Nancy McDonald 🏳️🌈🦉⛵🦅
@raptorrescuer.bsky.social
Raptor educator, retired U.S Federal Government employee, U.S. Army veteran, currently consult on AI.
Live/work in the DMV.
Gay, she/her.
Featured in the NYT, WTOP, WMAR, the Capital Gazette.
Sailor on a fast 14' dinghy.
Semper Gumby!
Live/work in the DMV.
Gay, she/her.
Featured in the NYT, WTOP, WMAR, the Capital Gazette.
Sailor on a fast 14' dinghy.
Semper Gumby!
15 years plus and today I got the courage to let him go. I am broken. He just ran out of time.
September 3, 2026 at 12:38 AM
15 years plus and today I got the courage to let him go. I am broken. He just ran out of time.
On this rainy, cool Saturday, why not make plans to see a hawk and an owl up close from 2PM - 4PM? The Maryland Raptor Conservancy will be at the Patuxent National Wildlife Visitor Center - 10901 Scarlet Tanager Loop, Laurel, MD 20708 with Shiloh and Owlvira. #redtailedhawk #barnowl #usfws
August 22, 2026 at 1:14 PM
On this rainy, cool Saturday, why not make plans to see a hawk and an owl up close from 2PM - 4PM? The Maryland Raptor Conservancy will be at the Patuxent National Wildlife Visitor Center - 10901 Scarlet Tanager Loop, Laurel, MD 20708 with Shiloh and Owlvira. #redtailedhawk #barnowl #usfws
Wednesday, Owlvira and I did a corporate event at a cyber security conference for one of the industry sponsors, Owl Cyber Defense. I shared fun owl facts with the attendees and Owlvira was her usual rock star self. #barnowl
August 21, 2026 at 12:20 AM
Wednesday, Owlvira and I did a corporate event at a cyber security conference for one of the industry sponsors, Owl Cyber Defense. I shared fun owl facts with the attendees and Owlvira was her usual rock star self. #barnowl
Yesterday was International Owl day. Here are some past rescues for owls who were struck by vehicles, had their nest tree cutdown, got caught in a chimney with no cap and bonus pictures of a falconry Barred Owl and a Eurasian Eagle Owl.
August 5, 2026 at 2:18 PM
Yesterday was International Owl day. Here are some past rescues for owls who were struck by vehicles, had their nest tree cutdown, got caught in a chimney with no cap and bonus pictures of a falconry Barred Owl and a Eurasian Eagle Owl.
Yesterday was International Owl day. Enjoy this video of my Barn Owl, Owlvira.
August 5, 2026 at 2:10 PM
Yesterday was International Owl day. Enjoy this video of my Barn Owl, Owlvira.
#birdoftheday theme is raptors. Here is a White Tailed Eagle (r) and a Tyrant Hawk Eagle (L) I talk about when I work at Renaissance faires.
June 20, 2026 at 2:35 PM
#birdoftheday theme is raptors. Here is a White Tailed Eagle (r) and a Tyrant Hawk Eagle (L) I talk about when I work at Renaissance faires.
8.5 years rescuing these wonderful raptors, and every word of this. Every.Single.Word.
www.annapoliscreative.com/editorial-os...
#osprey
www.annapoliscreative.com/editorial-os...
#osprey
Editorial: ospreys are experiencing a die-off in the Mid-Atlantic and they are the canary in the coal mine – legislators can do something to help, but will they?
There has been an osprey die-off happening in Mid-Atlantic states and it’s been going on for a few years now. These charismatic, birds of prey are much-loved for their high-diving fishing technique…
www.annapoliscreative.com
June 11, 2026 at 11:37 PM
8.5 years rescuing these wonderful raptors, and every word of this. Every.Single.Word.
www.annapoliscreative.com/editorial-os...
#osprey
www.annapoliscreative.com/editorial-os...
#osprey
A horseshoe crab thought it wanted to join our seining activity today. I showed it to the school kids, then took it downstream where it could safely crawl up on the beach and do it's thing. #horseshoecrab
June 10, 2026 at 2:02 AM
A horseshoe crab thought it wanted to join our seining activity today. I showed it to the school kids, then took it downstream where it could safely crawl up on the beach and do it's thing. #horseshoecrab
Owlvira and I celebrated a fellow raptor rescuer's birthday today. ##barnowl #raptorrescue
Image courtesy of Annapolis Creative
Image courtesy of Annapolis Creative
May 30, 2026 at 12:57 AM
Owlvira and I celebrated a fellow raptor rescuer's birthday today. ##barnowl #raptorrescue
Image courtesy of Annapolis Creative
Image courtesy of Annapolis Creative
Yesterday, I went to our garden to pick some lettuce and strawberries. Then, I saw these two beauties having a tender moment, so I let them be. Black rat snakes are common in the Chesapeake Bay region. They eat mice, rats and moles. #blackratsnake
Learn more:
www.chesapeakebay.net/.../entry/bl...
