Despite gray skies and a steady drizzle, around 200 raptor fans -- young, old and in between -- enjoyed FODM’s annual Raptor Rapture on April 22, 2017, in Belle Haven Park.  Liz and Tim Dennison from Secret Gardens, Birds and Bees brought a red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis), a barred owl (Strix varia) and a great horned owl (Bubo virginianus), all “rescue birds.”

They were injured and cannot survive on their own.  Most were hit by vehicles and damaged eyes are a common injury, said Ms. Dennison.  FODM thanks the Dennisons and National Park Service staff, Miguel Robinson and Maireya Pasa for participating.

In these photos (by Glenda Booth), Liz  Dennison shared a red-tailed hawk, a raptor with a distinctive cinnamon-red tail.

FODMer Bob Veltkamp designed a poster describing the major characteristics of raptors. Thanks to former FODM president Ed Eder and NewsRead.in for the beautiful photographs used in the poster (photo below right).