SANTANA

Santana is three years of age and has been captive bred.

 

Santana is a very large bird and like all female birds of prey, she is approximately 1/3 larger than her male partner, Apollo.  She is a very gentle bird and enjoys the attention of her handlers.  She has no reservations about feeding in close proximity to her handlers, and enjoys doing so on day old chicks, full grown chicken heads and necks and black squirrels trapped on the property.

 

Like all Ferruginous Hawks, Santana has very small feet in relation to her body, but don’t let that fool you, her feet and talons are very powerful and handlers use extreme caution when dealing with her.

 

Ferruginous Hawks have an approximate life span of 20 years in the wild: the greater majority perish within their first five years, the most crucial time being winter in their first year of life.

 

As a captive bird, Santana will enjoy a healthy life, living well into her late 40’s, leaving all the worries of living in the wild behind. Her current all-inclusive stay at Freedom Falconry is a welcomed daily retreat.

 

Santana was too young to breed this past spring (2018).  There are greater expectations of success for the spring of 2019.  Ferruginous Hawks are known to have large clutches, and if successful, a live stream will be available for all followers to view the progress. 

 

We look forward to 2019 and wish Santana the best of luck.