Meet the Birds of
Middle Tennessee Raptor Center

"I am the eagle, I live in high country in rocky cathedrals that reach to the sky. I am the hawk and there's blood on my feathers, but time is still turning they soon will be dry. And all those who see me and all who believe in me, share in the freedom I feel when I fly."

The Eagle and The Hawk, by John Denver

Remington

Barn Owl (Tyto alba)

Remi is a male Barn Owl that was born in captivity to become a raptor education ambassador. He came to us in September of 2017 as an owlet and is our resident jokester. Remi enjoys screeching at night when you least expect it and always waits until he's in the car to cough up his pellets. Remi is always a crowd favorite.

Petrie

Broad-winged Hawk (Buteo platypterus)

Broad-winged Hawks are small, compact raptors with chunky bodies and large heads. Their broad wings come to a distinct point and they have a short, square tail. Petrie was abandoned on the ground as a nestling and could not fly. His minor injuries from another predator prevented his release, but he is feisty and loves meeting people!

Oakley

Barred Owl (Strix varia)

The most common and most vocal owl in North America, Oakley is a male Barred Owl who was wrestled from the jaws of a fox who attacked him on the ground as an owlet. His injuries made him non-releasable, but he has healed up nicely since then. Now, he's a happy and healthy education ambassador at MTRC who loves attention and always wants to know, "Who cooks for you?"

Sewanee

Red-Tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)

Sewanee is a female Red-Tailed Hawk from the Sewanee/Monteagle area that was found with a gunshot wound through her wing and side. Due to the severity of the injury, she can no longer fly long distances and favors her wing. She is now our permanent Red Tail ambassador at MTRC. She has a sweet disposition with beautiful plumage that epitomizes why these magnificent birds are called "Red-Tails."

Clover

American Kestrel (Falco sparverius)

Clover is an imprinted female American Kestrel, also sometimes called a Sparrow Hawk, that was found on the ground as a chick. Her rescuers, though well intentioned, tried to raise her and made her an imprint, diminishing her wild instincts and making her non-releasable. Kestrels are the smallest and most commonly found falcon in North America, but don't let her diminutive size fool you. What she lacks in size, she makes up for in attitude!

Hercules

Eastern Screech Owl (Megascops asio)

Hercules is a red-phase male Eastern Screech Owl. He was orphaned right after hatching and came to us when he was less than a week old with some minor injuries. He is also imprinted and non-releasable. You've never felt judged until you've been looked over by the squinty eyes of this very expressive member of the owl family. He is tiny, but mighty!

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Lucy

Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus)

Always the star of the show, Lucy is a female Great Horned Owl that got into a tussle with four dogs when she was very young. She was left with a wing and leg injury that prevents her from flying normally. Great Horned Owls are the apex predator of Tennessee's skies, but Lucy is a sweetheart who loves to show off her species to everyone she visits.

Pork Chop

American Kestrel (Falco sparverius)

Pork Chop earns his name because he is quite the eater! Lovingly known as PC, he is our resident male American Kestrel. Kestrels are one of the few birds of prey that the males and females have different coloration. He's a handsome little dude and he knows it!

Jonathan Livingston Seagull

Shaggy and Scooby

Red Shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus)

Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus)

Jonathan came to us in serious trouble. He was about two weeks old, could not stand, head trauma after falling from the nest, malformed feathers from a stress molt, and blind in one eye. Despite all that, he has persevered and molted out beautifully. He earns his name because his syrinx isn't quite right. When he calls, poor thing sounds more like a seagull than a hawk. In spite of all that, we love him dearly. He has a super sweet disposition and loves people!

Shag and Scoob are brothers from the same clutch. They were found abandoned after a flash flood event, and came to us as chicks with splayed leg syndrome. They are tame hacks, meaning we can let them out to roam as they like and they come back. They are loaded with personality and are always into everything.

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New Ambassador Coming Soon!

Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus)

After our 24-year-old longtime Peregrine education ambassador, Ruby, we have been searching for a new Peregrine Falcon ambassador. Once we have our new resident, we will post about it here!

Willow

Barred Owl (Strix varia)

Willow was pushed from the nest by her siblings three times as an owlet. She was renested twice, but sustained minor injuries on the third fall. Those injuries, however, are permanent and she is non-releasable. She has a very sweet disposition, loves people, and serves as our surrogate Barred Owl mama when we get other wild orphans that need raising.

Our Founders

"Come dance with the west wind and touch on the mountain tops. Sail over the canyons and up to the stars
And reach for the heavens and hope for the future, and all that we can be and not what we are."

- The Eagle and the Hawk by John Denver

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Valerie Russell

Founder and President

Valerie has been a falconer in Tennessee since 2016 and currently holds a TWRA Education permit and a Wildlife Rehabilitation permit. Her medical background in nursing and hospice is invaluable for the care of our injured and non-releasable birds.

Ian Turner

Founder and Vice-President

Ian has been a falconer in Tennessee since 2016 and currently holds a TWRA General Falconry permit. He has worked with different birds of prey across three states and focuses on proper handling techniques and technical aspects of care for our birds. He is also an Eagle Scout.

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Lyle Russell

Founder, Secretary and Treasurer

Lyle is responsible for facilities construction, media and maintenance, as well as caring for our birds and ensuring they have the best amenities available during their time with us. He is in the process of earning his TWRA Falconry Educator permit and is a certified Tennessee Naturalist with a background in forestry.

Middle Tennessee Raptor Center

A Tennessee Non-Profit Corporation

We are a family-owned and licensed 501(c)3 wildlife rehabilitation and education organization dedicated to the conservation of and care for raptors and birds of prey. Our immediate goal is to protect these magnificent animals and educate the public on the benefits of their preservation. Our long term goals include opening a public nature center to continue our work to conserve and educate about raptors.

Meet the Birds ofMiddle Tennessee Raptor Center