For five years, The Eyrie has educated the public about raptors and the importance of conservation and, when the birds of prey centre near Apsley faced devastating losses this past winter, the community stepped up to give back and show them some much-needed support.
Located in the Township of North Kawartha, one of eight townships in Peterborough County, The Eyrie — which is named after the term for a raptor’s nest — has a mission to inspire conservation through meaningful education.
Husband-and-wife team Matthew and Kristin Morgan opened the facility in 2020 after spending many years training raptors and studying eco-tourism. The facility currently has 25 birds, including many born over the past few months, including species of hawks, owls, eagles, and falcons.
The Morgans host up-close, free-flight demonstrations both onsite at their facility and by touring to festivals, schools, campgrounds, fairs, and other events and venues. They also host photography sessions to give participants the opportunity to photograph the raptors in a natural setting, and provide commercial pest control services by using their raptors and dog to control nuisance animals like gulls and geese.
Seasonally, The Eyrie also hosts “owl prowls” where they take visitors out on their property in search of wild owls. All of this is offered with the hope that The Eyrie can give people an appreciation for raptors, their important role in the natural world, and how human activity can affect their survival.
“When people have a connection to something, they feel more strongly about it and they want to be more involved, learn more about it, and they become more aware as to what’s going on,” says Matthew. “We try to give people a connection to not just the raptors, but to all the wildlife that make up the really incredible place that is Canada and North America.”
Some of the many local organizations and businesses for which The Eyrie has hosted demonstrations this summer include Camp Kawartha, Viamede Resort, the Peterborough Public Library, the Municipality of Hastings County, Emily Provincial Park, and the Lakefield Fair.
To run their business, The Eyrie relies on services and products from local businesses including Apsley Home Hardware and Kemp’s Garage in Apsley, as well as Apsley Outdoor Power Equipment & Rentals which, according to Matthew, was instrumental in supporting the community during the spring ice storm and power outages.
The Eyrie has once again begun to host on-site demonstrations, following a devastating winter that made it necessary to restrict public access to their property.
During a major snow storm, one of the buildings collapsed and damaged equipment. Only about a week later, unknown persons entered the facility and caused harm to the raptors, with many of them falling ill with symptoms pointing to toxin ingestion. The Eyrie spent a lot of time and resources caring and healing the birds, though they were unable to do so for their Eurasian eagle-owl named Echo, who tragically lost his life.
As the Morgans navigated the loss and additional challenges — including damage to another building, the weathering area, during the spring ice storm — The Eyrie received support from regional wildlife reserves and rehabilitation centres. Most recently, Bowmanville’s Soper Creek Wildlife Rescue donated food for the raptors.
“That support definitely helps in a time when we were feeling a little bit isolated,” Matthew says. “We’re a pretty small community but we do a good job of keeping each other supported.”
To learn more about The Eyrie, visit www.theeyrie.ca.
The Local Advantage in Peterborough County is a branded editorial feature series about locally owned independent businesses in Peterborough County, created in partnership with Peterborough County’s Economic Development & Tourism Division.
As part of its response to the impact of U.S. tariffs, Peterborough County is showcasing the many unique businesses located in the county, both by sharing their stories of success and how they support both residents and other businesses in their communities.
Whether by shopping at local businesses, dining at local restaurants, staying at local accommodation, or enjoying local experiences, residents and visitors can enhance the economic resilience of Peterborough County during these challenging times and help establish a sustainable foundation for the future.
For more information about economic development and tourism in Peterborough County, visit www.ptbocounty.ca/ecdev and The Kawarthas Tourism at thekawarthas.ca.
