Although co-sponsored by the University of Iowa and Kirkwood Community College, the majority of MRP's funding is provided through donations. Many schools and organizations have adopted one of our permanently disabled raptors as a means of supporting our important work. For a minimum donation of $100 annually an individual or an organization can adopt a hawk, owl, eagle, falcon, or vulture. In return, the group receives an educational presentation featuring two of our raptors (one being the adopted bird, if it can travel) or a tour of our facility. They also receive a framed photo of the adopted bird and a certificate of appreciation. In order to express our gratitude, your group will be mentioned in our current "Adopt-a-Raptor" brochure.
For more information about an adoption call (319) 398-5495.
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AMERICAN KESTREL
(Falco sparverius)
Windhover came to us in the spring of 1998 with a fracture to her right elbow that could not be repaired. She is from Iowa.
Origin: Iowa
*AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION
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AMERICAN KESTREL
(Falco sparverius)
Highway came to us in the spring of 2006 with a fracture to his right wing that could not be repaired. He is missing the tip of the wing and is unable to fly.
Male kestrels can be identified by their slate blue wings. Both male and female kestrels have a rufous colored back and black “side burns” or facial markings.
Origin: St. Olaf, Iowa
*AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION
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AMERICAN KESTREL
(Falco sparverius)
Zorro came to MRP from the Omaha Raptor Team in the Fall of 2006, after being an ambassador of their program for over 7 years. He suffered a fracture to his left elbow making him unable to fly.
Male kestrels can be identified by their slate blue wings. Both male and female kestrels have a rufous colored back and black “side burns” or facial markings.
Origin: Iowa
*AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION (This bird is housed on the Kirkwood Campus and used for traveling programs)
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BARRED OWL
(Strix varia)
Harley came to MRP from the Omaha Raptor Team in the fall of 2006, after being an ambassador of their program for 5 years. He was brought to Raptor Recovery Nebraska after suffering a fracture to his right humerus, which shortened his wing and made him unable to fly.
Identify Barred Owls by gray and white streaking or “bars” on front, dark eyes, light colored beak and lack of “ear” tufts.
Origin: Harlan, Iowa
*AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION (Housed on the Kirkwood Campus and used for traveling programs)
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BROAD-WINGED HAWK
(Buteo platypterus)
Terus came to us in the fall of 2003 with a damaged right wing.
Identify Borad-Winged Hawks by streaking on the chest and belly, wide alternating bands of black and white on tail.
Origin: Iowa
*AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION
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BROAD-WINGED HAWK
(Buteo platypterus)
Plato is an amputee, her left wing destroyed by gun shot wounds in the fall of 1987.
Identify Broad-Winged Hawks by streaking on the chest and belly, wide alternating bands of black and white on tail.
Origin: Iowa
*AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION
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GREAT HORNED OWL
(Bubo virginianus)
Duke is human imprinted (accidentally raised by humans) and is now unable to survive in the wild.
Identify Great Horned Owls by imposing size, “ear” tufts, large yellow eyes, dark beak, white throat “bib”.
Origin: Iowa
*AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION
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GREAT HORNED OWL
(Bubo virginianus)
Bubo is human imprinted (accidentally raised by humans) and is now unable to survive in the wild. He came to us in 1999 from Beaver Park Zoo where he had been living for nearly 20 years.
Identify Great Horned Owl's by imposing size, “ear” tufts, large yellow eyes, dark beak, white throat “bib”.
Origin: Iowa
*AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION (Housed on the Kirkwood Campus)
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ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK
(Buteo lagopus)
Ellesmere is a dark-phased Rough-legged hawk and suffered a fractured left shoulder in Fayette County, June of 1991.
He can be identified as an adult male by his banded tail and relatively small size. Females and juveniles have a wide dark band on a white tail.
Origin: Iowa
*AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION
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RED-TAILED HAWK
(Buteo jamaicensis)
Borealis’ left wing was severely fractured and she is now unable to fly.
Red-tails are the most common hawk in Iowa and can be identified by their white to cream colored breast, red tail (on the adult birds only), and occasionally a streaked band across the belly.
Origin: Iowa
*AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION
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RED-TAILED HAWK
(Buteo jamaicensis)
Fred came to MRP from the Omaha Raptor Team in the Fall of 2006, after being an ambassador of their program for 9 years. He suffered a severe fracture to his right humerus making him unable to fly.
Red-tails are the most common hawk in Iowa and can be identified by their white to cream colored breast, red tail (on the adult birds only), and occasionally a streaked band across the belly.
Origin: Iowa
*AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION (housed on the Kirkwood Campus and used for traveling programs)
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GOLDEN EAGLE
(Aquila chrysaetos)
Aquila is unable to fly because of permanent back and hip injuries. Acquired for display in August of 1988.
Identify Golden Eagles by their uniformly dark body with golden tint at the back of the neck. Feathers cover tarsus.
Origin: Colorado
*AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION
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TURKEY VULTURE
(Cathartes aura)
Aura was found human imprinted with clipped wing and tail feathers in the winter of 1990. He was acquired for display in 1991.
