08/05/2026
Ever wonder why our raptors have equipment on them? 🤔
To put it simply, for the same reason your dog has a leash – to keep them safe. 💙
If you’ve visited Avian Avenue or been to one of our Bird shows, you might have noticed that our raptors have equipment that either connect them to the handler or their perch. This tethering system utilized with our raptors is the same system that falconers have used to work with their birds for over 4,000 years! Each bird’s anklets, jesses, and leash are carefully designed to the individual bird’s needs and ensures their comfort, safety, and welfare.
Many of our raptors have sustained injuries in the wild that make them non-releasable and unable to survive on their own. When our birds leave their personal enclosures, they are equipped just as you would with your family dog when you go for a walk. While “on-stage”, our birds display normal, healthy behaviors, which, for a bird, is a whole lot of nothing. 75-80% of a bird’s day is spent sitting, preening, and watching the world around them. This is why you will seldom see our birds moving around while on-stage outside of their personal enclosures.
Here at Reptile Gardens, our birds play an important role in education and conservation. They are our Animal Ambassadors and help inspire visitors to learn about birds of prey, wildlife conservation, and the challenges that many wild animals face around the world.
You can learn more about what it takes to care for our raptors and the fascinating world of birds when you visit Avian Avenue. 🪶
*** Our birds reside at Reptile Gardens under special federal permits issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and are cared for according to strict standards established by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. ***
