Friday, December 30, 2011

Unusual Groceries

The other day, as I was unloading groceries from my van, I was reminded why the Carolina Wren is one of my favorite birds.
A Carolina Wren perched in a Hawthorn tree in full bloom
As a matter of course, I always request paper bags at the grocery store.  I can reuse them at least once (sometimes more) before consigning them to the trash, and I have the satisfaction of knowing that they will decompose and are compostible.  Another big plus for me is that I know they will stay upright in my van and not spew their contents at every turn, like plastic bags.  What does this have to do with wrens?  You’ll see where this is going in just a minute.

I had just carried in the first bag of groceries, leaving the hatchback door on my van open in anticipation of returning to unload the rest of the groceries.  Since the first bag was my frozen products I took the 3-4 minutes necessary to stow them in my freezer.  Upon returning to my van I discovered that in that short 3-4 minute time period my grocery bags had become bird habitat!

As I approached the van a Carolina Wren erupted from my bag of produce with a startled squawk and began to flit around the interior of the van, ending up perched on the driver’s seat.  After I stopped chuckling I opened the van doors and went on with the task of unloading my groceries, certain that my unexpected tenant would find his or her way out through one of the doors. 

Sure enough, when I returned on my next trip, the van was no longer occupied—however, from the Holly tree next to the driveway came the unmistakable scolding cry of an angry Wren.  Apparently it had vacated the premises, but was definitely not happy about the situation, even dive-bombing me a couple of times as I continued my trips back and forth.
Ounce for ounce, Carolina Wrens are one of the feistiest little birds I know.  At times like these I’m thankful they’re not the size of an Eagle. 

Carolina Wrens are one of the most entertaining and opportunistic little birds at my backyard feeders.  These little dynamos have been known to build nests in just about anything you can think of.  We personally have had them nest in a barbecue grill, a hose reel and in a hat my husband had sitting on a shelf in the garage.  They can build a nest in a matter of a couple of hours.  Before my husband leaves our lake cabin he has now learned that he must do a walk-through of the garage to make sure he doesn’t trap an erstwhile nest-builder inside.
Some co-ops in the area carry a nut blend known only by the term "tree nuts"--a favorite winter food
Carolina Wrens are indigenous to the New World, being found in the United States, Canada and as far south as the northern part of Guatemala.  This little bird with the long binomial (species) name, Thyrothorus ludovicianus, is the state bird of South Carolina.  If you are lucky enough to have a pair of resident Carolina Wrens in your yard you may be entertained by their antics throughout the year, as they go about their job of catching insects in your garden.  In winter they will occasionally eat seeds, berries, and other small fruits, but you can help their winter survival rate by filling your feeders with nuts and suet, as these birds do not migrate.
I never tire of hearing a Carolina Wren's joyful song
In the summer this little bird’s joyful song seems to fill my backyard.   One captive male Carolina Wren was recorded as singing 3,000 times in one day according to a National Geographic web page. 

If you are not lucky enough to have these little mighty mites in your yard, be sure to stop by the bird feeders in the triangle area at the World Bird Sanctuary on your next visit.  You can make use of the benches placed strategically near the feeders to enjoy a short rest, and will most likely see some of these entertaining little birds in action.

If you love watching the birds, come join us on January 2 for a new event—the WBS Christmas Bird Count.  We will meet about 100 yards inside the main gate (on the triangle) at 7 A.M.

Submitted by Gay Schroer, World Bird Sanctuary Volunteer/Photographer





  

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Be a Part of "Mission Accomplished!"

You can be a part of WBS's "Mission Accomplished!" celebrations in 2012!

Walter C. Crawford, Jr. founded World Bird Sanctuary over 35 years ago, with one goal - protect our threatened bird species and their habitats.

Over the last 35 years we have successfully released many hawks, eagles, owls, vultures, peregrine falcons and other birds of prey to the wild.  We gave them a second chance.

This would not have been possible without your help.

YOU AND PATRIOT.  VITAL PARTS OF SUCCESSFULLY ACHIEVING OUR MISSION IN 2012.

Patriot is a Bald Eagle that was hatched in the wild and rescued after her nest was blown into a river.  She recovered from the pneumonia, but it had left her lungs so scarred that she did not have the lung capacity required to be able to fly and hunt.  She would have died if she was returned to the wild.
 Patriot.  A Bald Eagle of distinction. 
Patriot is a vital part of our environmental education team - she travels with a purpose: to teach children and adults about the threats facing Bald Eagles and other bird species in North America and around the world.


PATRIOT'S STORY HELPS US KEEP EAGLES WILD
With your help, we can ensure that more birds are released back to the wild. 

 After 18 months, a Bald Eagle found hanging from fishing line by the wing was returned to the wild.

Our wildlife hospital admits 300-400 birds per year, and we successfully release most of them back to the wild.  We could not have done this without the help of our supporters.

Your donation to World Bird Sanctuary today will help us ensure future successes like the 7 bald eagles and countless owls and hawks that we rehabilitated and returned to the wild this year.

The mission of the World Bird Sanctuary is to preserve the earth's biological diversity and to secure the future of threatened bird species in their natural environments.  We work to fulfill this mission through education, propagation, field studies and rehabilitation.

Help us educate others to make the choices that can help them protect our environment. You can be confident that your donation today will help Patriot continue to spread her story and that of others like her!

Donate Now!

We have over 30 years of success in achieving our mission through our four focus areas, and numerous accolades and awards for our achievements in wildlife conservation and education.

The World Bird Sanctuary is a consistently successful and credible conservation organization, which makes investing in us one of the safest philanthropic decisions you can make.

We will use your donation wisely.

World Bird Sanctuary meets all 20 charity standards set by the Better Business

Monday, December 26, 2011

Have You Seen This Great White Hunter?

 In September 2010 I received an excited phone call from a friend’s daughter who lives in an undisclosed rural area of  Missouri.

On her way out of her neighborhood, with her children in the vehicle, she spotted what appeared to be a large white bird perched atop a road sign.  As she drew closer she realized, to her amazement, that it was an owl.  Neither my friend nor her daughter, are avid birders.  Beyond the fact that it must be an owl, she had no idea what she was seeing.  So, she called the only person she could think of who was really “into” birds—me.

When I picked up the phone I could tell my friend was REALLY excited!  She kept repeating that she was “….looking at an owl and it’s really, really, white!  What is it?”  The thought that it could be an albino fleetingly crossed my mind and was immediately discarded because I know how rare they are.  I began by asking the standard questions.  How big is it?  Does it have ear tufts (the feathers on the head that resemble little “horns”)?  What is its general body shape? 
A Great-horned Owl, the largest owl native to Missouri -- note the ear tufts 
Of course, to someone who is not accustomed to seeing owls in the wild at all, things like size and body shape are very subjective matters.  The closest we could get to an accurate description was the fact that there were no ear tufts and that it was “big”.  This ruled out two of our state’s most common native owl species—the Great Horned Owl (the largest) and the Screech Owl (our smallest native owl), both of which have ear tufts.
  An Eastern Screech Owl, the smallest owl native to Missouri -- note the ear tufts
That left the possibility that:
            a)  It could be a Snowy Owl that had wandered this far south (a very rare occurrence)
            b)  It could be an albino or leucistic Barred Owl (an incredibly rare occurrence)           
c)  It could be an extremely light colored Barn Owl that under dim lighting conditions could seem white (the most likely scenario) 
 A Snowy Owl - a rare and infrequent visitor from the North 
Since my friend had rarely seen owls in the wild I told her I was inclined to believe that the light colored Barn Owl was the most likely candidate, even though they are quite rare in eastern Missouri.  (What is it they always say about “assuming”)?   However, just to be sure I asked her to try to get a picture with her cell phone and email it to me.
An American Barn Owl - occasionally they can be much lighter and can appear white in dim light
After several days I emailed her to remind her about the photos, but when I heard no further from her I guessed that she was unable to get a photo and in the press of other things promptly forgot about the incident.

Last week (it is now December 2011) to my astonishment I received the following photo from my friend.  Her daughter had by now figured out how to email photos from her new cell phone and had sent her mother a number of photos.  When my friend saw the owl photo she immediately sent it along to me, since she knew I would be interested.
Believe it or not--this is a Barred Owl!
You guessed it!  It’s an albino Barred Owl!  So much for assumptions!  Now it was my turn to be excited!  I immediately called my friend, and this time it was my turn to babble.  I kept asking if they had any idea how rare this was!  Of course, this prompted a phone call from my friend’s daughter in which I was able to get more details about the encounter.
A normally colored and marked Barred Owl
Apparently after her original call to me in 2010 she took several photos of the owl, actually turning the car around in order to get a better shot.  The owl seemed undisturbed by the car, which indicates that it was accustomed to hunting near the roadside and considered vehicles to be just another part of its environment.  My friend stayed until it became too dark to take further photos.  She said they later saw the owl again on another occasion, but have not seen it lately.  It would be interesting to know if anyone else in rural areas of Missouri have seen this winged wonder.
Another view of our white Barred Owl showing no normal coloration in what should be his darker feathers
Just to give you an idea of how rare this is--following are some facts about albinism and leucism in birds that I found when researching the probabilities of seeing a Barred Owl of this color. 

            Leucistic -- Leucism is a condition characterized by reduced pigmentation in animals and humans. Unlike albinism, it is caused by a reduction in all types of skin pigment--not just melanin--resulting from defects in pigment cells during development. This results in either the entire surface (if all pigment cells fail to develop) or patches of body surface (if only a subset are defective) having a lack of cells capable of making pigment.  Leucistic individuals usually have normally colored eyes.

            Albinism -- Albinism in birds is rare, occurring to any extent in perhaps one in 1800 individuals (Terres 1980). (This number includes all bird species—the ratio for owls is even greater).  A bird that is albino (from the Latin albus, "white") has white feathers in place of colored ones on some portion of its body.  This condition is a genetically inherited trait resulting when each parent has the recessive gene for albinism.  A bird that is naturally white, such as a swan, goose, or egret, is not an albino, nor is a bird that has seasonally alternating white plumage (like the Ptarmigan, a Grouse-like game bird from the far North).

This would seem to be a very straightforward definition of the condition, but as in many cases within the scientific community, there are differences of opinion among the experts as to what constitutes albinism.  All seem to agree that there are four different degrees of albinism:

°            Partial albinism in which local areas of the bird’s body, such as certain feathers, are lacking the pigment melanin

°            Imperfect albinism in which the pigment is partially inhibited in the skin, eyes, or feathers, but is not absent from any of them (this produces a very pale, almost white version of their normal body pattern)

°            Incomplete albinism is the complete absence of pigment from the skin, eyes, or feathers, but not all three           

°            A completely albino bird is the most rare, lacking any pigment in its skin, eyes, and feathers. The eyes in this case are pink or red, because blood shows through in the absence of pigment in the irises. The beak, legs, and feet are very pale or white.  (Some authorities hold that albinism affects melanin pigments but not necessarily the carotenoid pigments (any of a class of yellow to red pigments). 

If the carotenoid theory is correct, then our white Barred Owl would probably qualify as a complete albino, whereas by the above definitions he could be an example of incomplete albinism (only a close examination of his skin could truly verify this).

In all my research I found only one reference to a total albino Barred Owl, and a very few recorded references to the other three types of albinistic Barred Owls. At any rate, this beautiful bird is most certainly a rarity.

