Pet Tales: A rush of raptors
-
Isis, a 2-year-old lanner falcon, that is being trained for the National Aviary's flight demonstrations to be held at its new Sky Deck, sits between Christa Gaus, left, and Cathy Schlott. -
A closer view of Isia, a 2-year-old lanner falcon. -
Thick gloves are a necessity during training sessions for Isis, a 2-year-old lanner falcon. -
This black kite is one of six that will be appearing in flight demonstrations at the National Aviary's new Sky Deck. -
Dillon, the National Aviary's martial eagle, spreads his wings as he takes to the air on the Sky Deck.
Share with others:
The barely audible sound of flapping wings and a rush of air alerted me to the fact that a large eagle had just flown over my head, mere inches from my hair. Although Dillon, a 7-pound martial eagle, would be capable of killing deer-sized prey in the wild, the close encounter was exciting rather than scary, because so few of us ever get the chance to see an eagle soar.
Impressive in a different way was the flight of black kites. Smaller than eagles, six of them swooped, soared and dove for food during a press preview this week at the National Aviary on the North Side.
The eagle and black kites will be flying high for the public starting today when the new Sky Deck opens.
The birds of prey are trained and supervised by aviary staff who have the treats raptors love -- the feet of young chickens. Cathy Schlott and Christa Gaus call the birds and reward them by throwing chick feet into the air. Watch closely and you'll notice that raptors catch the thrown treats with their feet, not their sharp beaks. While in flight they bring their feet to their mouth and gobble them up.
PG VIDEO: AVIARY OPENS NEW SKY DECKThe kites and eagle apparently weren't attracted to the reporters and photographers because we didn't have any food.
The new open-air deck is on top of the roof of the Flite Zone Theater where other trained birds fly free indoors, year-round. The Sky Deck is the last phase of the aviary's $18.5 million renovation.
"There is not another zoo in the country that flies kites and eagles," said Patrick Mangus, executive director at the aviary.
At some point Lanner falcons will be flying high, too. They're not ready for the show yet because almost-daily rainfall has caused training delays. When they're ready, spectators can see the ancient art of falconry as trainers use feathered lures to get the falcons to come to them.
The press preview/trial run seemed to please Ms. Schlott, the aviary's manager of animal training.
"This is the biggest audience they've had," she said.
Ms. Schlott literally takes her work home with her. She hand-raised the Lanner falcons in her home for three months, where they peacefully co-existed with her Rottweillers -- Kodiak and Kylie.
It was good that the falcons became accustomed to flying over dogs, Ms. Schlott noted, because the Aviary's outdoor training is done in the city's West Park dog park.
The popularity of the Aviary's ever-expanding array of programs and demonstrations is reflected in ever-increasing attendance figures. Audiences flocked to the Flite Zone theater the day I was there. Spectators can watch the trainers and staff feed birds in multiple exhibits, including the penguins and lorries.
First Published May 28, 2011 12:00 am
