. Although no bones were broken, the tendons and ligaments of the wing were so badly torn and damaged that the wing could not heal properly. This owl now resides at Shaver's Creek and is used in various presentations across the state of Pennsylvania.

Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus)
This black vulture came to Shaver's Creek Environmental Center in the fall of 2000 after being struck by a vehicle and sustaining injuries that made it nonreleasable. The black vulture has a tail that is shorter and squarer than the turkey vulture, and wings that are shorter and wider. Quite often, this particular black vulture makes a characteristic "wuooff" sound—black vultures do not have a voice box.

Turkey Vulture (Carthartes aura)
This adult turkey vulture came to Shaver's Creek Environmental Center from the Wildlife Center of Virginia in the fall of 1988 after being struck by a vehicle. Collision with vehicles is one of the leading causes of injury to raptors and other wildlife. Injury to this turkey vulture's left wing prevents its full extension, making her unable to fly and causing her difficulty in maintaining balance.

WEATHER FORECAST: