September 4, 2019 - After a morning at the beach, we drove a few kilometers for a visit to the Dubrava Falconry Center not far from our hotel - educational tours are held every hour to educate visitors about the history of the center, general raptor behavior and characteristics, its purpose and the birds themselves.  Unlike wild animal and bird rescues I'm more familiar with (like Wildcare in Marin where I volunteer), injured birds are not put out for the public to view.  The director reported that the philosophy in Croatia is that this would be embarrassing and hurtful for the birds to have strangers looking at them.  

The birds, hawks, owls and falcons, are tethered to posts and supplied with ample water during the day when it is very hot.  They stay in aviaries otherwise.  Each bird is flown and/or allowed to hunt daily, early or late when weather cools down, by the center staff.  Below is a female European Owl who seemed cooperative but grouchy!

Here Danny gets an explanation on hawk behavior.  This was a noisy young Irish Hawl who was described as being a "teenager".  We were allowed to hold him, feed him (chicks) and fly him to and from nearby trees.  The Center Director has been here for 30 years.  Falconry flying and raptor keeping information is also dispensed - he made the point that if one wants to keep a raptor and hunt it, that it must be understood this is a commitment of at least 30-35 years.  He showed us a Red Tail hawk who is 33 years old!  The Center has a breeding program as well as wild birds cannot be captured in Croatia.

Not sure this video will open but it can be seen on my Instagram/Facebook pages.

Danny and the young hawk.  Ed was with us as well but declined to get up close and personal with the birds.

http://www.thebestincroatia.info/ideas/dubrava-hawking-centre-sibenik-3261.html 

Here is a description of the center.