NC Raptor Center - DPChallenge Forums

Nikon AF-S Zoom-Nikkor 28-70mm f/2.8D IF-ED

01/04/2004 09:12:00 PM · #1

I made a trip to the North Carolina Raptor Center this afternoon...

//www.birdsofprey.org

They have two shows during the day where they bring several birds into the 'weathering' area and place them on perches. These perches are about 10' from the wooden railing surrounding the area so the birds are easy to photograph....

Crested Caracara (Falcon Family)

Merlin (Falcon Family)

Red Tail Hawk

Turkey Vulture

Gringo

Nikon D2X

01/04/2004 09:27:32 PM · #2

These are all exceptional shots. Your depth of field on these is superb. What a great opportunity to see these creatures up close. Great photography.

ursula

Fujifilm X-T2

Fujifilm XF 55-200mm f/3.5-4.8 R LM OIS

01/04/2004 09:36:08 PM · #3

I love your bird shots!

Cam

Sony DSC-F717

01/04/2004 09:48:56 PM · #4

The Merlin shot is just wonderful.
As are the others, but thats my favorite.

dagaleaa

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2

Panasonic Lumix 20mm f1.7 ASPH

01/04/2004 11:02:55 PM · #5

I've been there many times....it is a great place! I lived in Charlotte for 18 years, and my son still lives there!

RHoldenSr

Canon EOS-5D

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4.0L USM

01/05/2004 12:01:04 AM · #6

John

Great shots! I wish we had something that nice in this area :)

Message edited by author 2004-01-05 00:02:39.

Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS

01/05/2004 10:32:25 AM · #7

Originally posted by Calvus:

John

Great shots! I wish we had something that nice in this area :)

If you have a zoo, you should be able to get close to some big birds...

tolovemoon

Canon EOS Rebel SL1

01/05/2004 10:44:58 AM · #8

I love that Merlin! It sord of looks like a Dusky Piones.

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4.0L USM

01/05/2004 04:37:37 PM · #9

Originally posted by tolovemoon:

I love that Merlin! It sord of looks like a Dusky Piones.

It's actually a small bird. It stands 12-14" tall...

RHoldenSr

Canon EOS-5D

01/05/2004 05:16:46 PM · #10

The Dallas
Zoo has some but not many. They have an aviary you can go in with smaller birds.

The FT.Worth Zoo Had some but they were all in tinay aviaries and you had to shoot through the wire fence.

:(

I will have to go back to the Dallas Zoo Danny (crabappl3) got some nice shots from there. I need to rent a large 75-300mm zoom or etc. My Sigma does not work with the 10D and I have not called Sigma about getting it updated yet.

Originally posted by jmsetzler:

Originally posted by Calvus:
John

Great shots! I wish we had something that nice in this area :)

If you have a zoo, you should be able to get close to some big birds...

Dim7

Canon EOS R

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II

01/05/2004 05:33:07 PM · #11

Thanks for letting us see them John! Well done as usual.

Dim7

Canon EOS R

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II

01/05/2004 05:33:44 PM · #12

What lense were you using?

01/05/2004 06:23:59 PM · #13

Originally posted by Dim7:

What lense were you using?

These were all done with the Canon 75-300 @ 300mm.

01/05/2004 06:30:24 PM · #14

John, we have the Falcon and the Hawk, actually many of them that live right in my neighborhood. Since they started clearing some of the woods next to my subdivision, they seem to come out of the woods, so I have to watch my little Rat Dog, a rat terrier.

BTW, very nice shots dude!

Message edited by author 2004-01-05 18:31:56.

01/05/2004 06:33:03 PM · #15

The merlin and the red tail hawk hunt in open areas so they are not gonna spend much time in the woods. I doubt that they would mess with your dog though. It's too heavy for them to carry off. These birds can't carry but about half of their own weight, and they don't weigh much. A full grown red tail hawk weighs in at 3 pounds or less. The Merlin weighs much less than that.

01/05/2004 06:44:38 PM · #16

Wow, thats good to know. He's less than 10lbs and it worries me that they circle when he's out. They are beautiful to watch though. I think all the field mice from the cleaning has brought so many of them. There was always a few but now they're everywhere. We even have some HUGE buzzards, very large wingspan that hover. And the owls, well, they rock too but are a rare.

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS

01/05/2004 06:48:57 PM · #17

If they are circling above, you can be guaranteed that they have already seen your dog if it's out :) I was told that these birds, especially the red tail hawk, can see a mouse moving from 300 feet up. They have incredible vision.

scrum8

Canon EOS-50D

01/05/2004 07:22:30 PM · #18

Beautiful shots John! Its not the first time I've heard about the Raptor Center. Might to have plan a trip there. Does anybody know if there is something like this in the midwest? Here are two of my attempts at Red Tails in the urban wild. They don't sit too long when you start approaching. We have three at work that stay all year.

01/05/2004 07:35:03 PM · #19

Actually, I just thought this thread deserved another rotation. Excellent shots. So, eh, *bump*?

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II

01/05/2004 07:47:32 PM · #20

Originally posted by scrum8:

If you should decide to visit, March 27 and April 3 (I think.. two consecutive saturdays) they are having photographer specials from 8am till Noon where they bring out a LOT of the birds and place them in a more natural environment for photo opportunities. I have requested info on this but haven't received it yet.

Dim7

Canon EOS R

01/05/2004 08:26:21 PM · #21

Full grown eagle is only twelve pounds! Birds are deceptive their bones are hollow and feathers make them look much larger and heavier than they actually are! The most effective and ferocious of all raptors is the Great horned owl, they nickname it the tiger of the forest, not much escapes it and it is silent in flight.

RHoldenSr

Canon EOS-5D

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4.0L USM

01/05/2004 08:31:01 PM · #22

Does anyone know what this bird is:

We took this shot at the Texas State Fair last year.
They had a Birds of America show on the fair grounds and he came flying out of a cage they hoisted to the top of the arena with a large crane.
It was amazing. His wing sapn is like 10' I do believe.

I got this shot there also. I did not clean it up very well I need to redo it.

vtruan

Nikon D5100

Tamron AF 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 Aspherical for Nikon

01/05/2004 08:32:32 PM · #23

Hey Deadwolf, A great horned owl will kill and eat something as large as a house cat/skunk. I've fond cat skulls in horned owl nests several times. So, you'd better watch that little doggie, he may end up as an owl pellet. Also, I like goshawks, to me they are the most powerful of the Norht American raptors. Goshawks have been known to kill Great Horned Owls. Van

P.S. Calvus, The gray hawk you showed looks like a harpy eagle to me. Could be one of the monkey eagles though.

Message edited by author 2004-01-05 20:35:23.

01/05/2004 08:33:09 PM · #24

Originally posted by Calvus:

Wow, this shot rocks Cal!! Love it!