Birdin’ 2: Predator Boogaloo

Since seeing the raptors at the Waldweihnacht last December, we kicked around the idea of visiting the Falkenhof at Riedenburg, in the Altmühltal region. Pfingstmontag (Pentecost Monday) was a federal holiday, the weather was nice, and we took full advantage of it.

After a walk around the courtyards of the Schloss to gawp at the birds, we enjoyed the 11 a.m. flight demonstrations in a wide-open courtyard. The bald eagle dove into a pond for fish, the Schmutzgeier ate an egg, the falcons snapped bits of meat mid-air, a vulture flew about six inches over my head to get to a dead baby chick. Delightful!

Most of my pictures were bad, but here is a selection, taken with my “real camera.”

If you need *good* pictures, or videos, please visit their website.

Inside the Schloss is a museum, with taxidermized specimens and other information about prey birds around the world, as well as some local history. No videos or games for the kids, just signs and display cases. That’s my jam right there…

A vulture followed us back to our car. I understand this happens a lot.

Since we were in the area anyway *cough*, we drove down into the town and stopped by the Biergarten of the Riedenburger Brauhaus, which makes a variety of specialty- and alcoholic-free beers, and soda, all organic. The Maibock was on tap. Yes, please.

If you think a beermat goes under your beer, you have never eaten lunch under a chestnut tree in late May.

We’ll end with a view of the Schloss from the Biergarten.