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Ruby is doing very well, and is eating on her own.
Houdini is doing pretty well. His eye looks great so far, but he is not eating on his own yet, so the Purdue staff are hand feeding him. He doesn't like that, but he's taking it better. We hope we can bring them both home really soon! Thank you all for giving Ruby and Houdini a chance!
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NEST NEWS
Yep, it's October and we've not moved yet. So what's the plan?
We hope to have our education birds and any over-wintering birds being rehabilitated in their new quarters by December 31. The operations building will be released for operation at the same time. Sixteen habitats for our education birds (four 4-unit condos) are under construction and moving along.
The handful of over-wintering rehab birds will be housed in a fifth habitat, made over a year ago, which will be moved to the new site before year-end.
Construction on the two exercise aviaries will not begin until spring. Meanwhile, we have permission to use the adjacent neighbor's side yard for creance. (We are so lucky and thankful to have fantastic neighbors: Dave, who has done extensive work preparing the site for construction, and Leo, who is leading the ed bird construction crew.)
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"The key to nature's therapy is feeling like a tiny part of it, not a master over it.
There's amazing pride in seeing a bee land on a flower you planted -
but that's not your act of creation, it's your act of joining in."
-
Victoria Coren Mitchell
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'Tis the Season. . .
GET READY FOR "GIVING TUESDAY,"
DECEMBER 3, 2019!
Help Us Help Them Live!
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Each year, the Tuesday after Thanksgiving is designated as "Giving Tuesday," which began as a movement to create an international day of charitable giving at the beginning of the holiday season.
This year, will you consider making Soarin' Hawk a beneficiary of your holiday charitable giving?
Saving birds of prey is expensive. Most of the birds are BIG, and they eat a LOT!
For example, on the night of September 29, one of our volunteers got a call about an injured bald eagle. Two volunteers went out in the dark to try to find the eagle, but he was nowhere to be found. Reluctantly, they called off the search. The next afternoon, our rescue line got a call about the same eagle. A passer-by had caught a glimpse of him, and turned his car around to see if the bird needed help. He saw that the bird couldn't fly well, so he called us. Our ICU volunteers were nearby, and they were able to capture the eagle and bring him to our intensive care facility.
The eagle needed x-rays, pain and anti-inflammatory medications twice daily for several weeks, and - because he kept taking off his bandages - frequent bandage replacements. Plus, he eats nearly a pound of food twice a day! We don't believe in cutting corners when it comes to caring for the birds we rescue, but all the things they need cost a lot!
In this beautiful season of giving, will you help us raise $2500 to offset some of the costs of caring for these magnificent birds?
Above are three of the many saved by Soarin' Hawk this year, thanks to the generosity of people like you. We hope you will find it in your heart again to donate, so we can continue saving these amazing birds that are so vital to our world. There's no need to wait until December 3. Click the button below to donate now, so you don't forget!
[
What happened to the eagle?
The eagle has recovered enough to be transferred to our rehab facility, where he will be exercised to help him gain the strength he needs to fly, so he can return to the wild.]
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A VERY SPECIAL RELEASE
On October 3, Soarin' Hawk volunteer Bill O. drove down to Berne, IN to pick up an injured osprey. An exam by Dr. Pat revealed no broken bones, but a possible puncture wound on his left wing tip. There was also severe bruising in this area. He was treated with pain medication, and we kept him until his injuries healed and he was eating well. Then, on October 12, he was ready to go home.
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Two days after the osprey was released, Jeremy texted us this photo.
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ANOTHER HAPPY NEW BEGINNING!
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On July 31, the Soarin' Hawk rescue line got a call from Brian, a groundskeeper at the Fort Wayne Country Club. He had been watching a red-tailed hawk on the ground for several days, and was concerned, because the bird appeared to be unable to fly. Jill P. rescued the bird and took him to our ICU, where there appeared to be no external injuries, but a small amount of blood was found in his mouth, with no apparent source.
An exam by our veterinarian and x-rays yielded no significant findings, except that he was dehydrated, so he was given subcutaneous fluids and we held him for observation.
After about a month in our intensive care unit, he had recovered enough to be moved to our rehabilitation facility, where he gained strength and practiced flying while tethered, to help determine his suitability to be released. Finally, he was ready to go home.
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Nov. 8
- Owl Hike - Eagle Marsh, Fort Wayne, IN - 7:00pm
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DID YOU KNOW . . .
you can check on the status of a rescued bird on our web site? First, y
ou need to know the type of bird (e.g., "screech owl") and the date the bird was rescued. Then
Click on "The Raptors" at the top of the page
Click on "Rehab Birds"
Scroll down to find the type of bird and the date it was rescued.
(If you don't see your bird under "Rehab Birds," check under "Released Birds" or "Placed Birds.")
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RESCUE OF THE MONTH
by Mary Koher
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I received a text message early this morning asking if I could meet a fellow rehabber who was coming in from Peru, IN with an owl. I had the time, so I left home and, after making contact with Linda, it was decided that we would meet in Roanoke, IN. We met and transferred a very lethargic Great Horned Owl to my rescue box. Linda stated that the Peru police department was contacted by a concerned citizen who spotted the owl in the middle of the road near the intersection of US31 and US24, close to Peru.
The police were able to get the owl to the median and they protected it with squad cars until Linda arrived. Barb met me at the treatment and recovery unit to do triage. Our initial assessment found the owl to have a fracture of the coracoid bone on the left side of the body, which appears to be affecting the left wing, and the right eye appeared cloudy, both the result of a probable car strike. He was treated with several medications, his wing was wrapped to his body, and he was placed on a towel roll to help hold him upright. He was taken to Dr. Funnell for radiographs and to confirm the diagnosis. Hopefully, she will be able to repair the issues so that we can return this beautiful owl back to the wild.
Update 10-13-19:
When the treatment and recovery crew arrived this morning, they found the owl standing and appearing to feel much better, and the right eye doesn’t look as cloudy today! Dr. Funnell will be seeing this owl tomorrow. Praying that he can be healed.
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WHAT HAPPENED TO OCTOBER'S "RESCUES OF THE MONTH?"
Sadly, the
red-tailed hawk
that received burns at the filtration plant in Fort Wayne died from his injuries.
The
peregrine falcon
is still with us, staying with one of Soarin' Hawk's rehabbers. He is getting physical therapy for his wing injury.
The
bald eagle
is still in our intensive care facility. He is receiving pain medication while his injuries heal, but he is one feisty bird! That's a very good thing!
The
osprey
went back to his home in the wild on October 12! (See above for the release video.)
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CELEBRATING GENEROSITY
Thanks to October donors!
Amazon Smile, Anonymous, P. Davich, S. Deemsy, Kroger Community Rewards, Network for Good
Thanks also to the donors who give each and every month!
L. Dearing, Fort Wayne Subaru, S. McInnis
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EDUCATION CORNER
One of the World’s Coolest, Most Specialized Raptors in Action
A decade ago, Snail Kite numbers in Florida dipped to a worrying low. Since then, an influx of exotic snails has helped the endangered birds rebound.
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Owls' eyes are amazing structures, totally unlike the eyes that we humans have, but ideally suited to the life and needs of a night-time predator.
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We were able to rescue this beautiful red-tailed hawk, rehab him, and return him to the wild, thanks to donations from folks like you. Won't you make a donation now so we can help others like this hawk? No contribution is too small!
Your donation is tax deductible.
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