What happens when apex predators are injured or in need of help in the wild? Some of them end up in the care of the team at the Audubon Raptor Center.
The Maitland nonprofit cares for approximately 800 sick, injured and orphaned birds each year, while inviting the public to attend educational programs and visit the center’s 30 birds of prey. One of 55 Audubon centers and sanctuaries nationwide, visitors to the 3-acre property on the shores of Lake Siberia can see a full range of birds of prey, including bald eagles, owls, hawks, peregrine falcons and bald eagles.
The Central Florida Center closed last summer to make way for new aviaries to house great eagle owls, barred owls and black vultures. The $650,000 renovation took two years to complete and replaced the center’s original aviary, which was built in 1979 and damaged by a hurricane in 2024.
The new aviary houses a pair of barred owls, Phil and Hitch, who have adopted orphaned owls.
“They help raise orphaned barred owls during the season, and so far they have raised 13,” said Katie Gill-Warner, director of the center. “That’s their best chance of being raised by their species. We do a lot of things in the clinic when we use camouflage or dolls to give birth to babies, but nothing that can replicate real parents.”
The center worked with landscape architecture firm Coyle & Caron to design the space. The company’s past clients include the Smithsonian National Zoo, Boktower Gardens, Orlando Health, and the New England Zoo. This aviary mimics the species’ natural habitat, providing unobstructed views and a covered viewing shelter.
bird’s eye view of history
In June 1979, 53-year-old Doris Mager climbed an inactive eagle nest for nearly a week to raise awareness about the then-dwindling bald eagle population and to raise money for the Raptor Rehabilitation Center.
More than 40 years later, Meijer’s legacy continues, especially as the Maitland Center celebrated the 800th bald eagle released into the wild last year.
Florida Audubon’s roots also trace back to Maitland. In March 1900, 15 conservationists gathered at the lakeside home of Clara and Louis Dommerich to protect the hundreds of thousands of sandpipers that were killed to adorn women’s hats.
rainbow raptors
The Audubon Bird of Prey Center will celebrate Pride Month on June 27 with free admission events including raptor conversations, conservation-themed activities, storytimes for young visitors, a bubble dance party, and a day of outdoor fun at the center. Come Out With Pride Orlando and Winter Park Animal Hospital sponsored the event. Reserved tickets are recommended.
Motus’ first visitor
In January, the Audubon Bird of Prey Center installed a “Motus Station” on-site, joining a worldwide network to track bird movements. The program, a partnership between Birds Canada and Audubon, uses radio telemetry to track bird movement and behavior.
This device can specifically capture tagged birds. The first call the department received on April 3rd was of an adult male kestrel. There’s something of a coincidence in the fact that birds of prey were the first to be tracked by the Orlando observatory. Motus’ other stations are in Hobe Bay, the Florida Keys, Cuba, the Cayman Islands and Mexico.
young owl returns to the wild
After visiting the Maitland facility to see the new owl enclosure, I was invited to help release three young Screech Owls back into the wild. Each individual was orphaned earlier this spring and was rehabilitated by the center until they were ready to be released into the wild.
Each young owl was initially reluctant to leave its small shipping box. But one by one they took off into the woods near Shingle Creek and landed in a tree, where they perched for a long time before taking a nap.
Nearby, a pumpkin waded through a stream looking for food and a great blue heron flew by. It was awe-inspiring to watch the birds adjust to their new home. We hope the owls are safe, well-rested, and find plenty of food in the wild.
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If you go
Rainbow Raptors will be held June 27th from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 1101 Audubon Way in Maitland. Admission is free and open to everyone. The center is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Regular admission tickets are $10 per visitor, children 3 and under are free. More information: audubon.org
