Audubon Awesome

Oh! The Audubon Center for Birds of Prey!

By Eryn Reddell Wingert

Picture it: a serene 1920’s lakefront bungalow-style house surrounded by predators. It’s not a classic or campy suspense film scene, quite the opposite. It’s a lush - even quaint - conservatory and rehabilitation center for birds of prey. The Audubon Center for Birds of Prey is nestled in a neighborhood in Maitland, Florida - due north of Orlando. It’s small and intimate, a far cry from the bustle of a wildlife theme park. But, exciting nonetheless. The experience begins immediately with the most friendly ticket taker and two ambassador bald eagles perch adjacent to the check-in window. Numerous enclosures housing raptors including eagles, falcons and osprey outlay the bungalow. A meandering path takes you on a self-guided tour. Informational plaques positioned outside each enclosure offer a glimpse into the lives the residents may have led The eagle nest display at the Audubon Center is designed to scale. (Eryn Reddell Wingert)

The landscape of the bird of prey sanctuary is lush and tropical. (Gretchen Losi)

outside the center. The main goal of the center is to ‘rescue, rehabilitate and release.’ However, those that are not able to survive in the wild are guaranteed care and a permanent home. The landscape that encompasses the layout of the property is thoughtful, creating a canopy of shelter. Exhibit features include a to-scale eagle nest and wing span and a Fun Facts Wheel. Even the Audubon Center is not without its water feature. (It’s Central Florida, after all!) The sanctuary sits on the permitter of a lily pad adorned lake. Volunteers are vital to the mission of the Audubon Center for Birds of Prey, caring for large and small residents - which have refuge in the bungalow’s screened in back porch. One spring day visit to the center, a volunteer who introduced himself as Robert casually stood tall with a bald eagle on his arm. ºRobert shared that the eagle is named Frank after St. Frances, the patron saint of animals.

The foliage at the Audubon Center is multi-purpose: creating a serene environment for rehabilitation, while also attracting butterflies and pollinators. (Gretchen Losi)

A sculpture of St. Francis, the patron saint of animals, stands in a garden at the Audubon Center. (Gretchen Losi) A volunteer greets visitors with ‘Frank’ the eagle. ‘Frank’ is named after St. Francis, the patron saint of animals. (Eryn Reddell Wingert)