This Week at Liberty
October 8, 2024
Hoots, Howls, and Hollers
Megan Mosby
Executive Director
A Feathered Family Reunion
Things are heating up around here, and I am not talking about the weather. We have just finished a very successful mini fundraiser (see below – and thanks to everyone who made donation!) We had a lovely wedding on campus this past Saturday. Our inaugural Innovator’s Giving Circle is being planned for this Thursday. And actions are brewing for our next in-person event, Condors and Cocktails presenting the Wishes for Wildlife auction in a month.
But just one thing stands out in my consciousness right now… the successful release of Milagra, condor 1221. I didn’t get to make the trip up to the Vermilion Cliffs to witness the momentous event, but I did celebrate through the live stream efforts of The Peregrine Fund.
Here are some highlights that have been related to me by the jubilant crowd of staff, volunteers, and observers.
It was a beautiful day of sparkly skies. Folks gathered below the release site with spotting scopes, cameras and binoculars pointed skyward. Anticipation filled the air. It was indeed a meaningful occasion for everyone. Maybe even a bit more so, for the merry crowd from Liberty Wildlife, because this day held a miraculous aura. Milagra, as most of you know, was made an orphan when her mother died of Avian Flu, HPAI, and the decision was made to help save the father’s life by bringing the egg in to be hatched by humans. The father was valiantly attempting to incubate the egg….they are hard wired to do so, but it really only works if one parent can spell the other one who must search for food and water for itself. One of the pair had already been lost. Losing a second one after the devastation that had rocked the southwest condor contention was unthinkable.
A Peregrine Fund biologist waited for the father to leave for food and took the egg. As sad as that sounds, it saved his life and ultimately saved the baby in the egg! The egg was driven to Flagstaff where it was picked up by a Liberty Wildlife volunteer who with incubator in tow, whisked it to our hospital. Egg was monitored day and night. There was no talking and no human contact other than the necessities needed to make sure the egg was viable and to simulate the parents care of the egg prior to hatching….and then on a Monday it began to pip! After it was determined to be in need of help, our veterinarian and avian specialist, Stephanie Lamb, DVM, helped it to finally escape the tiny home that had kept it safe and free of HPAI.
Fast forward to its first flight (in a private jet) to join foster California condors at The Peregrine Fund in Boise, Idaho. She began the next phase of her life with foster parents. She grew to be an adult condor and then matriculated to condor school where she learned how to be a grown-up condor from other mentor birds.
She was brought to a flight enclosure at the Vermilion Cliffs to acclimate and prepare to take her mother’s place in the Grand Canyon skies. The excited participants cheered when the doors to the flight enclosure were opened. Then they waited. The four condors looking towards freedom were doing it their own way on their own time. Slowly they sniffed the airs, and one by one decided to take a bigger gulp of free air and left the enclosure that had been home and safety.
Now, if the freedom part of this story wasn’t enough to bring tears to eyes…guess who was there to greet her, Milagra, our miracle baby. Yep, dear ole dad had flown in to check out what was happening. He had made it to the carcass that had been left and so did Milagra. There the two of them alone, eyed each other. Did some of the participants actually see her display a begging behavior that fledglings do with their parents? Did he know it was his little egg that had been whisked off from his cave to be mysteriously returned? Did they reunite after the crowds drifted away?
I am, of course, of the unscientific brain that believes they somehow recognized their kinship…and, yes, I know I am likely being scoffed at as I write this. I guess it doesn’t matter as long as everyone is faring well. But, I do think the meeting of these two condors was more than just sharing a carcass….Kismet?
This Week @ Liberty
It’s usually the theme that, once October hits, the rest of the year goes by in the blink of an eye. With the holidays fast approaching, I highly recommend some downtime to get ahead of the busy season. Between holiday parties, shopping, and whatever else is thrown your way (or, for my own sake, the two golden retriever puppies my husband and I brought home Sunday…), having a moment to breathe and reflect on the year is a must.
So get those decorations out and get ready for fall. It’s coming, I promise! And so are all the things that happen here at Liberty Wildlife.
