I volunteer at a raptor rehabilitation center here in MT. I cut up mice, wild game, quail to feed the the raptors that are housed in the center.
The MRCC receives ~150 raptors/year. Many are too severely injured to recover & consequently are euthanized. Frequently, the injuries will kill the raptor before it can be euthanized. But, many are rehabilited & released & some become permanant residents because their injuries, while healed, prevent them from surviving in the wild.
Sadly, every raptor that comes to the center is injured because of human activity. The raptors are hit by cars, electrocuted, shot, caught in barbed wire to name a few causes of raptor injuries.
Here is an image I shot today at the raptor center. Becky (MRCC administrator) is "tong feeding" a red tailed hawk that is unable to feed himself.
The focal point is the RTH's eye. I like the image because the tong feeding, the eye & the feet are clearly visible. Also it shows the concentration of the holder (Ronnie) & Becky. In addition to feeding the birds, Becky will hydrate them subcutaneously, administer meds & perform any other treatments that are needed.
The image was shot in the rehab room. The cages in the background are "walk-over" cages. There are 2 cages side by side that are separated by a sliding wall. When I feed the raptors, I put the food in the adjacent empty cage, pull the wall out so the raptor can move to the empty adjacent cage & then, when the raptor has moved to the clean cage, I slide the wall back in place & clean the dirty empty cage.
This RTH was removed from the ICU. The ICU is where the most severely injured birds are kept until they recover to the point that they can be housed in the rehab area or euthanized. Frequently, raptors are euthanized the day the arrive. Eventually, if they recover enough, the raptors will be moved to a flight cage & hopefully released.
The business end of a raptor is the talons because their grip can be up to 1000 psi. A human grip is ~ 30 psi.
Good for you, Andrew. That's sad that so many birds get injured and don't recover, but it's awesome that you and others are there to give them all the help you can. Thanks for sharing!
It's great news to know that some people are working so hard to help these raptors. I feel sorry for the ones that have to be euthanized but I understand that some times there is no other way.
Thanks everyone. It is truly a wonderful & unique experience. I have held a great horned owl, a sharp shinned hawk, a cooper's hawk, a bald eagle & a northern saw whet owl. I am amazed at the strength of these birds. I have been bitten by a turkey vulture & an immature bald eagle while I was hand feeding her to gain her trust. Helping these raptors is truly a marvelously rewarding experience on many levels.
Becky, Ronnie & a red tailed hawk
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