In late June I traveled to
the Milwaukee County Zoo for a quick trip to see the World Bird Sanctuary’s Bird Show and to see Zeus, our Golden Eagle, fly for
the first time.
This was the first time I
have been back to the Milwaukee County Zoo in over 9 years. My first 5 years with World Bird
Sanctuary were spent there because the zoo sponsored WBS to present a summer
and winter show back then, so in some way it was like going home after being
away for a long time.
I went to the zoo with a
few friends and volunteers for a nice full day’s trip. We arrived nice and early. We walked around for a little while
before the first show. Right
before the show we stopped by the WBS weathering
area (a falconer’s term for exposing captive birds of prey to weather) to see some of the stars before the show. At that time we learned Zeus was not
yet flying in front of big groups, so we would have to wait until the end of
the day to see him.
The show started and birds started flying--Harris Hawk, Tawny
Owl, Barn Owl, a chicken, Augur Buzzard, a skipping Black Vulture, Parrots, a snake slamming Red-legged Seriema
and 3 flying eagles make for more pictures than you know what to do with. My personal favorites were the skipping
Black Vulture, snake slamming Seriema, Wedge-tailed Eagle, Bald Eagle and
Zeus.
There's just something about a skipping Black Vulture that brings a smile to your face (photo: Cathy Spahn)
All of the birds are fun
to see fly, but when a Black Vulture starts to skip across the stage you cannot
help but smile.
The snake slamming Seriema was a crowd favorite (photo: Cathy Spahn)
Then, seeing Evita
the Red-legged Seriema run out, pick up her fake snake, and start slamming away
was just incredible. The real
“ooh” moment was when Duncan the Wedge-tailed Eagle was seemingly launched over
the perimeter fence, and you see this bird with
a 7- 8 ft wingspan coming right at you.
The last bird of the show was Clark the Bald Eagle flying strong--glove
to glove--over the audience!
Of course, Clark our free flying Bald Eagle, is always a favorite (photo: Cathy Spahn)
After the last show we
returned to see Zeus fly. We (all
3 of us) were the largest audience Zeus, the
Golden Eagle, had ever seen while flying to that
point in his training. Zeus is a
good-sized eagle and to see him come over the fence, open his wings and fly to
his stump, back and forth, and then offstage, was fantastic. It is not a difficult flight pattern, but with young birds you sometimes start
with simple and always positive. For me it was so exciting to see this
bird fly, since a few summers ago I worked very hard on training him.
Zeus the young Golden Eagle flew for his first audience--the three of us (photo: Cathy Spahn)
After the shows I also
stopped behind the scenes to visit Trinidad, the Military Macaw. He was not in the shows due to the
construction in the area, which he does not like. Trinidad’s facial skin immediately
turned bright red upon seeing me and he started
his excited dance. I love that he
goes to zoo shows to fly, but he is the one bird I miss when he is gone. Trinidad was the first parrot I ever
flew with WBS and we have always had a special relationship.
The Milwaukee County Zoo
Bird Show runs only through Labor Day and is free with admission to the zoo, but you'll have to hurry--only 18 days left to see these amazing flying raptors. It is a great weekend trip from the St.
Louis area.
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