It's feeding time for the SNC's resident Great Blue Heron. Their long, sharp beaks are perfect for fishing. And these guys will flip fish vertically in their mouths so they go down easier.
This red-tailed hawk was brought to the SNC after colliding with a car. While rehabbers were able to save his life, he permanently lost an eye. This means he will not be able to survive on his own in the wild. Instead, he will remain a permanent resident at the SNC.
The red-tailed hawk has a trilling, raspy scream. This is the cry used by Hollywood directors almost any time a bird of prey is on screen.
Check out our resident red-shoulder hawk. A Florida native, this bird of prey has a distinct call that is uses to signal we are encroaching on his territory. Does this call sound familiar to you?
Red-Tailed Hawks can be found all over North America!
Our resident yellow-naped parrots love talking to the SNC’s Executive Director, probably because they’ve known her longer than any other staff here! Their incredible memory and bonding behaviors lead to some interesting dynamics.
Parrots are known for their impressive mimicry. Vocal mimicry is the ability to imitate speech or noises. There are many possible reasons why vocal mimicry abilities could be an evolutionary advantage. Improved communication could help with the mating process and imitating predators might scare away competition.
Someone got a bath today! The rainy weather in Florida is not always a bad thing. Florida’s climate is vital for restoring our water system, supporting lush tropical growth, and great for keeping things clean.
Our resident Barred Owl did an impressive display today of how owls can turn their heads up to 270 degrees. This is due to a special adaptation on their vertebrae.
Barred Owls are native to Florida, but this one cannot be released back into the wild due to a permanent injury. He would not be able to survive in the wild on his own. Instead, he now has a happy home with dedicated care takers and sometimes makes himself visible to the public as an educational ambassador.
“Barred Owls are easiest to find when they are active at night—they’re a lot easier to hear than to see. Visit forests near water (big bottomland forest along a river is prime Barred Owl habitat) and listen carefully, paying attention for the species’ barking “Who cooks for you?” call.” - The Cornell Lab https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Barred_Owl/overview
In honor of World Animal Day, the SNC is spotlighting our Eurasian Collared Dove, named Ginger. Ginger was rescued from a pet store that wanted to put him down because of his inability to stand up straight. When he came to the SNC, we found that he could stand perfectly when he was given a proper perching space.
Because Ginger is an exotic animal to Florida, we are not allowed to release him. Instead, he will live at the SNC with loving care takers as an Educational Ambassador.
Back in 2014, my friends and I met this seagull who couldn't really squawk, just mew. We named him(?) Mew and he was our favorite bird from that day ❤️
@todaysbird a little mwoo!