Editor’s Note: Our pal and filmmaker, Rory Gordon, was recently shooting (with a camera…) at a bird of prey refuge in upstate New York. She was very intrigued by Wild Wings, and after reading a little about them myself, I could see why…
Thousands of birds of prey are injured in the U.S. every year. If their injuries are treatable they are released back into the wild. However, the fate of many of these injured birds is euthanasia because they can no longer survive in the wild on their own. The alternative is placement in an educational facility such as Wild Wings. Among the raptor residents are eagles, hawks, falcons, vultures, and owls. We also house a non-releasable bobcat. Their injuries range from gunshot and car accident victims to those whom were in the illegal pet trade.
– Wild Wings website
Rory talks about her visit…
Wild Wings is just south of Rochester in Honeoye Falls, and is a very popular destination for school and youth groups, families, and anyone interested in these powerful, beautiful birds. Feeding time is a fascinating thing to see. Terry Kozakiewicz, director of the facility, fills 24 cat and dog food dishes with euthanized baby chicks, rats, venison… and ravioli. The human food goes to the birds that were kept as illegal pets. The former-pets were possibly the most tragic to me.
Peregrine Falcon
They fed a new addition to Wild Wings, a peregrine, as we watched. The special of the day was quail, but for many of these under the feather – um, weather – birds, the heads and feet of a quail are too bony to ingest, so, they’re cut off. Terry tells us this with a mother’s love as she’s chopping up and plunking down dead birds. Mom’s baked chicken looks a little different now.
Terry later explained that the birds at Wild Wings come from all over the country. The bald eagle, Athena, was shot by a hunter in Alaska. But surprisingly, a very large portion of injuries are car accidents. For example, one owl named Blaze was hit by a car and now has a neurological disorder resulting in seizures. Although rescue veterinarians can treat and release some birds, those such as Blaze who can no longer hunt for themselves need a permanent home like Wild Wings
Great Horned Owl
There are birds of prey sanctuaries in various parts of the country (see below) and they all need the support of everyone who values the wild creatures of the world. Volunteers at Wild Wings range from kids to senior citizens, and no experience is required to sign up. After cleaning ages for the first month or so, volunteers begin to learn how to care for the birds.
If you’re in the Rochester area, Wild Wings is having its annual Spaghetti Dinner fundraiser March 12th at the Faith United Methodist Church in Henrietta. It’s only six bucks and some of the magnificent birds from Wild Wings will be there to greet you! For more info, give them a call at (585) 334-7790.
Whether it’s a few dollars, a few hours of time, or the support of local legislation that keeps these birds and their new homes protected – you can make a difference.
Sanctuary Information (help us add to this list!)
- Hawk Mountain Sanctuary – Pennsylvania
- American Wildlife Refuge – North Carolina
- Oregon Coast National Wildlife Refuge Complex
- Quogue Wildlife Refuge – Hamptons, NY
- National Wildlife Refuge System
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Tags: bird sanctuary, community, fundraiser, volunteer, Wild Wings, wildlife
