Near Haut-Koenigsbourg in France is a castle called Kintzheim that houses only raptors.
These are bateleur eagles that I photographed in the wild in Africa and never expected to see again in France!
Of course you recognize these beauties, who I also never expected to see in France.
The castle runs a program called “La Volerie des Aigles,” which is dedicated to breeding, conserving and educating the public about vulnerable raptors. Birds are flown daily, and are an unusual sight soaring over the old towns and orderly fields of France. The castle has bred many endangered raptor species including Andean condors, and stellar, imperial and white-tailed eagles, and many other species, including vultures.
The white-headed vulture is endemic to Africa. Populations have been declining steeply in recent years due to habitat degradation and poisoning. Our planet needs vultures, they are designed to keep our world clean.
The cinereous vulture has an impressive wing-span of 10 feet. It is under serious threat. There are only an estimated 4,500-5000 of these amazing birds left in the wild.
The golden eagle is distributed across Eurasia, North America, and parts of North Africa, but has been eliminated from much of it’s prior habitats.
Harry Potter’s snowy owls are here too!
The public can visit the castle for a nominal fee which not only supports the raptor conservation program, but also provides an up close experience with these incredible birds which will, unless your heart is made of stone, cause you to become enraptured by them.
Admission also enables you to explore the quite impressive old castle ruins.
Cheers to you from Castle Kintzheim’s gorgeous and threatened raptors~
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Wow! Especially love the bateleur eagle. What an amazing looking bird!
Alison
Thank you! I saw and photographed a wild one up close in Africa which was a major thrill.
Majestic! <3
The 🦅🦅 and I thank you!
Each pic is beautiful and it’s sad they are on the verge of extinction because of us. But initiatives like these are a ray of hope and should be supported and socialized more to make people aware! Thanks for sharing!
Well said Sifar! Thank you so much Cindy for sharing these gorgeous spirits of the air with us today.
Thanks saymber! 😊
I agree with everything you both say and appreciate your thoughts.
Wonderful birds… gave me a big smile to see their lovely faces x love to you Cindy x barbara x
Appreciation & cheers flying back to you my friend~ <3
😘
Who would have expected to see these magnificent birds in France!
Certainly not me, but I was very happy I did!
Quite amazing images
Much appreciated. Thank you!
Wow! Incredible portraits! <3
The first one is quite a character… 🙂
Thank you and yes he was. He made quite an impression!
What a marvelous project. And I never expected to love a vulture but the little white headed vulture is adorable.
Vultures are actually nice, non-hostile, careful birds, and I agree with you, the fuzzy white head is adorable!
My goodness – (and I especially love that first shot), amazing. What an experience.
Castles, raptors, and France tick a lot of my boxes too!
Beautiful!
Merci beaucoup mon ami!
I have never seen or heard of Bateleur eagles. What beautiful creatures. They look like they are dressed up for a special occasion, but then perhaps life is just that. A special occasion.
I saw one on a dirt road in front of us in Africa and was thrilled. I certainly wasn’t expecting them in a castle in France!
Amazing!
Merci beaucoup!
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Beautiful birds and program. Thanks for sharing them Cindy! May we learn to treat all life as precious.
Amen Brad……all creatures great and small. 🦅
Yes!
Neat place and a worthy program. We have something similar with our birds of prey area in Idaho. No castle though.
I love Idaho, but I have to say, the castle did add an extra dimension!
No doubt, plus our area is in the Great Basinish desert. It isn’t even up in the forest.
The Rogue River is one of my most favorite wild places…..
Mine too, but that’s in Oregon. The Salmon River goes through some awesome country too.
Sorry, meant the Snake River and Snake River Canyon…..
Ha ha. Now I want to pull the camper back to Gold Beach.
I am heading that direction soon I hope……
We won’t make it this year. Have a Dungeness crab and some clams for me.
Thanks, oh thanks for the smile!
Thank you for your lovely comment and your wonderful photography! <3
Cindy, thank you.
Aw, Cindy, you remembered how much I love owls, didn’t you?!? This one is magnificent! Of course, ALL your photos are. These birds look like they were posing just for you. The detail is awesome — thanks for taking me along on your visit!
You make the experience much richer Debbie. I do know you love owls and last night the Great Horned Owls sang to each other all night long. I love when they do this! 🦉
Such perfection in these photos! I like them all.
I am honored and humbled. Thank you!
Wow! Ignorantly, I guess I always thought the bald eagle was only in the U.S. I’d love to visit this castle and see all of the birds. Auburn University in eastern Alabama has an amazing raptor show that they put on occasionally. I enjoy hearing about these fascinating creatures!
I am so pleased they fascinate you, as they do me! Bald Eagles range covers North America, including Canada, and Mexico. I did hear of a bald eagle who got caught in a storm and blown to the UK. They reportedly flew him back overseas to the US, hopefully first class not coach~
Wow! So he took a trans-Atlantic flight, both ways! LOL
Laughing…..yes he did. No cruise ships for him!
That bird must be an aristocrat. He has wigs 🙂
Laughing. Birds often dress so much better than humans~
Reblogged this on charles french words reading and writing and commented:
These are beautiful photographs!
Ahh, you are a beautiful friend. Thank you!
Amazing photos of the raptors. I especially liked the bateleur eagles. I have never seen anything like them.
They are pretty amazing aren’t they. I saw one strolling down a dirt road in Africa which was seriously thrilling!
Amazing images of these majestic birds, Cindy.
I’ve said it before but you are a great photographer (in bringing us the details that most travel photographers miss).