Historically, the survival rate in the wild for albino animals is not good—due to poor eyesight in bright light caused by their condition, rejection by others of their species because of their color, and their lack of camouflage (whether they are a prey animal or a predator).  However, one theory presented in a study  of albino Great Grey Owls in Finland indicated that owls seemed less affected by these problems than most other birds.  This theory holds that these nocturnal predators’ hunting success depends largely on locating their prey by sound rather than by sight.  Thus, poor eyesight in bright light is not a disability to these nocturnal hunters.
Another view showing his yellow feet and beak--this would support the carotenoid theory
Is he still out there?  If you live in a rural area of Missouri have you seen this beautiful white hunter?  If so, we would love to hear from you via our “Comments” section on this blog. 

Submitted by Gay Schroer, World Bird Sanctuary Volunteer/Photographer

















References:
http://www.ncrs.fs.fed.us/epubs/owl/ALAJA&M.PDF (Albinism in the Great Gray Owl (Strix nebulosa) and Other Owls) by Pentti Alaja and Heimo Mikkola1





Saturday, December 24, 2011

Merry Christmas

On the eve of this most blessed holiday the staff and animals of the World Bird Sanctuary
   
wish you a heartfelt Merry Christmas.

May you have the joy of sharing this day with your family, friends and other loved ones, including those who wear fur, scales and feathers. 
 Frazzle, our one-eyed Eastern Screech Owl
Our most sincere thanks for supporting the World Bird Sanctuary, and for remembering your feathered friends in their time of need.  Many of them would not still be here but for your generosity.


Thursday, December 22, 2011

Remember Patriot?

Remember WBS in your annual giving and help keep birds off the endangered species list.

Walter C. Crawford, Jr. founded World Bird Sanctuary over 35 years ago, with one goal - protect our threatened bird species and their habitats.

Over the last 35 years we have successfully released many hawks, eagles, owls, vultures, peregrine falcons and other birds of prey to the wild.  We gave them a second chance.

This would not have been possible without your help.

REMEMBER PATRIOT?

Patriot is a Bald Eagle that was hatched in the wild and rescued after her nest was blown into a river.  She recovered from the pneumonia, but it had left her lungs so scarred that she did not have the lung capacity required to be able to fly and hunt.  She would have died if she was returned to the wild.
  
Patriot is a vital part of our environmental education team - she travels with a purpose: to teach children and adults about the threats facing Bald Eagles and other bird species in North America and around the world.

PATRIOT'S STORY HELPS US KEEP EAGLES WILD
With your help, we can ensure that more birds are released back to the wild. 

 
After 18 months, a Bald Eagle found hanging from fishing line by the wing was returned to the wild. 
Our wildlife hospital admits 300-400 birds per year, and we successfully release most of them back to the wild.  We could not have done this without the help of our supporters.

Your donation to World Bird Sanctuary today will help us ensure future successes like the 7 bald eagles and countless owls and hawks that we rehabilitated and returned to the wild this year.

YOU CAN BE A PART OF OUR MISSION SUCCESS!

The mission of the World Bird Sanctuary is to preserve the earth's biological diversity and to secure the future of threatened bird species in their natural environments.  We work to fulfill this mission through education, propagation, field studies and rehabilitation.

Help us educate others to make the choices that can help them protect our environment. You can be confident that your donation today will help Patriot continue to spread her story and that of others like her!

Donate Now!

We have over 30 years of success in achieving our mission through our four focus areas, and numerous accolades and awards for our achievements in wildlife conservation and education.

The World Bird Sanctuary is a consistently successful and credible conservation organization, which makes investing in us one of the safest philanthropic decisions you can make.

We will use your donation wisely.

Caption: World Bird Sanctuary meets all 20 charity standards

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

DUMPLING

On Thursday, December 15, our beloved Bantam Cochin Chicken, Dumpling, passed away due to the natural processes of old age.  Dumpling was approaching 17 years.