Identify Turkey Vultures by overall dark feathering, a featherless face, and when in flight by their shallow “V” wing positioning and “silvery lining” to the underside of the wings.
Origin: Iowa
*AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION
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NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL
(Aegolius acadius)
Petra was acquired for display in March of 2001. Her left wing was severely damaged making her unreleasable.
Identify Saw-Whet Owls by their small size, absence of ear tufts, and relatively large head.
Origin: Iowa
*AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION
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SWAINSON’S HAWK
(Buteo swainsoni)
Zephyr is an amputee, her right wing was damaged beyond repair and removed. Acquired for display in January 1990.
Identify by Swainson's Hawks by their dark bib on their chest in contrast with their light streaked belly.
Origin: Nebraska
*AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION (This bird is used for traveling programs)
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RED-TAILED HAWK
(Buteo jamaicensis)
Patience’s left wing has been permanently crippled since June of 1985.
Red-tails are the most common hawk in Iowa and can be identified by their white to cream colored breast, red tail (on the adult birds only), and occasionally a streaked band across the belly.
Origin: Iowa
*AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION (This bird is used for traveling programs)
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ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK
(Buteo lagopus)
Tundra is an amputee, her right wing was injured beyond repair and removed. Acquired for display in November of 1990.
Identify Rough-Legged Hawk's by the solid dark belly and the wide dark band on a white tail.
Origin: Iowa
*AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION
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GREAT HORNED OWL
(Bubo virginianus)
Wannago lost her left eye and is now unable to survive in the wild.
Identify Great Horned Owls by their imposing size, “ear” tufts, large yellow eyes, dark beak, and white throat “bib”.
Origin: Washington, Iowa
*AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION (This bird is used for traveling programs)
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BALD EAGLE
(Haliaeetus leucicephalus)
Spirit had her left wing tip removed due to dislocation. Acquired for display in December 1989.
Identify the adult Bald Eagles by the white head and tail feathers, dark body, large yellow beak, and tarsus exposed. Immature plumage, mottled white on black and dark brown with dark beak, often leads to confusion with Golden Eagle.
Origin: Minnesota
Weight: 11 lbs.
Wingspan: 7 ft.
*AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION
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PEREGRINE FALCON
(Falco peregrinus)
Kanati came to MRP in the summer of 2005 after suffering a fracture to her right wrist during a territorial battle in Des Moines. She fledged in 2002 from the Colonade Building in Minneappolis, MN, and produced 7 young.
Identify Peregrine Falcons by their greyish-blue back and wings, large yellow feet, dark eyes, and dark “sideburns” on the sides of his head.
Origin: Iowa
*AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION
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EASTERN SCREECH OWL
(Otus asia)
Tremelo is a “red phase” screech owl acquired for display in 2003. Severe head trauma caused blindness in the left eye and a hearing impairment.
Identify screech owls by their small size and feather tufts at the top of their heads.
Origin: Iowa
*AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION (Housed on the Kirkwood Campus and used for traveling programs)
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RED-TAILED HAWK
(Buteo jamaicensis)
Orion came to us in the fall of 2003. The injury to the left wing was too severe to repair. While the amputation to this hawk was performed, by a non-wildlife organization and after new regulations were passed, Fish and Wildlife have agreed to allow Orion to be admitted to this facility.
Red-tails are the most common hawk in Iowa and can be identified by their white to cream colored breast, red tail (on the adult birds only), and occasionally a streaked band across the belly.
Origin: Iowa
*AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION (housed on the Kirkwood Campus and used for traveling programs)
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GREAT HORNED OWL
(Bubo virginianus)
Duchess came to us in 1993 with a fractured right wrist. She is now unable to fly.
Identify Great Horned Owls by their imposing size, “ear” tufts, large yellow eyes, dark beak, white throat “bib”.
Origin: Iowa
*AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION (Housed on the Kirkwood Campus and used for traveling programs)
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BARRED OWL
(Strix varia)
Cypress was found tangled in a barbed-wire fence during the spring of 2000. Lacerations to the left wing caused damage that could not be repaired.
Identify Barred Owl's by gray and white streaking or “bars” on front, dark eyes light colored beak, lack of “ear” tufts.
Origin: Iowa
*AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION (This bird is used for traveling programs)
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EASTERN SCREECH OWL
(Otus asia)
Maxwelliae is a “gray phase” screech owl acquired for display in 1990. He is blind in his right eye and is also hearing impaired.
The Eastern Screech owl comes in both “red” and “gray” color phases. Identify screech owls by their small size and feather tufts at the top of their heads.
Origin: Iowa
*AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION
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BALD EAGLE
(Haliaeetus leucicephalus)
This Bald Eagle had a fracture in its left wing making it unable to fly. Acquired for display in October of 2007.
Identify the adult by the white head and tail feathers, dark body, large yellow beak, and tarsus exposed. Immature plumage, mottled white on black and dark brown with dark beak, often leads to confusion with Golden Eagle.
Origin: Iowa
*AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION
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