German gryphon station
The Deutsche Greifenwarte at Guttenberg Castle in the Haßmersheim district of Neckarmühlbach presents birds of prey in aviaries and during flight demonstrations and is a tourist attraction in its region.
Griffin control room
The Deutsche Greifenwarte was founded by Claus Fentzloff in 1961 as a private institution. In 2009 Torsten LeLeux took over the management. The gryphon control room does not receive any direct maintenance funds from the public, but it does receive project funds and exemptions from species protection regulations that are otherwise not granted to any private sponsor.
In cooperation with Heidelberg University , research on birds of prey is carried out in the gryphon station. This includes, in particular, studies of reproduction, rearing and behavior, which, with the progressive biological and chemical analysis methods, keep bringing new knowledge. For this purpose, the gryphon station not only houses native griffins, but also representatives from other continents such as the North American eagles.
The gryphon station is a care station for injured birds of prey. They are cared for here so that they can be released back into the wild after they have recovered. In addition, the Greifenwarte maintains projects in which the offspring of successful breeding are trained so that they can be released into the wild in their native areas. So far, breeding successes have been achieved with 36 species of birds of prey. In 1975 a total of 37 European white-tailed eagles from our own breeding in former breeding areas started successfully. White-tailed eagles have been released into the wild in Schleswig-Holstein , Ireland , France , Sweden and the Czech Republic .
Flight demonstrations
During flight demonstrations, eagles, owls and vultures are encouraged to fly from hand of one supervisor to the next, who is holding food in hand, just above the heads of the audience. Day-old chicks are usually used as attractants - the demonstrators explain this with the industrial production of chicken eggs, in which only the females of newly hatched chicks are used.
In addition to the flight demonstrations, a tour along the aviaries and shelters of the gryphon station is offered. Smaller birds of prey such as hawks and buzzards can also be seen there. Information on the birds of prey and the history of the raptor station is presented on display boards and in showcases.
A bearded vulture approaching between the spectators at the flight demonstration
Bald eagles during the flight display
Flying eagle owl
A crested carakara between the rows of spectators