Most chickens have an average lifespan of 6-10 years—occasionally living into their teens if they are well fed and well cared for.  Dumpling certainly had those advantages as an official greeter and goodwill ambassador for the World Bird Sanctuary.

Dumpling was one of our most beloved residents.  For many years she was a fixture in our Visitor Information Center (VIC).  Most of the time she freely roamed the VIC, greeting and entertaining guests as they entered.   In particular, she was extremely patient with our small visitors—allowing them to stroke her soft feathers, and in many cases experience their first contact with a live bird. 

Dumpling became so popular that she had her own following among our guests—many of whom made the VIC their first stop at the World Bird Sanctuary specifically to see her.

In recent months it had become increasingly obvious that old age was catching up with Dumpling.  She was not able to move as quickly as in the past and her eyesight was failing her.  This put her at risk for accidental collisions with guests while roaming through the VIC.  Therefore, in May of 2011 she was retired to safer quarters in our “behind the scenes” area. 

Dumpling will be sorely missed by staff and visitors alike.  


Submitted by Gay Schroer, World Bird Sanctuary Volunteer/Photographer

Sunday, December 18, 2011

Myths, Legends, and Tales: The Raven

World Bird Sanctuary is home to a very diverse collection of birds.

Most of our birds are birds of prey—that is to say, hawks, owls, eagles, and others.  This is to be expected, of course since the Sanctuary started in 1977 as a rehabilitation center for injured raptors.  However, raptors are not our only inhabitants. We house parrots, cranes, pelicans, and chickens… as well as those wily and mysterious creatures, the ravens…
  
Ravens are some of the most intelligent birds on the planet.  They are able to recognize faces, shapes, and patterns, as well as mimic words and phrases.  They have a mutually beneficial relationship with wolves in the wild: a flock of ravens will find a dead or dying herd animal, and then a wolf pack finds them.  The wolves associate the gathering of ravens with fresh meat, and so follow the ravens to the prey.  After the wolves tear open the tough hide of the prey, the ravens can eat their fill of carrion.

The ravens here at World Bird Sanctuary are no exception to the claim of intelligence.  All three of our White-necked Ravens are able to recycle, picking up cans from audience members and placing the cans in a blue recycle bin.  They are able to mimic the Sanctuary staff….from Mischief coughing to Hugnin’s mutter of “much better.”  They are even able to complete puzzles, such as putting the correct shape in the correct hole in a puzzle ball.  They are also very crafty, and try to outsmart even us trainers at every turn.
 Mischief, a White-naped Raven demonstrates that "...even a bird can recycle" 
Ravens in the wild, aside from being smart, are also prolific.  The Common Raven is exceptionally so, occurring not only in North America, but also in Great Britain, Scandinavia, Northern Europe and Russia.  So widespread is this bird that cultures around the world have adopted the raven into their myths and legends.  Some of the most well known are as follows…

Norse Mythology:

It is said that the king of the Norse gods, Odin, had two raven familiars.  Their names were Hugin and Muninn.  Hugin represented thought, and Muninn represented memory.  Every day, Odin would send Hugin and Muninn out over Mithgarth (the world, in Norse myth) to gather information.  In one poem of the Poetic Edda, a compendium of Norse myths, Odin states: “O’er Mithgarth Hugin/ and Muninn both/ each day set forth to fly;/ For Hugin I fear/ lest he come not home,/ but for Muninn my care is more.”  This suggests that Odin valued his memory of things past over his knowledge of the present.  In artwork depicting the god, he is pictured often with Hugin and Muninn, but also with wolves.  This further alludes to the relationship between ravens and wolves in the wild.
Illustration courtesy of wikipedia shows the Norse god Odin enthroned with weapons, wolves and ravens

English Legend:

