In the sky above Rocamadour, birds perform a show to inform, surprise and entertain. The acrobatics of the Kites, the fishing Eagles, the resourceful Vultures, the fast Falcons, the perching Chimangos all contribute to make this an amazing show.
The "Rocher des Aigles" is an eco park, and a discovery centre. Participating are eagles, vultures, condors, falcons, and in the evening - owls.
Look at the beautiful colouring with the sun shining on its sleek feathers.
That's me, "Marguerite the Brave", with a raptor on my head.
A vulture with smarts. To break into this ostrich egg, he actually flings a stone to crack it and then pokes his head inside.
With the birds of prey safely out of sight, out come the Parakeets, Cockatoos, Macaws, Amazons, Eclectus Parrots and Grey Parrots. They fly freely in a whirlwind of colour. Some even eat seeds from the palm of children's hands.
Once the show is over, the eco park is open for us to roam through the many rows of birds. This is a breeding centre and has been so for more than 30 years. The "Rocher des Aigles" has succeeded in breeding forty different species, producing fifteen hundred young. They are raised by their parents or by the handlers. Deciding who should take this role, man or bird, depends above all on the birds, who are not always very willing parents.
American Eagle
I have a new respect for vultures. They are not equipped to hunt for themselves, so they rely on dead carcasses for nourishment. In addition to their role as garbage collectors, they should also be considered at the forefront of epidemic control since they can eat diseased birds without getting sick themselves. Think "bird flu".
One of my favourite photos. Perfect manicure!
This is not a mirror effect which reflects a bird multiple times. It is indeed seven acting as one.
After the last show of the day, an unforgettable encounter with nocturnal birds of prey.
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A bit "tongue in cheek", but after seeing so many birds, this is yet another view of the "canard", aiguillettes on noodles, and canard confit with salad.
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