Learn more:
www.chesapeakebay.net/.../entry/bl...
May 28, 2026 at 6:27 PM
Yesterday, I went to our garden to pick some lettuce and strawberries. Then, I saw these two beauties having a tender moment, so I let them be. Black rat snakes are common in the Chesapeake Bay region. They eat mice, rats and moles. #blackratsnake
Learn more:
www.chesapeakebay.net/.../entry/bl...
Learn more:
www.chesapeakebay.net/.../entry/bl...
Birds of prey! I work at the Virginia Renaissance Festival with Knightwings Birds of Prey. This is Zuul, a Tyrant Hawk Eagle. They are native to South America. #birdsofprey
May 10, 2026 at 11:58 AM
Birds of prey! I work at the Virginia Renaissance Festival with Knightwings Birds of Prey. This is Zuul, a Tyrant Hawk Eagle. They are native to South America. #birdsofprey
I'm at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for a fellow veteran and raptor rescuer. The American Red Cross lady's name is Mama Bear. 😁
May 5, 2026 at 1:35 PM
I'm at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for a fellow veteran and raptor rescuer. The American Red Cross lady's name is Mama Bear. 😁
Reposted by Nancy McDonald 🏳️🌈🦉⛵🦅
Yesterday, we didn't have very many people at an event, but those who were there had a close up experience, an ask-us-anything-you-want-to-know-about-raptors session they'll never forget.
Owlvira was on her game, posing for photos and accepting compliments on her beauty. #barnowl #raptoreducation
Owlvira was on her game, posing for photos and accepting compliments on her beauty. #barnowl #raptoreducation
April 9, 2026 at 9:59 PM
Yesterday, we didn't have very many people at an event, but those who were there had a close up experience, an ask-us-anything-you-want-to-know-about-raptors session they'll never forget.
Owlvira was on her game, posing for photos and accepting compliments on her beauty. #barnowl #raptoreducation
Owlvira was on her game, posing for photos and accepting compliments on her beauty. #barnowl #raptoreducation
You try to get stuff done, but your furry office assistant is staring daggers at you because there are no snacks...😆
February 27, 2026 at 8:32 PM
You try to get stuff done, but your furry office assistant is staring daggers at you because there are no snacks...😆
Our friendly neighborhood Bald Eagle normally either flies overhead or perches across the creek, high up in a tree. They took off after about 20 minutes. (Image courtesy of Karen McDonald) #baldeagle
January 27, 2026 at 9:53 PM
Our friendly neighborhood Bald Eagle normally either flies overhead or perches across the creek, high up in a tree. They took off after about 20 minutes. (Image courtesy of Karen McDonald) #baldeagle
First time shoveling a path in the snow with mice in my pocket to feed the American Kestrel. #snowmageddon2026 #americankestrel
January 25, 2026 at 5:31 PM
First time shoveling a path in the snow with mice in my pocket to feed the American Kestrel. #snowmageddon2026 #americankestrel
Current situation here in Maryland. Icy rain is now falling as well.
January 25, 2026 at 2:17 PM
Current situation here in Maryland. Icy rain is now falling as well.
The calm before Snowmageddon 2026. Mid 50's, light breeze, warm sunshine and Owlvira on walkabout, listening to a flock of crows across the road absolutely raise hell about something. #barnowl #snowmageddon2026
January 22, 2026 at 11:20 PM
The calm before Snowmageddon 2026. Mid 50's, light breeze, warm sunshine and Owlvira on walkabout, listening to a flock of crows across the road absolutely raise hell about something. #barnowl #snowmageddon2026
Trying to trap an adult Coopers hawk in a Home Depot and get her back out. She hit the trap and flew off. To be continued.
January 10, 2026 at 3:23 AM
Trying to trap an adult Coopers hawk in a Home Depot and get her back out. She hit the trap and flew off. To be continued.
December 26, 2025 at 2:39 AM
I don't have a separate account, but I am the VP of Maryland Raptor Conservancy, a raptor education nonprofit here in Maryland offering bird of prey programs and events. Meet the crew and see their wishes for your holiday season: ⤵️
December 21, 2025 at 8:20 PM
I don't have a separate account, but I am the VP of Maryland Raptor Conservancy, a raptor education nonprofit here in Maryland offering bird of prey programs and events. Meet the crew and see their wishes for your holiday season: ⤵️