Legend says that, “…the kingdom and the Tower will fall if the ravens ever leave the fortress.”  So proclaims a superstition once held by the English monarchy.  If the ravens ever leave the Tower of London, the English monarchy is doomed.  Around the British Isles, the raven is a symbol of prophecy, and is also said to predict the outcome of battles.  So ingrained was this belief, that King Charles II and his astronomer, John Flamsteed, once argued about the ravens in the Tower, which was once home to an observatory.  Flamsteed complained that he was unable to see anything in the sky, for the ravens were blocking his telescope.  King Charles famously ended the argument by proclaiming: “The Observatory must go to Greenwich and the ravens can stay in the tower.”
Ravens strolling the grounds of the Tower of London courtesy of wikimedia commons 

Native American Myth:
Whereas the ravens of the eastern hemisphere myths tend to be more intelligent and mysterious, the ravens of the western hemisphere are altogether more mischievous.  This is never more apparent than in the story “Raven Steals the Light,” a myth from the Pacific Northwest. 

At the beginning of the story, the world lies in darkness, and “The Raven, who of course existed at that time because he had always existed and always would, was somewhat less satisfied with this state of affairs, since it led to an awful lot of blundering around and bumping into things.”  He hears a man singing about how he keeps the light in a small box, inside another box, inside another, and so on and so forth, until there are an enormous number of boxes.  Raven uses all of his considerable wiles, and eventually worms his way inside the house and steals the light from the man, with which he brightens the world.

Ravens are indeed fascinating creatures, but by no means are they the only fascinating creatures we have here at World Bird Sanctuary.  Check back soon for more Myths, Legends, and Tales of birds from around the world!

When visiting the World Bird Sanctuary’s Nature Center check the enclosure on the right-hand side of the observation deck to see one of our talented ravens.

Submitted by Emily Hall, World Bird Sanctuary Naturalist/Trainer

Friday, December 16, 2011

2011: International Year of Forests...Forest birds and neo-tropical connections

In Missouri, 428 species of birds have been recorded. 

One hundred and seventy of those species breed here every year; 84 of them leave Missouri for the winter and 58 of them go further and leave the United States.  The latter include what is called neo-tropical migrants.  Unfortunately many neo-tropical birds have suffered population declines since the ‘60s (when tracking birds first started).  Many songbird populations are half of their 1965 populations.
A Ruby-throated Hummingbird--possibly one of the best known of the neo-tropical migrants
Missouri forests, and wildlife resources in general, have made a remarkable recovery from the early 20th century.  In the past 20 years, Missouri has had an increase of 1 million acres of forested land--making a total of 14 million acres.  Still, forest fragmentation may play a role in the survival of certain bird populations.   Fragmentation is a discontinuity of a particular type of habitat and forest fragmentation increases with land-use conversion.

For example, forest fragmentation in many areas has put brown-headed cowbirds in closer proximity to forests, when historically they were found in open land and grassland habitats, like the great plains.  Brown-headed cowbirds use brood parasitism as a nesting strategy.  Females will lay eggs in the nests of other bird species.  These host birds will usually end up raising the cowbird at the expense of their own young.  Many open land and grassland species have learned to recognize the cowbird’s egg and push it out, but forest birds are not familiar with them.  Cowbird eggs hatch earlier, grow faster and often push the host young and/or eggs out of the nest.  This is just one example that can over time reduce the populations of forest birds. 
Brown-headed Cowbirds parasitize the nests of native birds
Habitat loss is also occurring in wintering grounds in Mexico, Central and South America, where our neo-tropical migrants may spend up to 8 months.  Much of Central America has been converting from independent farming to large-scale agriculture and non-sustainable timber harvesting.  Also, not helping the situation is the continuous human population increases, putting more pressure on the already stressed land.

The Missouri Department of Conservation has built partnerships with states and countries with shared bird species.  Four main bird conservation initiatives are the leaders in coordinating efforts on managing habitats and learning more about species: Partners in Flight, North American Waterfowl Management Plan, US Shorebird Conservation Plan and North American Water Bird Plan.  These sources help guide state and federal agencies, non-governmental organizations and industries on land management issues, and help rank the species and habitats by priority for conservation concern. 

