Meet the Birds!
Medea, the Red-Tailed Hawk
Medea is a female red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) that hatched in the spring of 2018. She is non-releasable due to failure to thrive, as she was twice brought to a local rehabilitation center starving and emaciated despite no identifiable physical injury. Now she lives a relaxed life as an educational bird.
Red-tailed hawks live throughout North America - including in the Philadelphia city limits! You can see them perched, hunting, or soaring along our highways, in our parks, and even throughout crowded neighborhoods, as they have adapted wonderfully to urban life.
Hecate, the Eastern Screech Owl
Hecate is a female Eastern screech owl (Megascops asio) who hatched in April 2020. As a future animal ambassador, she was imprinted (raised by humans from her time as a chick) in order to be more comfortable around people. She presents a charming contrast to Medea in both size, personality, species, and cuteness.
Eastern screech owls, like red-tailed hawks, are native to Pennsylvania and found in parts of Philadelphia, though are more often recognized by their trilling whinny-like call rather than seen. They can come in gray or red plumage; Hecate is a red phase screech owl.