This Week at Liberty

January 28, 2025

Hoots, Howls, and Hollers

Megan Mosby
Executive Director

Cultural Traditions and Celebrating the River

Sometimes it becomes possible to give closure on a topic covered in a past blog. In mid-January, I introduced you to some of the work accomplished by the Liberty Wildlife Non-Eagle Feather Repository (LWNEFR) with an alert that more information/photos would be coming your way. Coincidentally, we received information that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has updated and changed regulations regarding members of the public who find feathers or carcasses.

Liberty Wildlife’s Director of LWNEFR clarified the change, “For as long as I can remember, I have been told that it was against the law to pick up (salvage) bird feathers or carcasses for any reason. This was because they were protected by law and were to be left untouched. That changed on 1/21/2025 of this year when the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service amended the Code of Federal Regulations Title 50, Section 21.16 to allow the salvage of bird carcasses and/or feathers. It is now legal to pick them up if you donate them to any agency, organization, or institution that is permitted to have them (such as Liberty Wildlife and our LWNEFR). This change in the regulations will benefit those Tribes that are always in need of feathers to construct their religious and ceremonial regalia. For detailed information on this amendment to the Code of Federal Regulations, go to https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-50/section-21.16.”

With that in mind Mare Van Dyke of the NEFR program related to me that she recently received a note of appreciation from Pit River Tribal member and Dancer Giver, Jessie Rouse. Jessie creates special regalia for the sacred ceremonies of his Tribe, including this Flicker Band. The feathers and parts of protected bird species supplied by our Repository provide a valuable resource to Tribes for religious and ceremonial uses.

In this example of the Flicker Band, each bird wing is used, as well as the black tips from the tail. Jessie noted that it takes 8 whole birds to make one Flicker Band Blinder for boys and men. He stated, “These sacred birds carry a lot of power in them. Thank you again, Liberty [Wildlife].”

The Pit River Tribe is comprised of eleven bands of indigenous peoples of California. They primarily live along the Pit River in the northeast corner of California.

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In our Nov. 6th blog, I reported on a nest that biologist Robert Mesta and I built to replace one that was in bad shape at a home in the northeast part of the Valley. You may recall that the female had been found dead and the tree hosting the nest looked ready to fall down. With the help of the homeowners the nest was constructed and set into place in a more substantial tree. And a wildlife camera was mounted and situated to document the status of the nest. We received word last week that the nest was being “redecorated” by an adult Great Horned Owl. What a happy success! See photos below.

We don’t always know the outcomes of things we have done. It seems like we caste things into the universe and don’t always know what outcomes result from our efforts. Above are a couple of examples of proof positive that our work does make a difference.

If you’d like to see more examples, come to our upcoming free community event, El Rio Vivo. This is the second year of this magnificent celebration of our urban river and the wildlife and environment around it. A dozen other conservation organizations and City departments will be participating. Along with food, music and local artists booths. (To participate as an artist, fill out the application online before this week’s deadline!). It’s all family friendly and fun. And free. Saturday, March 1st, from 8am until 4pm, right here on the Liberty Wildlife campus and along the nature trail along the Salt River.

Speaking of which, you can get a sneak peak at that trail this Saturday as we have our monthly Nature Walk with former Park Ranger Brian Miller. And again, this nature walk is free, too, as we encourage everyone to get out and explore the natural world. Gather in our lobby at 8am, and I’ll see you there!

This Week @ Liberty

The intake total for the year is now up to 215.

Being an Arizonan is funny; I’m ready for the summer to be over as soon as those high temperatures hit, but once the cold comes (the true 30 degree kind of cold), I’m ready for that heat again. It seems that, since moving here in 2005, my blood has thinned. Anything below 70 degrees is cold, and anything below 60? Nope, I don’t want anything to do with it. The amount of beanies I own (and wear) is a bit ridiculous, especially considering we don’t see snow here in the valley.

Still, I’m going to rock them because I can, and I do what I want (most of the time). Which I believe you all should be doing, too. Traveling, volunteering, birding…whatever floats your boat for 2025, I implore you to explore it.

 

Become a Rescue Volunteer

I’m sure, like many of us, there are some New Years resolutions you’re looking to fulfill in 2025. Well, if one of those goals happens to be volunteering with animals, I know the perfect spot to try.

Liberty Wildlife runs on volunteers; with only 15 people here on staff, we have upwards of 400 people who dedicate their time to volunteer with us. And while there are certainly all kinds of different jobs to do, Rescue is a big part of our efforts to help wildlife. As a rescue/transport volunteer, you’re acting as our front line. You’re trained on site on how to properly handle raptors (so as not to injure yourself or cause further harm to the animal), how to catch them, and how to transport them safely here to our hospital. You even pick the area of the Valley you’re able to go to, and the day/shift you’re capable of doing.

From there, you wait for a phone call from one of our hotline volunteers who tell you where you’re going and what kind of raptor you’re capturing. Harris hawks, great horned owls, American kestrels; these are just a few of the birds you’ll see while heading out to help Arizona’s wildlife.

A lot of times it becomes a group effort, too. Last week, Kelsey (one of our rescue volunteers) went out on a call regarding an injured red-tailed hawk. Two people had called the hotline about the injured animal, and as it happens, that second caller was able to get the homeowner involved to help, too. Together, they were able to assist Kelsey on where to find the bird, where she was able to safely capture, and bring to Liberty Wildlife. And with what appears to be an impact injury of some kind, this red-tailed hawk will hang in ICU for a little bit before being placed outside in a flight cage before being released back into the wild.

It’s an amazing and rewarding position to help these guys get back out to doing what they do best (aka rodent control). If you’re interested in volunteering for rescue/transport (or any job here for that matter), click here and apply today!

**Photos taken by caller; used with permission 

Notable Mentions

Here I was, thinking there wasn’t much happening in the hospital, and as I write this a red-tailed hawk with a suspected gun shot is brought in. This weeks notable mentions go out to this juvenile raptor, who, you’ll see, has a few things happening.

Without further ado, here are this weeks’ notable mentions:

A juvenile red-tail hawk is brought in with a suspected gun shot wound. Medical service volunteers Susie and Barb assess, radiograph, and wrap the raptor before placing in ICU in a warm, dark, quiet location with some food and water. 

Remember, public hours are every Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday from 10am-1pm and the intake window is open every day of the week from 8am-6pm. We’ve also got El Rio Vivo (which is totally free) coming up on March 1st and you can check out allllll about it here (I recommend you do, because it was a whole lot of fun last year!).

Until next time!

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December 31, 2024

Well, it’s official. 2024 is coming to an end, and it appears we’ve pushed well in to the 10,000+ intake range (the super official number will be given in the next blog, since we’re still taking in animals for the remainder of the day).

Acacia Parker

Public Outreach Coordinator

Public Notice

Liberty Wildlife Cannot Take Ducks, Geese or Lovebirds at this time

Liberty Wildlife is following proper protocols and taking precautions to prevent the spread of the avian flu in our facility and the community. Currently, we have been advised to not take any waterfowl (ducks or geese) to help minimize exposure to other animals. East Valley Wildlife and Fallen Feathers are unable to take them as well. All waterfowl that are sick/injured should be transported to our partner Veterinary Emergency Group (VEG).

Veterinary Emergency Group
7210 W Ray Rd
Chandler, AZ 85226
(I-10 & Ray Rd)

We also have been advised to not take in lovebirds anymore. Please try any of the groups above. Thank you for understanding.

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