Submitted by Sara Oliver, World Bird Sanctuary Naturalist

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Only Ten More Days

Black Friday has come and gone and we're half-way through the month of December.  Christmas is only 10 days away! 


Is your Christmas shopping done yet?  If not, right about now you're probably starting to panic!   Are you wishing for an elf who would do your shopping for you, so that you don't have to fight the holiday crowds at the mall?


We don't have an elf, but we do have the next best thing!  You can avoid the crowds and finish your shopping by browsing the World Bird Sanctuary's gift shop.  In addition to avoiding the crowds, your purchases will help to fund the World Bird Sanctuary's mission.
Just a small sampling of the gift items available in our gift shop
Our gift shop offers a variety of items ranging from small and unusual stocking stuffers to books, jewelry, t-shirts and outdoor wear, and a host of other original items—all with a nature related theme.  All of these items may be purchased in person while enjoying a leisurely day wandering the grounds of the World Bird Sanctuary and enjoying a day away from the crowds at the mall.

Don’t have time to visit in person?  Other gift options that may be purchased on-line from the comfort of your home include:

BUY A BRICK

For those on your list that fall into the “hard to buy for” category consider giving them a lasting gift – a brick to be installed in our amphitheater with your holiday wishes or other sentiment inscribed on it.  Two brick sizes are available, with the option of including a presentation gift certificate for gift giving.  To purchase a brick click here


ADOPT A BIRD
Our adorable Goblin--just one of the many animals available for adoption
All of the birds and other animals that call World Bird Sanctuary home are available for adoption. Your adoption helps to care for your animal for a year, and adoption fees include:

•            Certificate of Adoption with a full color photograph of your special animal
•            World Bird Sanctuary sponsorship for one year
•            One year’s subscription to our newsletter – the Mews News – printed three times per year
•            Natural history and life history of your special adopted animal
•            10% discount on all World Bird Sanctuary merchandise in our gift shop
•            10% discount on all public programs offered at World Bird Sanctuary, such as Owl Prowls, Nature Hikes etc.
•            Visiting privileges and photo opportunities with the special new member of your family  (just call ahead first to make sure they will be here on the day of your visit).

To adopt your bird select the category of bird that you want to adopt, and then click on the individual bird within that gallery and complete the adoption form.

RETURN TO THE WILD
Preparing to return a Barred Owl to the wild at a Brownie Troop fly-up ceremony
Take part in the release of a rehabilitated bird!
Returning a bird of prey back to the wild, can cost up to $1,000 in care and rehabilitation. Your contribution of only $150 helps our patients and gives you the opportunity to participate in the release of a wild bird of prey.
Troop leader getting ready to release the Barred Owl
Invite family and friends to release a bird of prey at your home or nearby park. Celebrate a wedding, birthday, anniversary, family reunion, school or corporate function with this special gift.
The newly release Barred Owl back where it belongs
The World Bird Sanctuary Wildlife Hospital is a cornerstone of the World Bird Sanctuary, and is entirely funded by donations from the public. Help us give our patients a second chance to fly. Sponsor a release today .
Scouts and guests watching the owl fly free
Questions about Return to the Wild? Call: (636) 861-1392 or email: credfern@worldbirdsanctuary.org

A WBS Friend Membership

Your WBS Friend Membership includes:
•            One year’s subscription to our newsletter – the Mews News – printed three times per year
•            Reusable WBS shopping bag
•            10% discount on all World Bird Sanctuary merchandise in our gift shop
•            Invitation to Friends-only events like Camera Day offering unique photographic opportunities featuring live birds of prey. Bring your cameras for rare shots of raptors in natural settings
•            10% discount on all public programs offered at World Bird Sanctuary, such as Owl Prowls, Nature Hikes etc.
•            Invitations to members-only events held at World Bird Sanctuary