I am truly honored & humbled by your very kind comment Vicki. Thank you! 🦅
Love them all, my friend – the bateleur eagle (the Indian Chief…LOL), the regal eagle, the ravenous vultures, the snowy owl-standing and the rugged castle. (๑ˊ͈ ॢꇴ ˋ͈)merci!〜♡((ꈍ﹃ꈍㅅ)♡
You should write my captions! I love your descriptors. 🦅 (๑ˊ͈ ॢꇴ ˋ͈)merci!〜♡((ꈍ﹃ꈍㅅ)♡ 🦅
ღゝ◡╹)ノ♡
Amazing pics. I can’t get over their eyes.
Birds have such sentient, intelligent eyes~
Such amazing birds.
I am very pleased you like them!
Amazing raptors – always worrying when species are threatened
Yes. Did you know half of the world’s wildlife has died off in the last 40 years? See:
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/sep/29/earth-lost-50-wildlife-in-40-years-wwf
This is our human legacy.
Did not know that statistics but have seen so many pogrammes which show threatened species and admire work of conversationalists.
<3
These are definitely awesome shots, Cindy. The only bird I have no time for is the Hawk. I was only seven or eight when I watched, how a Hawk dove down and flew away with our beautiful chicken. 🙁
So traumatic for a child to witness. I can imagine you were heartbroken. I am sorry.
Hawks are predators, but not as deadly as humans.
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Amazing photographs, as always, Cindy. How close are you when taking these pictures? I was surprised to learn that you don’t use a tripod, but didn’t know you could get such clear photos from what I’m assuming is some distance. I would love to learn more.
It’s hard not to assign personality traits to these beautiful birds. They all look like they’re about to say something, and that you man not like hearing what that is. Your posts are always a treat.
Oh I wish I could speak bird! Eagles and hawks would say something like, “You humans are the least impressive creatures on this planet.”
I would have to agree!
I don’t use a tripod and I am basically always using zoom, often up to 1200mm equivalent. I credit sony stabilization technology for allowing me to do this. I don’t think I would enjoy photography if I was confined to a tripod. Wild animals are always interested in this moving creature with a big camera attached permanently to her face. They look directly in the lens. With these birds, I was right next to them. I still used zoom to get the details.
Thanks for sharing more details, Cindy. I’m impressed with the stabilization at that distance. Did you use that kind of zoom when photographing the bears last year (from a platform if I remember correctly)?
Yes, I use the zoom for all wild animal and bird shots. It adjusts so I can move about changing the zoom as I move which I love. I have another camera I use for landscapes and such.
…and yes, humans are far less impressive!
<3
Amazing creatures and so very beautiful. I am so happy that there are those who are dedicated to preserving them. We (people) are stewards over all of these creatures and it’s our responsibility to care for them. Love your photos!
Amen, and I know you practice this philosophy every day of your life, and I admire you so for it. <3
Cindy those are phenomenal photographs! Thank you for sharing them with us! I felt like I was right there with you in front of the birds!!
It is so lovely to share with you my friend and thank you sincerely!
Absolutely fabulous Cindy! If only they could talk and tell us their stories 💛
That would be so sad and so amazing. They would have some terrible stories to tell about how wild animals have been treated in this world. I just read n either The Guardian or Telegraph that wild animal populations have been reduced in the wild by 50% in the last 40 years.
I was hoping for the amazing stories of survival and thriving … but yes, the bigger picture is where we all need to support. 💛
Agreed~ 🦅
love these shots Cindy!
Thanks & cheers to you! Wish I was in Tofino now……
you will be one day!
🦅
Stunning photography. Love your blog.
Awww, makes me very happy, thank you~ <3
You’re welcome, Cindy! 🙂
🦅
I like that 😊
Happy you do & cheers too!
Take a look on my last post and follow me if you like it 😀.
What great shots!
Merci beaucoup!
They are incredible birds. The skill they have is amazing.
Yes, they are precision creatures!
Omg, spectacular creatures! <3
Love you for thinking so! <3
<3
What gorgeous creatures! Your shots are incredible. Bonne vacances en France, Cindy!
Merci beaucoup mon ami Patty! <3
Amazing photos! Wow up close and every detail is bold and colorful!
Very pleased you enjoyed & thank you for taking the time to tell me!
Sure! Always amazing
🦅🦅
Reblogged this on Smorgasbord – Variety is the spice of life and commented:
I am behind with my browsing this week but thankfully have caught up with Cindy Knoke’s post of the 26th… Raptors as you have never seen them before.. up close and personal.. what amazing birds and the first one which is a bateleur eagle is frighteningly beautiful. Thank’s to Cindy for getting us up so close to nature. #recommended
Awww, the 🦅🦅🦅 and I are so very grateful for you Sally! Be well my friend and thank you for your kindness~ <3
How much of our flora and fauna must we lose before we realize how nature works? – Oscar
It is so disheartening……
I am in raptures over your amazing captures of raptors 😀 Sorry couldnt resist that but seriously wow! Thank you for these amazing glimpses and pearls of wisdom 🙂
“I am in raptures over your amazing captures of raptors.”
I love this sentence and I am so pleased that you are enraptured by the 🦅🦅!
Great shots, Cindy… the close- ups are amazing! … xx 😀
Thank you my friend. They are such amazing creatures who look more fascinating the closer you get!
Amazing that you were able to capture these! Birds have never sat still for me.
They do tend to be a bit flighty!
Haha, indeed! 😂
<3
These photographs are incredible, Cindy.
Awww, much appreciated, thank you Robbie~
Amazing pics! These birds are so unique!
Isn’t That Charming.
Merci beaucoup mon ami~
So great, beautiful pictures of great birds! I want to visit the castle some day. Thank you for your blogpost about the castle and this amazing birds!
Thank you very much & please share your thoughts and experiences when you do visit~