Birds of Prey at Deer Meadow

The featured attraction of the Birds of Prey program, Mr. Lincoln the bald eagle shows off his majestic form to the students of Deer Meadow Primary school Wednesday. Born in captivity, Mr. Lincoln was released into the wild but never learned to hunt, only scavenge. He was returned to his Tennessee home and now serves as an ambassador for the American Eagle Foundation.

Katelyn Dotson of the American Eagle Foundation shows off Aleda, a female American kestrel falcon, Wednesday at Deer Meadow Primary School. The American kestrel is the smallest North American falcon.

Bo, a male American kestrel falcon, checks out his surroundings Wednesday afternoon at Deer Meadow Primary School. The American kestrel is the smallest North American falcon.

Karen Wilbur of the American Eagle Foundation shows off Sir Lancelot, a gyr-saker falcon, Wednesday at Deer Meadow. Being a hybrid of species native to the tundra (gyrfalcon) and the desert (saker) makes gyr-sakers prone to seizures, so Lancelot's handlers often keep a hood on him to prevent such problems.

Karen Wilbur of the American Eagle Foundation shows off gyr-saker falcon Sir Lancelot after removing the hood that helps prevent the bird from having seizures.

Elvis the crested coracora falcon lands on the arm of Katelyn Dotson of the American Eagle foundation Wednesday at Deer Meadow.

Showing that falcons can indeed see colors, Bonita the crested coracora falcon pics up only the pink Easter eggs that have treats under them Wednesday during the Birds of Prey presentation at Deer Meadow Primary School.

Taking a flight over the awestruck crowd of primary students, Buzz the black vulture lands on the arm of Karen Wilbur Wednesday at Deer Meadow during the Birds of Prey demonstration from the American Eagle Foundation.

Taking a flight over the awestruck crowd of primary students, Buzz the black vulture lands on the arm of Karen Wilbur Wednesday at Deer Meadow during the Birds of Prey demonstration from the American Eagle Foundation.

Taking flight as students and teachers look on, Buzz the black vulture heads toward his next destination Wednesday during the Birds of Prey program at Deer Meadow Primary School.

Taking flight as students and teachers look on, Buzz the black vulture heads toward his next destination Wednesday during the Birds of Prey program at Deer Meadow Primary School.

As teachers and students look on with excitement, wonder and a touch of fear, Buzz the black vulture lands on the arm of Katelyn Dotson of the American Eagle Foundation Wednesday afternoon at Deer Meadow Primary School. 

Although he is dad to several South Putnam Eagles, Deer Meadow Primary School Principal finds himself as "vulture bait" on Wednesday afternoon with the American Eagle Foundation Birds of Prey program in town. Having already taken flight for the delighted students, Buzz the black vulture landed on the arm of the principal. McHugh not only had to don the protective leather sleeve, presenters also had to give him safety glasses, as one of a vulture's primary defense mechanisms is to projectile vomit. Fortunately, the glasses were not needed on Wednesday.

Jupiter the barn owl looks over the crowd Wednesday at Deer Meadow Primary School as Katelyn Dotson of the American Eagle Foundation teaches the students a bit about owls. She explained that the proverbial wisdom of owls is overblown, as the animals are actually only as smart as they need to be for hunting. On the other hand, a barn owls' hearing is so sensitive that it can hear the heartbeat of a mouse from 60 feet away.

Corbin Grable of Greencastle shows the children of Deer Meadow Primary School what his eyes would look like if they were proportionally as big as an owl's. The Birds of Prey program was at the school Wednesday through the generosity of Duke Energy. Corbin's dad Brad, a Duke employee, introduced the program to the kids.

Berry the barred owl looks over the crowd at Deer Meadow Primary as Karen Wilbur tells his story to the students.

Katelyn Dotson of the American Eagle Foundation tells the students of Deer Meadow Primary about Sundance the Harris's hawk. Hunting cooperatively in packs makes Harris's hawks unique among birds of prey, earning them the nickname "wolves of the sky."

Karen Wilbur of the American Eagle foundation teaches Deer Meadow students about Jesse the red-tailed hawk.

At 37 years old, Tecumseh is the oldest bird in the Birds of Prey program that visited Deer Meadow Primary and Tzouanakis Intermediate schools on Wednesday. Kately Dotson of the American Eagle Foundation explained that golden eagles can live to be in their 20s or 30s in the wild, but can reach the age of 50 in captivity.

Karen Wilbur of the American Eagle Foundation shows off Mr. Lincoln the bald eagle at Deer Meadow Primary School.

Karen Wilbur of the American Eagle Foundation shows off Mr. Lincoln the bald eagle at Deer Meadow Primary School.

Karen Wilbur of the American Eagle Foundation shows off Mr. Lincoln the bald eagle at Deer Meadow Primary School.

Members of the Deer Meadow Primary School student council gather following the Birds of Prey program Wednesday at the school. The students are joined by (back from left) Katelyn Dotson of the American Eagle Foundation, Rick Burger of Duke Energy, Principal Mike McHugh, Brad Grable of Duke Energy, Karen Wilbur of the American Eagle Foundation and Sundance, a Harris's hawk.