MEET THE NEW EDUCATION BIRDS! |
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Freckles - Red-Tailed Hawk
Freckles came to us in January 2020, after being hit by a car. The collision had ruptured his crop and caused a superficial abrasion on his right wing. He had surgery to close his ruptured crop, and x-rays revealed a fracture to his right metacarpal. He was treated with pain medication and an antibiotic.
After about a week, we started hand feeding him small amounts of food. (Some birds get very stressed in captivity, so we hand feed them until they start eating on their own.) Freckles required hand feeding twice per day for two months.
After about a month in our rehabilitation facility, we determined that Freckles has limited vision in one eye, which renders him non-releasable. An evaluation revealed that he is a very calm bird, so he is being trained to be an ambassador to educate humans about his species.
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Should You Worry About A Vulture Carrying Away Your Pets?
The short answer: No.
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“Don't play dead with a vulture. That's exactly what they want.”
~ Kevin Nealon
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A SPECIAL NOTE FROM GIGI,
OUR VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR
As things have been slowly opening up, Soarin’ Hawk will do the same with our orientations. For the time being, rather than doing one large orientation, we will be having smaller gatherings.
If you have previously sent in a request to become a volunteer, you should have received an email from me to schedule an orientation.
Thank you!
Gigi Stewart
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RESCUE OF THE MONTH - 10062020 Peregrine Falcon (tundra) |
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On October 6, volunteer Bill Oberg traveled to Elwood, IN to pick up this beautiful tundra peregrine falcon. The caller found him on the ground, unable to fly. Bill brought the bird to our ICU, where he was found to have an injured wing. The wing was wrapped, and he is recuperating under observation in our ICU.
In the Fall, Tundra peregrines migrate from the arctic to Central and South America and the Caribbean.
Please, please remember: If you find an injured bird or animal, you give them the best chance at survival by contacting a DNR-permitted rehabber as soon as possible. By law, you may keep the injured one for only 24 hours. While you search for a rehab, do not hold or pet the animal, and do not feed or give it water. Just put it in a box in quiet place, away from activity and noise. If you have difficulty finding a licensed rehab for a non-raptor, call the Soarin' Hawk rescue line (260-241-0134) and we will try to help you find someone.
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WHAT HAPPENED TO LAST MONTH'S FEATURED RESCUE? |
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09072020 Great Horned Owl was released on October 24, near a wooded area in South Whitley, Indiana. Watch the release! Click here.
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CELEBRATING YOUR GENEROSITY
Thanks to September donors . . .
Blackbaud, D. Brand, J. Clemme, A. Culley, P. Culley, D. Daugherty, P. Davich, B. Ferveda, K. Forrest, D. Humphrey, J. Hunter, R. Knuth, N. Laymon, A. Lieberum, S. McInnis, P. Patterson, E. Payonk, D. Ritchie, S. Rowland, K. Scheffler, J. Seiler, C. Springer, S. Wallace
Thanks to October donors . . .
Anonymous, S. Bendorfenau, F. Booth, L. Burrell, L. Goshorn, G. Harshbarger, L. Johnston, R. Juergeson, S. McFann, L. Ostergren, S. Zewicko
. . . and thanks to the donors who give each and every month!
Fort Wayne Subaru, Kroger Community Rewards, Network for Good
Gifts In Memoriam of . . .
C. Harshbarger, J. Weaver
Special thanks to Shirley Needham for her generous donation of 25 young eastern white pine trees.
Special thanks also to Barb Hathaway, who raised $250 for Soarin' Hawk at her garage sale last month. Thanks also to the handlers who brought the birds out to greet shoppers.
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03242020 Eastern Screech Owl - On September 24, 2020, the rescue line received a call from Mike in Churubusco. He had found a screech owl in the middle of a road and appeared dazed. They indicated he flew a little bit but came right back down and they were able to go pick him up. An exam showed a small abrasion in its left eye, which we treated with medication for pain and an antibiotic. After a month in our care, his eye healed and he showed us he could find food, so he was ready to go home.
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An Extra-Special Release - 09232020 Great Horned Owl - On September 23, volunteer Bill Oberg trekked through briars and brambles to retrieve this beautiful great horned owl. An exam showed that he had corneal ulcers in both eyes, and he received medications to help his eyes heal. On October 28, he was released near where he was found, in honor of Garry & Dawn's son, Chris.
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Bye, Bye, Barred! - 10062020 Barred Owl - On October 6, 2020, the hawkphone received a call from the South Bend Animal Shelter about a barred owl. Volunteer Gary Carlson brought the bird to our treatment facility, where it appeared to have diminished vision in both eyes. After a week, he started to find food on his own in his enclosure, so he was moved to our rehabilitation facility and after he acclimated he was moved to our flight pen, where he showed us he could fly and find food on his own. On October 30, volunteer Bill Oberg brought this little owl back to South Bend, where Gary released him close to where he was found.
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Owls Have Really Amazing Feet |
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Owls are zygodactyl, which means their feet have two forward-facing toes and two backward-facing toes. However, unlike most other zygodactyl birds, owls can pivot one of their back toes forward to help them grip and walk. (Credit to the Avian Conservation & Education Network) |
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We were able to rescue this beautiful great horned owl, thanks to donations from folks like you. Won't you make a donation now so we can help others like this little owl? No contribution is too small!
Your donation is tax deductible.
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Veterinary services provided by |
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