Our Wild Ambassadors
Madonna
Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus)
When Madonna was found in Swanton on the shoulder
of I-89, presumably having been struck by a vehicle, she was sporting a brood
patch. Knowing she was a mom, she was named for the Beatles song:
"Lady Madonna". We have reliable reports that Maddy's mate
successfully raised her brood so a little bit of Maddy still flies free.
Maddy is visually impaired so she can not hunt. That's why she lives with
us. Not being able to see, she was frightened by deer rubbing against her
outdoor aviary at night, so Maddy now lives in an indoor-outdoor aviary year-round. One of our
oldest ambassadors, she is easily stressed by lengthy travel, so she
does few programs these days. You will probably have to tour our facility
to meet Madonna. She has a fan club among the volunteers who take her
"flying" on summer days. Like most raptors, Great Horned Owls have a very limited sense of smell, which might explain why wild-living Great Horned Owl's routinely dine on skunk.
Thank you Katherine R-S of Hinesburg for taking
Madonna Under Your Wing!
Jack
Red-Tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)
Jack came as a first-year passage bird, which was evidenced by his still-brown tail (Red Tailed Hawks do not get their signature red tail until their first year molt at about one year of age). He had been hit by a truck and suffered a broken
leg and wing. Repeated attempts to get both to heal failed. He spent
so much time going back and forth to vets, in and out of carriers, we thought he
must feel like a Jack-in-the-Box. Hence the name "Jack".
There were many valiant attempts, but his injuries could not be repaired.
He still has a bad wing and a crooked leg and can not sustain flight.
That's why he lives with us. Jack is a one-or-two person bird, so he does
selected programs because not just anyone can handle him. You will
probably need to tour our facility to meet him. He is in his outdoor aviary with
his aviary-mates, Isis and Cleo.
Thank
you Alexandra L. of Charlotte and Barbara H. of St. Albans for taking Jack Under
Your Wing!
ISIS
Red-Tailed Hawk (Buteo
jamaicensis)
Isis was found with a fractured wing, lying
comatose in a field, and brought to us in the fall of 2002. After
her wing healed, her flight was still compromised, and it was clear she would
not survive in the wild. That's why she lives with us. Isis was
named for the goddess of the air. Isis appears in many programs, including Raptors in Residence on Shelburne Farms. Once known as the "chicken hawk", a wild-living Red Tailed Hawk sups on rabbits, rats, mice, voles, and in the Western United States, even rattlesnakes!
Thank
you Larry M. of Montpelier for taking Isis Under
Your Wing!
Anubis
Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)
This consumer of carrion is named, appropriately,
for the Egyptian god of the dead. Anubis was found in Reading, Vermont on
October 10, 2002. He has a left wing fracture that has compromised
flight. That's why he lives with us. If Anubis is frightened by someone,
he will regurgitate his food in defense. If the sight and smell of that is
not sufficient to rid him of someone of whom he is wary, he'll hiss.
Loudly. He came to us as a first-year, imprinted bird. His imprinting facilitates his bonding with people. Volunteers often allow him supervised hours of freedom in the facility. Having a turkey vulture's inherent curiosity, touch-sensitive beak, ability to manipulate items, and excellent sense of smell, Anubis has a propensity for exploration and discovering "toys". Volunteers just
need to shuffle their feet and tell him it's time to go back to his
aviary. He's very obedient, but makes a tremendous ruckus once back inside
to let everyone know he would have preferred more free time. Anubis is an
ambassador in training.
Thank you Mike K. of New Haven for taking Anubis Under Your Wing!
Tomi
Northern Saw-Whet Owl (Aegolius acadicus)
Tomi was named by her finder -- her "i"
is actually dotted with a wee heart. Presumably as the result of a
collision with a vehicle, Tomi has lost an eye and can no longer hunt for
herself. That's why she lives with us. Her size and weight suggests
she is a female. Tomi is a popular ambassador. Rather independent of mind, Tomi proves that size and spunk are not mutually exclusive!
Thank you Sophia N. of Williston for taking Tomi Under Your Wing!
Virginia
Eastern Screech Owl (Otus
asio)
Virginia had a broken wing and now flies with a "limp" which compromises her hunting ability.
We must "hunt" for her, so that's why she lives with us. She
is named for the state from which she comes, and is quickly becoming a popular ambassador. She is an excellent representative of the red phase screech owl. Most screech owls in Vermont are gray; the red phase is more prevalent in southern states.
Thank you Mikaela L. of Charlotte for taking Virginia Under Your Wing!
Loki
Nevermore
Common Raven (Corvus
corax)
Nevermore's name is probably no surprise - he is
named for the famous poem by Poe that includes the line: "Quoth the Raven,
Nevermore". Loki is quite aptly named for the Norse god of
mischief. Loki has either nerve or tendon damage and Nevermore has wing
damage, making each incapable of sustaining flight. That's why they live
with us. Corvids are some of the most intelligent creatures on the
planet. To learn more about them, and give a "gift" to OFES at
the same time, purchase the excellent book Bird Brains
from Amazon.com via our site.
Thank
you Rich R. of Plainfield for taking Loki Under
Your Wing!
JJ
Barred Owls (Strix varia)
JJ was found "running through the snow"
in Duxbury, Vermont in April, 1996. He had a wing fracture that
compromised flight and can no longer hunt. Since a member of the Audubon
Society was instrumental in his rescue, he was named for John J. Audubon. He and his friend Snapper (originally thought to be a male) became a couple and
produced a clutch of eggs each year.
Cleopatra
Rough-Legged Hawk (Buteo lagopus)
Cleo was found in Hinesburg in 2002. She has
wing damage and can not sustain flight. The assumption is that she was
struck by a vehicle. She was named for the Egyptian queen -- she's a bird
with attitude! Cleo is still not a great fan of humans, but she is an Ambassador in Training. In the meantime, you can only
see her by visiting our facility. Rough-Legged Hawks breed in Canada, but often spend winters in Vermont. Inexperienced bird watchers often mistake Rough-Legged Hawks for eagles!
Raptors in Residence is a great place to meet many of our ambassadors. Raptors in Residence is a live-bird program presented regularly by Outreach for Earth Stewardship on Shelburne Farms during the summer. It is included with your admission to Shelburne Farms.
Sponsor a Wild Ambassador: Go to the Under Your Wing page!
Learn about other ways you can help.
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