This Week at Liberty
April 8, 2025
Hoots, Howls, and Hollers
Megan Mosby
Executive Director
What’s behind the “Best Kept Secret” title?
I am doing a survey of great importance to me and to Liberty Wildlife, and I need your help. This past Saturday a lovely lady came to Liberty Wildlife to participate in our monthly Nature Walk down the Peace Trail along the Rio Salado, just outside our back gate. As we waited for the rest of the guests to arrive, I overheard her saying that she was amazed that she only lived eight miles from us and had a vast love of nature and HAD NEVER HEARD OF LIBERTY WILDLIFE. NO!
Unfortunately, it seems like I regularly hear that Liberty Wildlife is one of the “best kept secrets in Arizona” Acccck! I have asked myself each time I hear it “how can this be?!”
- We are centrally located on a beautiful campus;
- We do important work, providing a huge amount of support for native wildlife and natural history education…not to mention the unique and powerful efforts of our Non-Eagle Feather Repository.
- We have been on the news from local to international stories;
- We have a stunning and renowned documentary, “The Weight of a Feather”;
- and we greet thousands of folks from all around the country and world on a regular basis, and provide educational opportunities, and have done so since 1981!
So how are we still a “best kept secret” to so many?
The lovely lady, when asked how she found us she said she had seen our documentary that was shown on PBS the week before and was blown away by it. Based on that she did a social media search and, Voila! there we were. As a result she arrived in time to take our monthly free walk along the river accompanied by others. It was a lovely morning.
There were a few people who had been on the walk before. A few that had found out about us by doing online research. One person saw our education group at a local resort. Several people came after dropping off an animal for rehabilitation. And, surprisingly, some joined us because they wanted to see, and to believe, that there really was a river that ran through Phoenix!
Long on my “to do” list has been a survey to learn how people hear about Liberty Wildlife, and that is where you come in. You read this blog and This Week at Liberty for a reason. We would love to know why. We would love to know how you were first introduced to Liberty Wildlife and what made you take action to join us.
There is nothing formal at this point in the survey….just a request that you take a minute and reply to megan@libertywildlife.org with information regarding your introduction to us.
How long ago was it? What lead you to seek us out? We are really hoping to lose the moniker of “the best kept secret in Arizona” and with your help maybe we can become the “go to place” for anything nature, wildlife, and conservation oriented.
I am already sitting by my (e)mailbox in anticipation of hearing from you….ALL of YOU. And feel free to post your story on our social media accounts, or let us know if it’s okay that we share it!
This Week @ Liberty
The intake total for the year is now up to 1090.
Nothing makes me appreciate the heat more than going to venture in the snow. Admittedly, the few days I spent in the Grand Tetons was incredible, but my body is absolutely not built for 14 degree weather (which it was at the top of the summit at 10,450 feet). Still, I definitely recommend a trip up there. Regardless of the snow, it was a sight to see, and one I’ll remember for years to come.
With all that being said, I’m happy to be back in the sunshine and warmth of Arizona. Of course, that means babies are here, and for the next few months, we’ll do what we do best: take care of the sick, injured and orphaned wildlife that needs our help to get back out into the wild.
Babies!
I haven’t talked about this much (kidding), but the babies are starting to make their way in. Orphan Care has officially started (you can volunteer for a four hour shift once a week here!) and we’re well on our way to being in the thrall of babies. We’re also seeing great horned owl kids come in, and of course, they’re getting placed with our foster moms to get taken care of. While we’ve started off a little slower than last year, I doubt that’ll stop that busyness from hitting. Here are just a few of the babes we’ve seen come in the past two days:
House finch: these are some of my favorite kids to come in. They’re loud, gape like champions, and generally look like cute old men (that’s how you can tell them apart from a sparrow at this age…they have little feather tuffs sticking up all over, kind of like a cute little old man). Once grown, the males have a beautiful red head and chest, and their calls are one most of us hear daily. Fun Fact: these songbirds were originally found in the western US and Mexico. In the 1940s, a small number were released in Long Island (after attempts to sell them as pets), and they quickly started breeding and have now spread across all of the US and into southern Canada.
European starling: these are easy to identify even as teeny babes because of their massive beaks (they’re much larger than their face!). These popular songbirds eat just about anything from beetles, grasshoppers, spiders and snails, including all kinds of berries, seeds and nectar. They’re notorious for their ability to mimic calls and can learn up to twenty different ones. Fun fact: every starling in the US descends from a hundred birds that were set loose in NYC Central Park in the 1890s. There are around 200 million of these birds in North America today.
Northern mockingbird: these are fun to get in simply because they sound like tiny car alarms; when they’re hungry, they let you know, and they definitely don’t stop until they’re fed! These songbirds are common in backyards and feeders. They are known to hang in pairs (or alone) throughout the year, and run or walk on the ground to grab insects for a quick meal. Fun Fact: a male can learn up to 200 songs throughout its life. These songs can be heard throughout the day, including into the night (unmated males especially).
Other babies: great horned owls and mourning doves!
Notable Mentions
Tired of seeing babies? Well, I’m sorry to say, but that isn’t going to stop for a hot minute! And while I do try my hardest to have some other photos around this time of year, they certainly eat up a lot of my gallery starting around now.
You know what? I’m not sorry about that, they’re so darn cute I can’t stand it! So, without further ado, here are this week’s notable mentions!
Maggie gets a brand new babe and immediately tucks the new kid right underneath her (2 photos)
Snickers brood is growing…she also immediately took to the new kiddo and fed moments after this photo was taken! (2 pictures)
Addison the Swainson’s hawk rouses at ANDAZ (2 pictures)
Random sign, but it needs to be said! (1 picture)
A hatchling raven is born here at Liberty Wildlife (1 picture)
As always, thanks for reading and spending your time here at Liberty Wildlife. Our public hours remain from 10am-1pm on Wednesday, Saturday and Sundays, but that time will change for summer hours so make sure to keep an eye out. Our intake window is open 7 days a week from 8am-6pm, and you can always call us at 480-998-5550 with any questions you might have about an injured or orphaned wildlife you find.
Until next time!
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