A falcon swoops out of the sky and dashes its prey to the ground. It hovers over its prize, furtively peering around. All of a sudden, another body zips past and up into the sky, banking sharply 180 degrees and soaring away into some nearby trees.
Yesterday’s demonstration by the Birds of Prey Center’s falcon in Marion Square got even more exciting when a wild Coopers Hawk attempted to steal a free meal from the grounded raptor. It was as if nature had planned its own exposé behind the scenes of the intriguing habits and adaptations of these birds. Thankfully the falcon was unharmed, and no further harassment took place, but the incident was a timely reminder of the wild beauty that exists even in our city streets.
The Birds of Prey Center’s demonstration is one of several occurring as a part of the annual Southeastern Wildlife Expo, a grand convergence of all things outdoors on downtown Charleston. The schedule of events for ticket holders includes a fine art showing in Charleston Place, presentations by naturalist Jack Hanna, and a two tank dock dog competition, but anyone can attend the events in Marion Square, including flight demos by the Awendaw-based Center’s educational birds: the aforementioned falcon, a black vulture, a pair of Harris hawks, a barred owl, and an African-native yellow billed kite. The birds were in the Center’s current rotation of public ambassadors, known as the “flight team,” which they continuously change up in order to give the birds enough rest and recuperation.
Superhero or Birds of Prey Center Ambassador? You be the judge. © Audra L. Gibson
The Center’s presence at SEWE is important, allowing the handlers and other staff a unique opportunity to reach an audience that may not know of their existence with the conservation message that birds of prey are vital to our world—and not just the pretty ones (see my former blog on Vulture Awareness Month in September). As I spoke with handler Meghan Sparkman at the Center’s booth yesterday, she explained to me that their presence at SEWE has attracted volunteers, given people a resource for obtaining help for injured birds and reporting sightings of rare species, and above all, captured the attention of a community that might otherwise have never gotten a front row seat to the remarkable abilities of this avian subgroup.
Meghan Sparkman with a Harris Hawk. © Audra L. Gibson
“The real educators are the birds,” she said, pointing out that while one might not retain facts taught in a classroom, it’s hard to forget that owls are silent flyers when one soars right over your head. The demonstrations may be a first step to instilling a love for these animals in a bystander who has never before seen a kite snatch bits of meat mid-air and eat them on the wing.
An owl silently glides over Lowcountry grass. © Audra L. Gibson
If you are disappointed you missed the show, you can still witness the talent of these flyers today at 3:00 pm, or tomorrow (Sunday 2/16) at 1:00 pm in Marion Square at the corner of King and Calhoun Streets. Between shows, the birds will be available for viewing and you can speak with the educators and handlers in the Center’s tent right next to the flight arena. For a full schedule of SEWE events, click here.
Lauren Holmer
Lauren's name means “A crown of laurel leaves,” which is what the ancient Greeks used to give the poets they wanted to honor. Perhaps that's why she loves to write. She also loves to sing Taylor Swift a little too loudly, paint, collect insects, laugh at what God’s doing in her life, and take care of her chameleon. She moved to Charleston because she was always cold and needed a warmer climate. She loves all this city has to offer—the history, the art, the romance, and, of course, the water!