Our greatest accomplishment is the model of exemplary care and spacious housing for large migratory birds, such as raptors. The program was initiated in the early 80’s, when no one believed it would work. Since 2003, when the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service published revised regulations to permit migratory bird rehabilitators, dimensions and designs of our aviaries became mandatory. Aviaries similar to ours are now being built in many parts of the county.
It all began very innocently. My early morning hike on December 3, 2002 started out like any other. The cold crisp air, the crunch of the trail gravel under my feet, and a distant coyote searching for his breakfast all set the scene. Being a birder, I had my binoculars in hand just in case the opportunity arose to peek into the life of any feathered friend who might be around. I continued to walk, then stopped dead in my tracks. My jaw dropped and my heart started racing. I did not need my binoculars.
I saw the adult bald eagle perched in the leafless tree just ahead of me. Sitting there regally, calling the trail his own, this magnificent bird brought tears to my eyes. The emotions that were coursing through my heart, soul and mind were overwhelming. I was stunned by its size. I could really see how big he was because there were several courageous crows perched on a nearby branch and they appeared as small as sparrows!
Three joggers came by and I stopped them to share this wonderful sight. They were as amazed as I was and said thank you, as they would have just run by without noticing this beautiful bird. Seeing the eagle was a defining moment for me. I knew that I needed to take my love of birds to the next level. I visited the Volunteer Connection in Boulder and learned about the Birds of Prey Foundation. After visiting their website, I mailed in the volunteer application and on January 17, 2003 attended the volunteer orientation. The initial tour of the facility was very interesting. We visited the mouse house, the quail house, the intensive care unit (ICU) and the flight cages. My volunteer work began two days later on January 19, 2003. This is my story about the work that takes place at the Birds of Prey Foundation as seen through the eyes of a volunteer.
From the beginning I learned that every aspect of volunteering at the Birds of Prey Foundation has an impact on the birds. It is important to understand the function of the mouse house and the quail house. These areas are part of the backbone of the Birds of Prey Foundation. Keeping these areas clean, providing the mice and quail with fresh food and water each day and treating these animals with respect and dignity play an important role in the well being of the birds. As Sigrid Ueblacker, the founder of the Birds of Prey Foundation told me on my first day, “All animals here are treated with care, dignity and respect regardless of whether it is a mouse or an eagle.”
I spent a good deal of time in the mouse house as a new volunteer. My time in ICU progressed at a slower rate. It has taken me a while to become accustomed to this new environment. I say this not as a discouragement, but as an observation from someone not familiar with rehabilitating birds of prey. As a novice I found the first few months to be filled with sensory overload. There are a lot of new sights, sounds, and smells that I had never before experienced. It takes time to become accustomed to these things in the physical sense and emotionally as well. Fear was preventing me from cleaning the occupied cages. However, desire and training have won that battle! I still have a healthy fear (and enormous respect) for our patients in ICU, but it no longer prevents me from taking care of their needs. Volunteering at Birds of Prey Foundation is a very humbling experience. A certain calm confidence is needed to attend to the needs of a great horned owl, hawk or eagle. My confidence is developing slowly with continued participation.
Patience along with training and encouragement from the other ICU caregivers has made my time at Birds of Prey rewarding and gratifying. I have the privilege of working with knowledgeable people. I have learned that every aspect of volunteering is important, from washing the floors to cleaning an eagle’s cage and every task in between. There are days when happy tears of joy come from hand feeding a nestling cooper’s hawk to tears of sadness when one of our feathered friends doesn’t make it. All of these experiences are part of the learning process.
The purpose in sharing my experience is to be an encouragement to anyone interested in becoming a volunteer at the Birds of Prey Foundation. Give yourself time to become familiar and comfortable with the new surroundings. For those who need more time, take the time and go slowly. Helping an injured bird recuperate and then having an opportunity to watch as it is being released back to the wild is an unforgettable experience.
Heartfelt thanks go to the other volunteers who are my source of information, inspiration and encouragement. Heidi and Trish have patiently answered all of my questions. My eagle buddies Shay and Scott have helped me reach the next comfort level. Deb has patiently helped me since my first day. Kathy showed me how easy it is to fall in love with a great horned owl! A special thanks goes to Sigrid for her devotion, generosity and for the blessing that she has been to the birds in our world. As she continues to do her life’s work, she is also mentoring to newcomers like myself. She is showing all of us how we can make a difference in the life of an injured bird. The time spent each week at the Birds of Prey Foundation keeps me grounded, yet my spirit soars at the same time. It’s a great place to be!
-Sigrid Noll Ueblacker