Raptors

Fred joined the Omaha Raptor Team in February of 1999. While still a juvenile, a car hit Fred, breaking bones in both wings and causing head trauma. Thanks to the excellent care of the Raptor Center at the University of Minnesota, Fred survived, but with limited range of motion in his right wing. This means that although Fred is able to fly, he cannot reach the height necessary to allow him to hunt, making it impossible for him to be released into the wild.
Fred joined the Omaha Raptor Team shortly after we lost a dear friend and supporter, Fred Thomas. He was not only a true gentleman, but was a genuine environmentalist who shared his knowledge and insight through his articles in the Omaha World Herald newspaper.
We are fortunate to have Fred as one of our feathered teachers, not just for the beautiful red tail for which his species was named, but also for his quiet beauty and boundless strength.

click here to view more pictures of Fred
Spike came to the Omaha Raptor Team in January of 2001 from the Raptor Center at the University of Minnesota. While still a very young fledgling, Spike was found by the side of a road suffering from soft tissue injuries to his left wing that were probably the result of being struck by a car. Spike only weighs about 150 grams, but he has plenty of attitude. His outgoing attitude makes him one of our favorite educators. Eastern Screech Owls are cavity nesters and quite common, so be sure to keep your ears open at night. There is a good chance that you have a raptor just like Spike living in your neighborhood.
Lucy joined the Omaha Raptor Team in September of 2000. Unlike some of our other educational birds, Lucy was born and raised in captivity. Lucy belonged to a falconer in New York who has two Burrowing Owls that he uses for education. Burrowing Owls are already endangered in some states, and will likely be listed as endangered in many more soon, due to the destruction of the bird's chosen habitat.
Lucy enjoys meeting new people and posing for pictures, but occasionally that temper flares and Lucy vocalizes the Burrowing Owl's distinctive "rattlesnake" call. There is one thing you should know about Lucy - Lucy is a boy. Unlike other raptors, where you can generally tell the gender of a raptor by its size and weight, Burrowing Owls of both genders are usually about the same size, or the males are a bit larger (in other raptors, the female is larger). It wasn't until we established Lucy's gender through a blood test that we discovered that we had a boy named Lucy.
Elvis joined the Omaha Raptor Team after a frantic search for a companion for Lucy. Unlike other raptors, Burrowing Owls need companionship, and we needed to find another male owl to keep Lucy company (our permit strictly restricts propagation). We were unable to find an owl needing rehabilitation from other raptor rehabilitation centers, primarily because burrowing owls rarely survive an injury. Our friends at the Henry Doorly Zoo Wildlife Safari Park came to the rescue, and gave us Elvis on permanent loan. Elvis was particularly shy, and adapted well to his new community of two versus the community of eight he came from. He and Lucy often "talk" back and forth with their distinctive chitters and barks. Elvis's wide-eyed expression and vivid personality win him lots of fans.
Harley was just a few weeks old when he fell from his nest and broke a bone in his right wing, leaving him unable to fly. Harley's parents continued to feed him while he was on the ground. He managed to escape predators for four weeks until he was brought to the Raptor Recovery Center for treatment. Harley's wing bone had already healed improperly by the time he was rescued, and nothing could be done to reverse the damage, leaving Harley with reduced flight capabilities. Harley was just a young owl when he joined the Omaha Raptor team in July of 2001, and was still covered with downy feathers on his head.
Harley was named for Harlan, Iowa. His family probably lived along the Nishnabotna River, as barred owls love to live in wooded areas, especially near water. The next time you are out at night, be sure to listen for the barred owl's distinctive "who cooks for you, who cooks for you all" call.
Harley's calm demeanor and big brown eyes make him a wonderful addition to our educational team.
Melody, an American kestrel, the smallest North American falcon, came to the Omaha Raptor Team in August of 1999 from Salt Lake City, Utah. Although Melody is flighted, she cannot be released to the wild because she is imprinted to humans. Melody and her brother were taken to a rehabilitation center, and then a second center, for care when they were very young. We aren't certain what happened, but speculate the babies were blown out of their nest. After being placed with other kestrels, Melody's brother was quickly socialized to the other kestrels, but Melody chose the company of the humans who came to feed the birds. It was soon obvious that Melody would be unable to survive in the wild. Melody was named for her lovely yet mighty voice. We hope you enjoy Melody's antics and songs as much as we do.
Zorro joined the Omaha Raptor Team in September of 2000. Zorro was taken to the MacBride Raptor Project with an injured wing. The rehabilitation center believed that Zorro had been blown out of his nest in strong spring winds, and broke the humerus in his left wing. Although surgery was performed, and seemed successful, the elbow jointed stiffened, and Zorro was unable to fly well enough to be released into the wild. We know Zorro is a male kestrel, because the American Kestrel is one of the few raptors that can be positively identified for gender based on their plumage, as the male and female kestrels differ in color. Zorro is a natural educator and loves the limelight. His outgoing personality and black "Zorro" mask make him a very popular bird. It is especially entertaining to watch Zorro and Melody appear in public together, as Zorro is a bit sweet on Melody, and does his best to get her attention.