This Week at Liberty

I’m not sure about any of you, but 2024 seems to be flying by faster than a hummingbird looking for nectar (you’re welcome for that visual!). It might have to do with getting older, or it might just be the busyness of the season; either way, I distinctly remember January being last month, not eight months ago. Either way, we’ve had a lot happening here at Liberty Wildlife. For as many wins that we’ve had (our incredible volunteers released 109 raptors up all over Arizona this past weekend!), we’ve suffered quite a few losses, too (rest in peace Cannoli the goat, Spaz the Abert’s Squirrel, Gizmo the Gray Squirrel, Quincy the Gamble’s Quail as well as Tommy and Tess, two of our rehab Barn Owls who fostered hundreds of nestlings over their years here). And while we know it’s all part of the process, sometime, those losses just hit hard.

So, if you’ve had some losses this year, too, please know we’re with you. We hope for all the good vibes for the rest of the year to you and yours, and to all our animal friends out in the wild, and those who are coming to us for help.

While I may be a bit late on this, I still think its makes a worthwhile chat. Especially because owls happen to be one of my favorite feathered friends (so no bias’s, guys, none at all!).

Every year on August 4th, people all over the world celebrate International Owl Awareness day. Scientists, birders, and overall bird lovers began this day to celebrate our crepuscular (active at dawn and dusk) and nocturnal (active at night) friends to raise awareness of the 200 different species of owl all across the world. In the United States alone, we have nineteen different species of owls. So, as a happy—albeit late—International Owl Awareness Day, here are some of my favorite facts:

Barn Owls are one of the most widespread raptors in the entire world; they can be found on every continent except Antarctica!

Great Horned Owls, our largest owl here in Arizona, don’t make their own nests. In fact, they commandeer them from other raptors, or simply create a “scrape” in the ground (literally a hollow depression in the ground). This is why these owls will have their babies earlier than most raptors…they need to get those nests before the original makers come back.

Elf Owls are the smallest raptor in the entire world (they are no larger than a juice box). They are also known for catching threadsnakes (blind snakes) and bringing them back to their nest, alive, so the snake can eat parasites that might harm their nestlings.

Despite its name, the Western Screech Owl does not screech. Instead, it has a trill of hoots—almost like a bouncing ball—to call.

Northern Pygmy-Owls (who aren’t much bigger than a house sparrow) have been known to take prey nearly three times their size. In one study, a 52 gram owl (which is .11 pounds) was spotted killing a 119 gram (.26 pounds) California Quail. In another, a 76 gram owl (.16 pounds) was seen flying four feet off the ground carrying a 55 gram (.12) vole.

How about you? What are some of the amazing and wonderful things about owls that you love, or would learn to love about?

Ferruginous Hawks may be some of the most beautiful hawks I’ve ever seen, and yet, they’re not one I see too often. Found mostly in the western US, there is no record indicating these massive raptors are found anywhere outside the Great Basin, the Great Plains, southwestern Canada and northern Mexico. In fact, the northern populations are completely migratory, and Arizona happens to be a spot they choose to hang for the winter. Open grass, shrub lands and deserts with scattered trees, even shallow canyons, are perfect places to find these massive birds.

I’m not exaggerating their size, either. The Ferruginous Hawk is considered the largest, and heaviest, in the buteo family (large, broad winged, soaring hawks). With a four to five foot wingspan and weighing anywhere from two-and-half to four-and-a-half pounds, like most raptors, the female is the larger of the two (and quite a bit spicier, too!). With two colored morphs (a light and dark)—the light being more numerous—you’ll find them alone or in pairs, hanging around while they watch for their prey to pop up.

It’s called the ‘sit and wait’ technique. These birds will hang in groups, especially around prairie dog towns, where they patiently wait for this rodent to ‘pop-up’ out of its burrow. Once it does, they use their long, powerful legs to pounce on their prey, grab it from its burrow, and eat them whole. Like other buteos, they will also go after rabbits and ground squirrels, while occasionally hunting snakes and lizards.

The Ferruginous Hawk who is currently in our care hails from Seligman, AZ. She had the unfortunate accident of meeting a power line, and in doing so, fractured her right ulna (think our forearm). Many birds are lucky in this endeavor—they do not always make it. This big girl, however, was found quickly enough that after time spent in ICU on medications, and with a wing wrap to help heal that fracture, she is doing extremely well. Now outside, our team continues to monitor her to make sure she stays at a good weight, and that her wing continues to grow strong.

This is definitely one I can’t wait to see released!

Look at you, here at the end of another blog. As always, I appreciate the read and time you spend to do it! We continue to remain closed for the month of August (not our Intake window, though! That’s open rain or shine, 7 days a week, from 8am-6pm) for repairs and updates around campus. We’ve got lots in the works once we reopen, too, regarding updates to Public Hours, as well as some amazing events throughout the rest of the year. Make sure to keep an eye out for emails about all the things!

Without further ado, here are this week’s notable mentions:

Dr. Schultz, with Midwestern University, released a Kingsnake into the wetlands after being found on site with a fractured tail (6 pictures)

Arya the Red-Tailed Hawk wow’s guests at Weft and Warp at ANDAZ in Scottsdale (1 picture)

A Free-Tailed Bat drops by for a quick assessment before being transported to a local bat rehabber (1 picture)

Thanks again for being here and all you do for your care of our Arizona wildlife.

Until next time!