By Saundra McBrearty, Outreach and Volunteer Specialist and Liz Neroni, Naturalist
We welcome a cast of falcons currently residing at the Aviary at Deer Haven Park. Cast is what one calls a group of falcons. So let’s meet our new and temporary cast of characters. Thanks to the partnership between Preservation Parks and Ohio Nature Education, we are able to share these birds with visitors
Jack Sparrowhawk is a male American kestrel. Jack came to Ohio Nature Education in August, 2019 from Utah with a wing injury of unknown origin. Sparrowhawk is a common name, or nickname, for American kestrels.
Rachel, a female American kestrel who lives with Jack Sparrowhawk, came to Ohio Nature Education with a wing injury in August, 2019 from Glen Helen Raptor Center in Yellow Springs, Ohio. Rachel is named after Rachel Carson, author of Silent Spring.
Harriet is a peregrine falcon who is retired from a captive breeding program and came from a falconer in Washington State. Harriet is 15 years old.
Minna is an aplomado falcon who is retired from a captive breeding program in Washington state and is non-releasable. Aplomado falcons are native to the south-western United States, specifically Texas and New Mexico, and are considered endangered. She is 11 years old.
Meet Wanda, our new program snake!
This beautiful reptile is our new program snake residing at the Deer Haven Park Visitor Center. Wanda looks nothing like our Ohio native eastern milk snake. Instead, she is likely a Nelson’s Milk Snake, a non-native subspecies that was raised in the pet trade. The beautiful colors of this snake come from a genetic abnormality called albinism which affects pigmentation of the eyes and body.
While her exact origins are unknown, Wanda was brought to Ohio Wildlife Center after being found stuck in a glue-trap. Luckily, she recovered nicely. Since Wanda could not be released in the wild and has a sweet disposition, the Ohio Wildlife Center offered her to Preservation Parks. They knew she would be a perfect animal ambassador for educational programs. This beautiful reptile is our new program snake residing at the Deer Haven Park Visitor Center. Wanda looks nothing like our Ohio native eastern milk snake. Instead, she is likely a Nelson’s Milk Snake, a non-native subspecies that was raised in the pet trade. The beautiful colors of this snake come from a genetic abnormality called albinism which affects pigmentation of the eyes and body.
Come by the visitor center at Deer Haven Park to meet Wanda the Nelson’s Milk snake and our other animal ambassadors from noon – 5 pm, seven days a week. Plus greet our cast of falcons residing in the aviary for the next couple months.