Milagra the California Condor
If you’ve made it here, then you’ve already been acquainted with the miracle babe known as Milagra (thanks for the intro, Megan!). The team here at Liberty Wildlife (Jan, Alex and Laura, especially!) were ecstatic to have a rare raptor—the California condor—be hatched here right on site. With help from our volunteer veterinarian, Dr. Lamb, Milagra was hatched on May 9, 2023, and a week later, flown to The Peregrine Fund in Idaho to be placed with foster parents.
Well, a year and a half later, that little miracle babe is all “grown” up (and I say “grown” because technically the largest soaring bird in North America doesn’t reach true adulthood until they’re almost six years old). Her, and three others, were released at the Vermillion Cliffs on Saturday, September 28th. Not only did those of us here on site watch (admittedly it was a little like watching paint dry, but still cool nonetheless), a whole band of Liberty Wildlife peeps drove up to see her fly to freedom. They were even able to get her tag—1221—after it had been auctioned to another gentleman attending!
And though the live feed for the release was, unfortunately, not working when Milagra made her way out of the enclosure meant only to hold them until that pivotal moment, it was an incredible feeling to see her out and about, and later, to meet her father on those beautiful red rocks the Vermillion Cliffs are known for.
There weren’t many dry eyes, I can tell you that.
Check out more about The Peregrine Fund, and all their conservation efforts.
See more photos of Arizona’s California Condors on The Peregrine Fund Instagram account.
Migration: What We’re Seeing
Well, if it’s not one thing, it’s another; we may not be taking in 130 animals a day like we did a day in June, but we’re still seeing quite a number of our feathered friends come through our doors. And, right now, we’re seeing a lot of birds we don’t often see. If you’re asking why, the answer is simple—migration!
In literal terms, migration is a periodic, large-scale movement of different populations of animals. Northern populations of the peregrine falcon can travel distances of almost twenty thousand miles roundtrip. The swainson’s hawks? Nearly fifteen thousand. Each has their own path with their own goals in mind, but sometimes, they get stuck along the way. And here in Phoenix where the weather should be much cooler, those birds migrating are getting stuck because of it. Here are a few of the species we’ve had in the past few weeks:
Flammulated Owl: the only small owl with dark eyes. They enjoy ponderosa pines, are nocturnal, and tend to hunt mainly insects while remaining hidden in thick foliage.
Red-Naped Sap Sucker: these brightly colored woodpeckers migrate from coniferous forests down to lowland riparian areas with heavy cottonwood and willow populations.
Elf Owl: the world’s smallest raptor (literally) descends from Arizona down to Mexico for the winter. These little owls are quite elusive; you’ll hear them before you see them! (And this one in particular happened to drop by and hang in several of our trees—not a patient, this time! —during open hours)
How about you? Have you seen any birds you aren’t used to seeing in your neighborhood?
Notable Mentions
Despite the heat, you made it! Which also means public hours are a go once again for fall hours. Make sure to drop by Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays to visit your favorite animal ambassadors from 10am-1pm. Plus, we’ve made some changes (private tours are a little different, and our flight/eagle show are now combined), so you’ll definitely want to drop by and experience all the changes if you haven’t already!
Oh, and our annual auction, wishes for wildlife, is now combined with condors and cocktails! It’s happening November 9th from 4pm-7pm (adult only). Make sure to get your tickets!
And, without further ado, here are this week’s notable mentions:
A bachelor party dropped in for public hours (and got to see the elf owl!) for the start of their day (the rest of the party was secret, as the groom to be had no idea what they were doing! But I was informed it was all bird related) (1 picture)
Sometimes you get a little dirty while working here…and get a whole lot of steps in (2 pictures)
Iris the American Kestrel hangs at ANDAZ in Scottsdale (1 picture)
That’s all I got for this week, folks. Thanks again for reading!
Until next time!
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September 24, 2024
The cooler morning weather is not just well deserved, it also means that our Orphan Care season has come to a close and our rehabilitation side is slowing down.
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