Co-Pilots

A Celebration of Raptors and their Human Allies

As photographed during Fall Flights at Peregrine Fund's World Center for Birds of Prey in Boise, Idaho. I'm honored that this collection is featured in the facility's Marcia and Bob Ross Gallery during September and October, 2024.

What an incredible opportunity it is to be so close to a raptor that you can look into their eyes or feel the tip of their wing brush against your head. This is the kind of experience that Fall Flights at the World Center for Birds of Prey offers, and it can be life-altering.

For our part, humans have definitely altered the lives of these apex predators. We’ve encroached on their territory, poisoned their food with rodenticides and their bodies with lead, and disoriented their migration with light pollution. They deserve better, and the work the Peregrine Fund does is fundamental in improving their chances of survival.

We can all be part of that mission, starting with the little choices we make each day to care for the environment and its inhabitants. One of humanity’s best traits is the desire to protect the things we love. This exhibit focuses on the mutual trust and affection between the Peregrine Fund’s ambassador birds and their human allies, in hopes of inspiring us to recognize these raptors as part of our larger family– something worth loving and protecting.

Someone to Laugh With

Farah the Ferruginous Hawk was hatched in 2015 and came to the World Center for Birds of Prey from the Hogle Zoo in Utah. She’s a gorgeous representative of the largest hawk species in North America, and this shot seems to indicate that she has some hilarious anecdotes to share about the day-to-day life of an education raptor. Maybe she’s amused that humans say she’s “booted” because she has feathers all the way down to her toes, and that we like to sound smart by calling her “ferruginous” instead of simply saying “rust colored.” Farah is on the lighter end of the multiple shade variants you’ll see in the ferruginous hawk species, and these big beauties are common here in southwestern Idaho.

This is How the Pros Do It

Oliver, the Milky Eagle Owl, hatched at Zoo Atlanta and joined the flock here in Boise as a two-month-old ball of adorable fuzz. He’s grown up surrounded by all the love and admiration a real life Muppet ought to receive. From his feathery feet to his giant eyes that can see in near total darkness, he’s likely the cuddliest murder bird you’ll ever see. (PSA: Do not attempt to cuddle a raptor!)While Oli’s family is native to sub-Saharan Africa, he’s thriving amongst his throngs of admirers here at the World Center for Birds of Prey, and often joins his human besties for outreach events, too. He adds a special wizardly magic to the Fall Flights program.

The Underdog

“No worries, man, I got this,” Marshall assured Curtis as he stretched his massive wings skyward. The big golden eagle had conquered a lot to get here, including a challenging case of West Nile virus and the ensuing neurological issues, but Fall Flights ‘21 was HIS year. He never doubted it, and within minutes, no one else did, either. Marshall flew, trotted, and skipped with grace and agility from the field to the stage, collecting applause and accolades with every beat of his wings.While I can’t claim to have seen bird and handler do a high-five after the show, I’m pretty sure it happened.

A Job Well Done

Star was a Peregrine Falcon, namesake of the organization featured here. Her life was proof that conservation efforts pay off. Due primarily to the devastating effects of the pesticide DDT, peregrines were placed on the Endangered Species List in 1970. That same year, professor Tom Cade at Cornell founded the Peregrine Fund to save the species from extinction. Through captive breeding, education, and the eradication of DDT from the environment, the little falcon recovered, and a huge victory was achieved when it was removed from the Endangered Species List in 1999! No doubt, Star is celebrating here, and maybe even giving Stephanie a well-deserved pat on the back for continuing the organization’s efforts.

Eyes on the Prize

Griffin the Swainson’s Hawk takes her Fall Flights job very seriously, employing the same focus and determination her relatives use to migrate from North to South America and back every year. Check that gaze: Nothing distracts her, not even the watchful eye of Tate Mason, the Director of the World Center for Birds of Prey.Griffin was rescued as a chick in 2007 by Peregrine Fund founder Tom Cade himself, who saved her from a failed nest during a blistering hot summer. She was hand-raised to be an ambassador bird, and is admired by all for her beauty, grace, and work ethic.

4Ever Friends

I’ve heard the raptor specialists here say that their favorite bird is whichever one they’re hanging out with at the moment, and I believe that 100%. Still, if you’re a lucky observer you might get the chance to see a particularly beautiful moment between human and bird. I got beyond lucky this time. Finn the red-tailed hawk and his friend Jadn clearly have a soul connection based on trust and mutual respect. While this species is the most prevalent of all hawks in our region, it’s no secret that Finn, with his calm disposition and affection for his people, is singularly awesome.

The Spectator

The Peregrine Fund’s Fall Flights program is beloved for providing an opportunity to experience a close encounter of the bird kind with the resident ambassador raptors. This encounter was closer than most, when Finn the red-tailed hawk decided mid-program to take a break and hang out with the enthralled audience. Maybe he was just waiting for the next bird to fly over so he could gently critique their performance. Fortunately, Finn’s human trainers sweet talked him into rejoining the show, and as usual he knocked it outta the park.

In the Autumn Sun

Oliver the Milky Eagle Owl and Curtis seem to have a special bond, which is not surprising since they’ve been buddies since Oli was a wee fledgling. Together, they’ve visited libraries, museums, retirement homes, and schools. They’ve gone on out-of-town educational adventures, and made the eyes of countless owl admirers light up at the sight of this friendly flying beast.Oli’s Fall Flights performance is always spectacular, as he soars low overhead without making a sound. You might catch a soft little chirp, though, when he gets his post-flight treat.

Launch Sequence Initiated

Rosa the Aplomado Falcon was born here at the World Center for Birds of Prey in 2001, and is a Fall Flights luminary. It’s easy to mention power and agility anytime you’re discussing raptors, but this little rocket-shaped wonder is breathtaking to watch. Kelsey’s face says it all: Rosa is a superstar.Once commonly seen in the southwestern US, Aplomados are now endangered, and domestically they inhabit only a tiny area in Texas. The Peregrine fund is actively monitoring the wild population, employing the most current scientific knowledge to promote habitat restoration, and maintaining a captive breeding and release program in hopes of saving the species.

We Love Lucy

How can anyone look at a turkey vulture and not see absolute beauty and nobility? Their efficiency at consuming carrion makes for next-level pathogen control, protecting wildlife, our companion animals, us, and our loved ones from potentially devastating infectious diseases. Heroes, every last one of them. I love this image of Lucy appearing to shield Stephanie from above, because it’s a great metaphor for how vultures and their condor cousins guard us in ways most of us never even think about. And c’mon, Ms. Lucy is flat-out gorgeous.

At the End of the Day

Birds of prey are our allies on this planet. They’re ecological barometers, offering a clear indication of an ecosystem’s well being– a decrease in raptor population is a sign that something’s gone wrong. They control pests, contain the spread of disease, and exist in a harmonious balance with the flora and fauna of their region. We are their greatest threat. The Peregrine Fund’s mission is simply stated and massively complex: To Conserve Birds of Prey Worldwide. They’re great at what they do, and it’s something we can all participate in. If you can give time as a volunteer or donate money, that’s awesome– do it! Bring your friends to Fall Flights or spend an afternoon at the visitor center. The things you’ll learn will inspire you all. Live your life in a way that lightens the environmental load. And, never let the sight of a soaring raptor fail to bring you a sense of wonder and gratitude.

A special thank you to Boise-based Alexa Rose Foundation, whose generous grant in 2023 allowed me to upgrade my photography equipment. My new, lightweight gear has been a game changer for shooting images of fast-moving birds in flight!

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