Why I hate some people

[Beaks]

I rehab raptors also and some that come in are so imprinted on humans for food and other basic needs that i have to teach them how to hunt in order to release them. (i have an eastern screech owl that is in the process of being trained now)

I take the birds that can't be returned to the wild to a long term care facility after they are healthy enough to go.(I do the hard work here LOL)

I get in a few falcons every year and they usually can be relesed but sometimes i get one or two that has a wing missing or so badly broken that they would starve even after getting proper medical care, those birds go to a raptor sanctuary (i have a kestrel that was hit by a car that may not be able to feed itself, The jury is still out on him because he can fly a little but came in with a compound fracture of the wing and is not finished healing)

Where are you located (state and town) because i get calls from everywhere and raptor rehabbers are not that common.

John

Originally Posted by Falcon

John,
You are absolutely right. I work all the time with birds that can easily go through my forearm, but in no way can I do this without giving them respect and comfort. If I keep out of their space, move slowly, let them see clealy what I intend to do (feed, replace a perch, remove old food, clean...) and let them move how they like, then it's no big ordial for either of us.

Many people don't realise the power these birds have, many can go into a dive and reach forces several times deadlier than a bullet. A friend of mine who does falconry in the Arctic, uses some of his birds to hunt wolves.

By keeping it as a pet is disrespectful to it. In rehab we only keep the ones that are unreleasable and that would be in danger if they were to go into the wild, but in no way are they pets. Some do, however, create special bonds with people. With falconry, it's offering the bird a different lifestyle, same hunting and working hard for food, but with the rewards of food and protection and shelter. This also is not considered a pet.

Raptors don't like the company of others, so when a person enters a mew of a wild raptor then the bird considers it a bad thing, falconry teaches the bird to tollerate the presence of another. These birds are not social, and you can't hug and kiss them like any other pet, they don't desire affection or attention. In the wild they are mostly alone besides for mating season and if there are babys to tend to. There are a few raptors that aren't like that (harris) that do like being with others but desire no other interaction than presence only.

[Regina U.]

That is so horrible! Thank you to those who know what they are doing and help to make the situation right! I hope those people who did this don't get away with it!


Regina

[FairLight]

Go as public with this as you can.
Sadly, ignorance is most likely the culprit.
Any local news sources who could offer coverage on this story?
Letters to the editor? Even a visitor to local area schools to explain the importance getting any found raptor to a rescue asap?
I remember chasing a man I worked with (landscape maintenance) out of our work site because he was trying to hit an owl with a rock and make a roach clip out of it's talon. I explained the horrible thing he was trying to do, and the importance of wild birds to the environment and eco system;
let alone the absolute abomination of taking a wild creature's life for any reason, especially one as stupid as he had in mind.
Ignorance and stupidity become inbred generation after generation.
(nature vs nurture)
Education can sometimes help.
In lieu of that, perhaps a lobotomy?

Bless the beasts and the children.
They have no voice.
They have no choice.

[Kachina]

I as well hope they nail 'em to the wall. Sometimes you have to wonder what people are thinking. Please keep us updated on the baby's progress. Maybe you guys could use it as one of those education birds to show people why they should never try to keep a raptor as a pet and what happens when you've got no clue how to take care of one? Just an idea..

I won't eat hamburger myself. Used to haul beef out of the processing plants, and I learned too much.

[Skyebirdsmom]

I hope they get nailed too, however, in my experience, their punishments never seem to fit the crime. Most of the time it's more of a slap on the wrist instead of real judgement. Dammit, ooops, sorry. I always figure that appropriate punishment would be the same treatment they gave the creature. Sounds good to me eh?
Linda & Skye~