Tammy Thyme

08/29/2024

Too cute!!

07/21/2024

Great sign!
🦆🦆🦆

06/28/2024

Audubon. Awesome Raptors. Awesome people ❣️

Maverick the Red-shouldered Hawk took a little field trip this week to visit our neighbors at Art & History Museums of Maitland! Raptor Conservation Specialist Sam, pictured here, and volunteer Bob brought Maverick to walk the grounds of the historic Maitland Art Center, practicing going through doorways and walking on uneven surfaces.

This practice is part of Maverick's training as an education bird, joining our education team to teach about the importance of raptor conservation. Thanks to our friend at A&H for allowing us to use their beautiful campus! If you've never visited this National Historic Landmark, we highly recommend it—make it a Maitland day and visit us at the Center for Birds of Prey afterward, less than a mile down the road!

04/07/2024

I can’t wait to visit!

Grand Opening for the Florida Wildlife Corridor Photography Exhibit and Mural

04/04/2024

Watching these cuties this week ☺️

04/02/2024

It's International Dark Sky Week!🌟

Both of Florida's official International Dark Sky Parks, Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park and Big Cypress National Preserve, are located within the Florida Wildlife Corridor. Where are your favorite places to star gaze in Florida?

But it's not just about seeing the stars, this week is a reminder of the importance of reducing light pollution for wildlife. The day-to-night cycle is vital for many native species affecting their ability to navigate, find food, and reproduce. When artificial light disrupts these natural cues, wildlife from insects to birds, can be seriously impacted. By minimizing light pollution, we can create a safer and more natural environment for wildlife to thrive.

📷 Chris Kirk

03/21/2024

Pretty horses😘
Mystic
Bogie
Odin
Star

03/06/2024

It is time to rid ourselves of bait boxes and rat poison in our communities. They are standard behind every Walmart and every Publix. It's time these corporations understand what's happening and stop poisoning our wildlife. We should be putting up owl boxes not bait boxes. 

03/06/2024

02/28/2024

Handsome Henry🤎🤎, added Audubon Wednesday to my week ☺️

02/26/2024

02/24/2024

I miss you so much little buddy 🖤

02/22/2024

I love my coworkers 😘

02/20/2024

It’s Love Your Pet Day. Star, today yesterday and one of the very first times I rode you in the Spring of 2001 🥰.

02/20/2024

PLEASE, STOP USING RODENTICIDES! The most common poison found in rodenticides is brodifacoum. Brodifacoum is an anticoagulant which stops the blood from forming clots. It can take 4 – 5 days for a rat to die from this poison. Traps like the one in the picture allows the poisoned rat to leave the trap. During this time, the rodent becomes more lethargic and becomes an easy prey source for birds of prey. A study completed from 2008 – 2010 in New Jersey, showed residue of brodifacoum in 76% of Red-tailed Hawks tested and 73% of Great Horned Owls tested. In another study from 1988-2018 in Western Canada, residue from anticoagulant rodenticides was detected in 74% of deceased birds of prey and birds brought in for rehab. In this study, Barred Owls and Great Horned Owls had the highest rate of rodenticide residue!

During nesting season, birds of prey are hunting more frequently to feed their offspring. The young offspring are more susceptible to the negative effects of rodenticide due to their small bodies and not being able to filter out this deadly poison. Wildlife photographer, Ronald Kotinsky, has witnessed this firsthand! Last year, he saw a family of three owlets and two adults die due to rodenticide. A Bald Eagle nest in Sarasota has lost two eaglets for the last two years in a row. In 2020, millions of viewers watched an eaglet bleed to death due to the negative effects of rodenticide. Sadly, these stories can go on and on!

Studies have shown there are more effective ways of rodent control. We are unknowingly killing the most effective solution to rodent control, birds of prey. A three-year study by Mark Browning demonstrated that “barn owls provide a highly effective, inexpensive and non-toxic alternative to other methods.” The studies also showed that “over the first two years, the large population of owls took 25,682 rodents at a cost of 26 cents per rodent, versus a cost of trapping at $8.11 per rodent.” Another study shows more positive results using fertility control than using rodenticides. The ingredients which prevent the rats from reproducing is safe for other wildlife which may prey on the rodents unlike current rodenticides.

To learn more about these studies, alternatives to rodenticides, and how you can help, visit www.raptorsarethesolution.org

Thank you to Ronald Kotinsky Photography for sharing his story and image he captured of this season’s Great Horned family. We all hope this year he’ll be able to share a happier story and document a successful nesting season!

02/20/2024

Please share! It could save a life! 
It’s baby season!

When you find an injured bird of prey, your quick action may save its life.

If you have wildlife issues, you can call Florida Fish and Wildlife at 888-404-3922 or 352-732-1225.

If you are in Central Florida, please call us at 407-461-1056.

Please note that our staff is only on site from 9:30 - 1:30 Monday-Friday and 9:30-4:30 on Saturdays.

Baby Raptors
If you find a young bird of prey, first look around for a nest, or parents. Often, young birds will spend some time on the ground while they're learning to fly. If the bird looks alert and healthy, and you can see their nest, please place them back in the nest area. This is the best thing for the bird, handling a bird does not cause a problem with the adults. No one can raise it better than its parents!
All injured birds of prey are dangerous, even young birds have sharp talons and beaks, which are dangerous to bare hands.
- If you can, use a pair of thick work gloves, and approach the bird slowly, and throw a blanket or towel over the bird.
- The bird may struggle at first, so give it a moment before you pick it up. Take care to fold the wings against the body and be cautious of the legs and talons.

- Place the bird in a cardboard box, or similar container with plenty of ventilation at the top. Keep the box in a room temperature, dark, quiet place away from children, pets, and loud noises. Cover the box with a towel or blanket.
- Do not disturb the bird once placed inside the box. This rescue will probably be the most stressful thing that has ever happened to the bird, and shock can do just as much damage as any injury.
- The bird may not be strong enough to digest solid food, so don’t offer food or water to the bird. Even if it appears hungry, feeding could harm or even kill the bird.
- Remember, or mark the location where the bird was found. We will try to return the bird to its original location.
Injured raptors require specialized treatment and care. It is illegal to possess any migratory bird without state and federal permits. Get it to a rehabilitator as soon as possible. If you cannot get the bird to us, please contact a local rehabilitator in your area, or contact Florida Fish and Wildlife, who can put you in touch with someone in your area.

02/14/2024

Happy Valentine’s Day ❣️

01/22/2024

Star and the barn, 676 manatees and a Bald Eagle at the nest I monitor 😘

01/20/2024

Horse, cow, dog , bunny plus a fish tank sitting this weekend, and watching two other dogs, of course Star🐴🤎. Work at the zoo where I actually get to visit the animals, it’s going to be a perfect weekend 🥰

01/18/2024

I’ll give you kiss and look really cute for a treat 😋. Star today and his new friend Takopah, a mustang that is 38 years old, he looks pretty darn good! I’m hoping Star is still going strong at 38, that means 10 more years 🥰

01/17/2024

Audubon Tuesday. We have a visiting Barred Owl and a Bald Eagle, the resident birds are very interested 🦅🦉

01/16/2024

Roseate Spoonbills 🩷. Such a beautiful bird, I went to SeaWorld by myself yesterday just to see them ☺️

01/11/2024

It’s Save an Eagle Day! Thankful for all the conservationists that helped save the Bald Eagles from being very endangered to he being taken off that horrible list 🦅

01/09/2024

Eagles being silly 🦅

01/05/2024

Happy National Bird Day!!