To purchase a WBS Friend membership click here

RAPTOR PROJECT CD
A great gift for the youngsters on your list--or their teachers
For the youngsters on your list there is a selection of two audio CDs by our in-house band, The Raptor Project.  These CDs also contain encoded lyrics and teacher activity pages.  Enjoy songs such as “Mr. Frog Blues”, “Those Wonderful Birds”, “The Food Chain Blues”, and many more.  All proceeds from sale of CDs supports the Wildlife Hospital.  To purchase a CD click here

BEAK TO BEAK
For the book lover on your list purchase “Beak To Beak”, a book by our Director, Walter C. Crawford, Jr.  This book is filled with Walter's musings on wildlife, conservation and life in general told through a collection of short, true-life stories.

The book is available for purchase for $10.

Any of the above items may also be purchased in person at the World Bird Sanctuary’s Nature Center, or call 636-225-4390 Ext. 0 for further information.

Monday, December 12, 2011

Help Protect Our National Symbol

Patriot and her species need your help to keep birds off the endangered species list.

Walter C. Crawford, Jr. founded World Bird Sanctuary over 35 years ago, with one goal - protect our threatened bird species and their habitats.

Walter started his important work by rescuing and rehabilitating injured birds of prey.  This is still a core focus of our mission today.  Over the last 35 years we have successfully released many hawks, eagles, owls, vultures, peregrine falcons and other birds of prey to the wild.  We gave them a second chance.

This would not have been possible without your help.


MEET PATRIOT

Patriot is a Bald Eagle that was hatched in the wild.  During a violent storm her nest was blown from the tree it was built in, and fell into the Mississippi River.  Her sibling did not survive.  She was rescued by park rangers and brought to the World Bird Sanctuary Wildlife Hospital.  She had chronic pneumonia that was treated aggressively - she was medicated every day for 3 months.  She recovered from the pneumonia, but it had left her lungs so scarred that she did not have the lung capacity required to be able to fly and hunt.  She would have died if she was returned to the wild.

Patriot is a vital part of our environmental education team - she travels with a purpose: to teach children and adults about the threats facing Bald Eagles and other bird species in North America and around the world.

Her story touches over 170,000 children every year, as she travels throughout the United States with World Bird Sanctuary naturalists.


PATRIOT'S STORY IS NOT UNIQUE
With your help, we can ensure that more birds are released back to the wild. 


Over 90% of wild birds and animals admitted to wildlife hospitals around the country are there because of an encounter with a person or a man-made structure.  In the case of the eagle in our video, it hung by its wing from a fishing line for three days before it was rescued.
 
After 18 months, a Bald Eagle found hanging from fishing line by the wing was returned to the wild.

Our wildlife hospital admits 300-400 birds per year, and we successfully release most of them back to the wild.  We could not have done this without the help of our supporters.

Your donation  to World Bird Sanctuary today will help us ensure future successes like the 7 bald eagles and countless owls and hawks that we rehabilitated and returned to the wild this year.


OUR SUCCESS IS YOUR SUCCESS - YOU CAN HELP WORLD BIRD SANCTUARY SPREAD PATRIOT'S MESSAGE

The mission of the World Bird Sanctuary is to preserve the earth's biological diversity and to secure the future of threatened bird species in their natural environments.  We work to fulfill this mission through education, propagation, field studies and rehabilitation.

Help us educate others to make the choices that can help them protect our environment. You can be confident that your donation today will help Patriot continue to spread her story and that of others like her!

Donate  Now!

We have over 30 years of success in achieving our mission through our four focus areas, and numerous accolades and awards for our achievements in wildlife conservation and education.

The World Bird Sanctuary is a consistently successful and credible conservation organization, which makes investing in us one of the safest philanthropic decisions you can make.

We will use your money wisely.

World Bird Sanctuary meets all 20 charity standards set by the Better Business Bureau.