Birdsacre Sanctuary Meet-up

Birdsacre director Grayson Richmond holds a barred owl wing as he discusses the features that help the owl hunt silently.

This past weekend, Nature Links participants here in Maine had the opportunity to gather together to learn about a few very special birds at Birdsacre Sanctuary in Ellsworth. The 200-acre sanctuary is home to three miles of walking trails and nearly two dozen non-releasable hawks, owls, vultures and other injured or recovered birds. Birdsacre director Grayson Richmond led Nature Links participants on an interactive tour of a few bird enclosures, teaching us about the features of various birds’ wing, talon and skull structures, and sharing stories about how the birds are rescued and cared for by the Sanctuary.

Participant Ezra at Birdsacre

On our tour, we were able to spend most of our time with Gauch, a 6-year-old black vulture who is non-releasable due to his dependence upon humans. We were able to learn more about how Gauch came to reside at Birdsacre, see what type of carrion he prefers and even watch him playfully toss around a ball inside his enclosure. Grayson allowed us to examine and touch feathers from black vultures and barred owls so that we could note the difference in texture and weight. We discussed the ways in which their feathers have evolved to benefit both birds’ particular hunting styles, noting that owls need feathers that allow them to silently swoop down to catch living creatures while vulture feathers are better suited for a bird that feeds on already-dead animals.

Participant Paula at Birdsacre

Throughout our visit, each of us appreciated the opportunity to not only learn about the birds, but to spend time together in person (although we missed our participants in Florida, North Carolina and New York!). Hosting our programming over Zoom allows us to form meaningful friendships and connect beyond barriers of geography to learn and laugh together. However, the chance to meet face to face to experience the magnificent birds at Birdsacre was a unique joy that we will carry with us for

Participants Nellie and Paula watch Ziggy, a turkey vulture who lives at Birdsacre.