Raptor Rendezvous: The Annual Indiana Raptor Center Fundraiser Event

I want to share information about a great event! The Indiana Raptor Center is located in Brown County, Indiana. They devote their lives to the care and rehabilitation of injured and ill raptors. The IRC also educates the public about the importance of these magnificent birds and their lives. Much time and money is spent 24/7-- 365 days a week caring for their residents of owls, hawks, eagles, falcons, and vultures.

I want to encourage readers to attend this event and if you can't . . . donate money or supplies to the cause! Here is the info--

This is Elmo--Barred Owl. I photographed him at an event.

The annual Indiana Raptor Center fundraiser event, Raptor Rendezvous, happens this year on September 7 at the Abe Martin Lodge in Brown County State Park.  We have a new event format that includes dinner, cash bar, an amazing bird program with birds of prey from 5 different rehabilitation and education centers, a silent auction with local art/craft and gourmet items, and a raffle of artwork!!.  Come join us for the fun!!

Doors open, including cash bar and silent auction browsing, at 6:00 PM

Dinner buffet starts at 6:30 PM

Program from 7 – 9:15 PM

Includes breaks for auction browsing, raffle ticket and merchandise purchase, visits to bar

Raffle results and silent auction results from 9:15 – 9:30

Tickets are $28 per person

and can be purchased from Indiana Raptor Center:

Phone credit card to 812-988-8990

Send check to PO Box 1153 Nashville IN 47448

Paypal to www.indianaraptorcenter.org

Tickets MUST be purchased by August 24

Ticket holders will receive the following:

·         Name on greeting list at Brown County State Park North Gate for free park admission

·         Dinner and dessert at the Raptor Rendezvous Mexican buffet

·         Admission to Raptor Rendezvous program, silent auction, raffle, and cool vending

·         Two rows of up-front program seating for photographers, flash permitted

·         A tax deduction letter for $12 of each ticket purchased!!

·         One free ticket if you arrange for a table of 10 attendees!!

Please come help support our rescue and education efforts -  

have a fun Saturday night -

and do some early Christmas shopping!! 

THE BIRDS ARE COUNTING ON YOU !!

Cash or check donations, as always, are tax deductible.

Let's Talk About "Who-cooks-for-you?"

Let's talk about the owl whose call sounds as if it's saying "Who cooks for you? Who cooks for you al-l-l-l-l!" I heard a Barred Owl (Strix varia) last night across the lake. It is one of the sounds in nature that I treasure.

Barred Owls (BAOW) are the nocturnal counterparts of Red-shouldered Hawks. Barred Owls dwell in moist bottomland woodlands, ravines, and swamps. Crayfish, water snakes, rodents, insects, small birds, and frogs are examples of their prey. 

Barred Owl (captive)   ©Joni L. James

They range in size from 16-24 inches with a wingspan of  38-50 inches. They are not the largest of our owls in Indiana, that distinction belongs to the Great horned Owl. Barred Owls are next in size. They have a rounded head with no ear tufts and are gray-brown in color. They have large liquid black eyes-- at a distance the iris looks brown; at close range they appear blue-black.

Barred Owls nest in tree cavities and abandoned nests of crows and hawks. Nesting season is during the winter months (as it is for most owl species here). Courtship is a noisy performance. They are particularly vocal during late fall and early winter when trying to attract mates. They will call throughout the night especially under a full moon. You can often hear them on cloudy days especially during the winter. 

BAOW usually lay a clutch of 2-4 eggs. Incubation is mostly by the female taking 28-32 days. Fledging takes place 40-45 days. Barred Owls are not migratory so they are here all year round.

Barred Owl (captive)   ©Joni L. James

If you hear the calls of a Barred Owl, you will never forget it. I encourage you to listen to the link below to hear the maniacal calls, barks, cackles, and wails of this wonderful raptor.
Listen at night, dawn, dusk, and on cloudy winter days . . . you just might experience the hair on the back of your neck rise!

A Cornell Lab of Ornithology youtube link to hear a recording of BAOW calling:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5zc-NHIipw

{Note: The Barred Owl in these images is Elmo, an owl who is a permanent resident at the Indiana Raptor Center. The IRC rehabilitates injured raptors and provides educational programs on bird of prey. They are dedicated individuals at the center who do tremendous work. Consider booking them for programs and/or donating to their passion & cause. Link: www.indianaraptorcenter.org}

You can always leave comments at the end of each post. Let me know what you think of Barred Owls & experiences you may have had!