The Birds of Miami Valley Falconry
Falconry Laws are very strict guidelines in which ensure the birds safety and health, but also the ethics of the sport. Miami Valley Falconry proudly ADHERES to laws handed down by both State and Federal offices that mandate all regulations.
The Accipiters
Accipiters are also known as the true hawk. North America has three representatives; the Coopers Hawk, Sharp Shinned Hawk and the Goshawk. Accipiters are known for their short wings and long tail.
Finn
Finn is a Finnish goshawk. This goshawk is our representative of the accipiter also known as a "short wing" among falconers. She is captive bred and is 17 years old!
Cher
This Goshawk is Cher! Cher is what we call a 50/50 goshawk. She is half North American and half Finnish. Cher has distinctly red eyes because that is the North American in her showing. Her chest has grey barring though, which is representative of her Finnish heritage.
The Falcons
Falcons make up the Genus Falco. Falcons are referred to as longs wings by falconers for their characteristically long wings. A falcons wings when folded will reach down further than their tails unlike a Goshawk whose tail is much longer than its folded wings.
Nala
This is Nala the Lanner falcon. She was hatched on May 20, 2018. She was bred by Laura Hazelett and Jeff Peters. Lanner falcons are native to Sub-Sahara Africa, into the Mediterranean and also in parts of Italy.
Sherlock
Sherlock is our Saker falcon and is new to the 2019 lineup! Saker falcons have been flown for thousands of years in the ancient sport of Falconry. When Falconry came over to Europe, only a knight had the honor of flying the Saker falcon. Saker falcons are native to Eurasia and tend to winter in Africa.
The Parabuteos
Parabuteo is the scientific name for the Genus in which only two birds currently belong to, the Harris Hawk and White-rumped Hawk. When the name Parabuteo is broken down from Latin, Para means similar or like and Buteo means buzzard.
Phoenix
This is our male Harris hawk. Harris hawks hunt in groups of 2-6 at a time! Phoenix is 3 years old and is quite the successful hunter. He came off of a falconry permit and has caught about 80 rabbits in his career.
Poppy
Poppy is our very large female Harris Hawk. She comes from our friends down in South Carolina at Center of Birds of Prey. Poppy has had some unique training by her trainer Becky, in that instead of coming to the whistle like our other birds, she comes when you call her name! Harris Hawks are very intelligent and Poppy is here to show everyone just how smart they are!
Junior
Junior is one of our male Harris Hawks and Poppy’s brother. Junior is a standard sized male but is one of our best and most attentive Harris Hawks. He absolutely shines in front of a crowd when performing.
The Buteos
Buteo is the name of the Genus and it simply means buzzard. Most of our birds in the USA that we call hawks are actually classified as a buzzard.
Lucky
Here is Lucky, our Red Tailed Hawk from the rehab center Ohio Bird Sanctuary. Lucky is blind in his right eye and was deemed un-releasable due to this injury. Birds of prey have a 90% mortality rate in their first year of life, so Lucky has found a permanent home with us now. He will be our representative of the Buteo.
The Owls
Owls make up the order Strigiformes. From that order it can be divided down into two families: Strigidae and Tytonidae. Your true owls make up Strigidae and your Barn Owls will make up Tytonidae.
Sebastian
Sebastian is a North American Barn Owl (Tyto furcata). Sebastian was hatched on May 21, 2018 and he will serve as our representative of the owl family Tytonidae. Barn Owls are unique in the way they hunt in that they use their amazing hearing capabilities to locate their prey rather than rely on sight alone.
Bubo Baggins
Bubo is a Eurasian Eagle Owl. His species is considered one of the largest in the world with only the Great Grey Owl bigger in length only and the Blackiston’s Fish Owl close to the same weight. Eurasian Eagle Owl’s can have up to a 6 foot wing span and the males can weigh up to 7 lbs and the females can weigh up to 10 lbs.