Talon Ridge Raptor Institute

10/22/2026

Join us this Sunday, October 25th at the Ron Ramsey Regional Agriculture Center in Blountville, TN for the Farmland Raptor Workshop from 2 to 4 pm. You'll learn about raptors of East TN, why they are important, how to support their conservation, and meet live raptor ambassadors from Owl Ridge Raptor Center. We'll also be installing a nest box for American kestrels on the property after the presentation.

Our partners Foothills Land Conservancy , Owl Ridge Raptor Center , and Talon Ridge Raptor Institute will be presenting and will have informational tables set up with freebies and merch!

This is a FREE EVENT! Light refreshments will be provided. Please register by scanning the QR code on the flyer or by clicking on the link below. Hope to see you there!! 🦅

https://foothillsland.networkforgood.com/events/104986-let-s-learn-about-east-tennessee-s-farmland-raptors-meet-a-live-raptor

This workshop is part of a series of workshops that the Farmland Raptor Project will be hosting throughout the TN Valley Region in 2026 and into 2027 as part of a small grant awarded to Foothills Land Conservancy and MTM Environmental by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's Land Trust Bird Conservation Initiative.

10/22/2026

We hope to see you there!! 🦉

Join us this Sunday, October 25th at the Ron Ramsey Regional Agriculture Center in Blountville, TN for the Farmland Raptor Workshop from 2 to 4 pm. You'll learn about raptors of East TN, why they are important, how to support their conservation, and meet live raptor ambassadors from Owl Ridge Raptor Center. We'll also be installing a nest box for American kestrels on the property after the presentation.

Our partners Foothills Land Conservancy , Owl Ridge Raptor Center , and Talon Ridge Raptor Institute will be presenting and will have informational tables set up with freebies and merch!

This is a FREE EVENT! Light refreshments will be provided. Please register by scanning the QR code on the flyer or by clicking on the link below. Hope to see you there!! 🦅

https://foothillsland.networkforgood.com/events/104986-let-s-learn-about-east-tennessee-s-farmland-raptors-meet-a-live-raptor

This workshop is part of a series of workshops that the Farmland Raptor Project will be hosting throughout the TN Valley Region in 2026 and into 2027 as part of a small grant awarded to Foothills Land Conservancy and MTM Environmental by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's Land Trust Bird Conservation Initiative.

10/20/2026

Calling all landowners in Sullivan County and the surrounding region, we are looking for you! Talon Ridge Raptor Institute is excited to partner with the Farmland Raptor Project (MTM Environmental, LLC), Foothills Land Conservancy, and Owl Ridge Raptor Center to bring you this incredible no cost educational event this Sunday afternoon! All you have to do is bring yourself (and maybe your neighbors, friends, and family)!🦉

While we work to protect farmland raptors such as Barn Owls and American Kestrels, we can’t do it without your help! Landowners play a pivotal role in protecting these incredible birds of prey, and now is your chance to take action. A workshop featuring live raptor ambassadors from Owl Ridge Raptor Center and Talon Ridge Raptor Institute followed by a nest box installation is the perfect way to spend a lovely autumn afternoon. Check out the flyer below to learn more, and we hope to see you there!

10/14/2026

Bird conservation in action! How incredible?!

Check out the work Talon Ridge Raptor Institute Board Member and Nashville Zoo Conservation Specialist, Rachael, has been up to. Rachael’s and the Nashville Zoo Avian Team’s efforts have resulted in the propagation and release of Loggerhead Shrikes into a critically endangered population in Ontario, Canada. 🍁 What incredible work they have done!

While Loggerhead Shrikes (Lanius ludovicianus) are considered songbirds and not raptors, these birds have “tomial teeth” (pointy projections on their beak) similar to falcons, and they express many raptor-esque behaviors such as impaling prey on thorns or barbed wire fences. Small in stature, but big in personality, these birds can hunt many things from insects, amphibians, reptiles, mammals, and even other songbirds. How incredible is that?!

We are so proud of Rachael and the rest of her team at Nashville Zoo, and we can’t wait to see how they impact avian conservation next! 🪶

10/14/2026

Just stopping by to show off our favorite girl! 🥰

Wicca was posing during her enrichment session this evening! Look at those beautiful feathers! 🦉🪶

Did you know owls have the ability of silent flight? That’s right! Owls have specialized comb-like fringe structures along the leading edge of their primary flight feathers. This structure helps break up air turbulence as air moves over the wing thus dampening the sound they make. This allows owls to be incredible nocturnal predators as their prey can’t even hear them coming!

Do you know a cool owl fact? Drop it in the comments below!

10/07/2026

Due to an injury, Talon Ridge Raptor Institute must temporarily halt all rescue, recovery, and transportation initiatives through SOARR. Currently, TRRI only has one dedicated individual for SOARR initiatives, and they cannot provide these services due to an injury obtained separately from TRRI. We do not currently have a timeline on when these operations will resume, but we will work to inform our community once these services are operational again. Thank you for your understanding!

10/06/2026

Wicca has been channeling her inner 007 as she sleuths around her aviary. We love to see Wicca enjoying her new space and spreading those big wings! We think her hoot says it all! 🦉

Wicca is an Eurasian Eagle-Owl (Bubo bubo) who works as an educational ambassador to educate the public on the importance of raptors and birds of prey across the world!

09/26/2026

We are all set-up and ready to go at the Exchange Place! Come out to shop all of the local vendors, meet Wicca, and trade friendship bracelets! 🦉

09/26/2026

Our team is ready to go for the Exchange Place Kingsport TN 1850s Farm’s 54th Fall Folk Arts Festival! Be sure to come out and visit all the amazing vendors, meet Wicca, and learn about how you can protect raptors and empower our community! See yall soon! 🦉