• About Us
    • Who We Are
    • Staff Bios
    • Meet our Animal Ambassadors
    • Contact Us
  • Emergencies
    • Caring for Injured Animals
    • Animal Drop-Off
    • Animal Care FAQ
  • How to Help
    • Donate
    • Become a Member
    • Affiliate Links
    • Capital Campaign
    • Wishlist
  • Volunteer
    • Volunteer TimeTracker Login
    • Apply Today
    • Daily Care
    • Hotline
    • Intake Window
    • Interpretive Guide
    • Medical Services
    • Orphan Care
    • Rescue and Transport
    • Teen Volunteer Opportunities
    • Wildlife Guardian
    • Volunteer Resources
  • Home
  • Conservation
    • Services Offered
    • Projects
    • Liberty Wildlife Non-Eagle Feather Repository
  • Education
    • Visiting Liberty and Private Tours
    • Education Program Request
    • Eagle Court of Honor Program Request
    • Field Trips – Traditional Classes
    • Field Trips – Homeschool
    • Zoom Program Request
  • Publications
    • Blog
    • Media Kit
    • Nature News
    • Nature Explorers
    • Wing Beats
    • Kid Activities
  • Events
    • Upcoming Events
    • Wishes for Wildlife
    • Calendar
    • Book an Event
  • Menu Menu
Liberty Wildlife

Hoots, Howls, and Hollers – January 15, 2018

Megan Mosby

Megan Mosby
Executive Director

For the past 2 years I have watched a valiant curved bill thrasher in my yard.  Big deal, right?  Well, for this intrepid feathered survivor it is.  I started watching it as it visits my feeder, after all of the others greedy little feeders leave for other pickings.  This guy is definitely different and its mate appears to be a solid supporter…a true friend.

The two of them approach and go for the ‘spillings’ left by the feeding frenzy of the first serving.

For a while I couldn’t figure out what was going on as my little hero skulked in the underbrush with an occasional quick visit to the fountain.  It was at that point that I realized that the left leg stuck out like a ski pole at a direct right angle from its body.  Now, the issue isn’t that he doesn’t have two good legs to stand on.  The disadvantage of having this extra encumbrance jutting out of the side of an otherwise streamlined body is just inconsistent with the gestalt of the bird as well as creating a dangerous situation as it goes through the day.

I have watched it fly with the sticking out leg.  I have watched it perch with the sticking out let.  I have watched it feed with the sticking out leg….and I have wondered exactly what happened to it.  I guess I will never know, but it just acts like it was always that way and no big deal!  OK?!

I have extrapolated from this that our rehabilitation works!  I have in the past worried that maybe these animals that have run into trouble at all stages of their lives, might not have the stuff that it takes to survive.  Maybe they aren’t able to adapt to the trials and tribulations that nature hurls at them…even with our help.

But, not any more.  This little feathered fury and the mate seemed to have taken adversity and run with it….and in your face, Mother Nature, you can’t take us down!  They are the dynamic duo in my yard, and I cherish every day that I see them.  They have learned how to survive, together even if the left leg provides a challenge every second.

I feel better now about every one of the almost 8000 animals that we worked with just last year.  I feel like they got the boost that they needed either from the beginning of their lives or from any stage that the tough cards were dealt.

All it takes is a little help from your friends….and those might just be your friends at Liberty Wildlife…just a little help from your friends…then in your face Mother Nature…We will survive!

This Week @ Liberty – January 15, 2018

The intake total for this year is now up to 80.

The new year is starting off slowly as it always does, but we’re still here, still taking in injured and orphaned animals, and still providing the best care possible. We actually got some rain last week, the first real measurable precipitation in many months and we’re hoping the rain gods smile on us and we get more before the temps begin to rise again.
We’re getting in some of the usual suspects (hawks and owls) and one or two more obscure patients, in keeping with our “non-speciesist” philosophy. Take a peek below to see what we’ve been doing…

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  • Denizens of Hawk Alley line up in the sun

  • Sunshade for the eagle feeding station

PreviousNext
12

Additions/improvements are continuous at the new facility. Recently I noticed a face in every enclosure as I looked down the lane in front of the hawk pavilion. You won’t see THAT when you visit the zoo! Then, the sunshade was installed over the eagle feeding station in preparation for next summer.The public will get to see eagles being hand fed up-close and personal and not bake in the sun while the birds are fed.

(Look for 2 photos)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  • Dan explains his falcon to some visitors

  • Dan’s prairie falcon is ready to fly

  • “Tesla” is an amazing bird!

PreviousNext
123

Dan Scrivener, Medical Service and Education volunteer, is an accomplished falconer. Recently he flew one of his birds, a prairie falcon named “Tesla,” in the river bed north of our facility. The demonstration was impressive as anytime you get to see one of these falcons fly in person, it’s an edifying experience!

(Look for 3 photos)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  • Alex and Jan asist Dr. Orr

  • The surgery goes well.

PreviousNext
12

A hawk was brought to us recently with an injured toe. It was determined that the digit needed to be amputated so Dr. Orr performed the surgery, assisted by Jan and Alex. Although birds such as hawks use their feet and toes to capture and kill their prey, the loss of one toe is usually not a severe handicap for an experienced raptor as long as it’s not the hallux, or rear toe that is lost. Most birds can easily adapt to this condition and it’s expected that this hawk will make a full recovery.

(Look for 2 photos)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  • Three Arizona owls are compared

  • An attentive crowd is on hand

  • Camila wows the audience

  • Sandra presents a screech owl

PreviousNext
1234

It is truly a wonderful thing to have our amphitheater available for education events. In the past, we’d have to take all education animals out to locations off site in order to present our ambassador to the public. Now at the new facility, the public can come to us for a first hand look at their native wildlife and learn just how fascinating and beautiful our local fauna really are! Photography is available and encouraged, and when you’re looking at an animal and it’s looking back at you, it’s difficult not to make a visceral connection – the whole point of what we do in Education!

(Look for 4 photos)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  • Carl brings in an injured swan

  • Sharon helps with the initial examination

  • Jan sutures the wound

  • Joanie has a wonderful “way” with the animals

  • She is nearly fully recovered

PreviousNext
12345

Ace rescue volunteer Carl Price bought in an injured swan several days ago. It seems the bird had been hit by a car as it wandered the streets in search of it’s deceased mate (swans are believed to mate for life). The bird’s right wing was damaged but the injury did not appear life-threatening although it looked somewhat grim upon arrival. After being assessed by Jan with the help of Joanie and Sharon, the injured tissue was sutured shut and the bird was allowed to get some stress relief in a larger enclosure. At this time she is recuperating outside and will soon be transported to a permanent home nearby.

(Look for 5 photos)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

0 replies

Leave a Reply

Want to join the discussion?
Feel free to contribute!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Posted by Terry Stevens
Operations Director

Recent Posts

  • This Week @ Liberty – January 31, 2023
  • Nature News January 2023
  • This Week @ Liberty – January 17, 2023
  • This Week @ Liberty – January 3, 2023
  • Nature News December 2022

Archives

  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • April 2017

Donate

Help us reach our financial goals in treating 12,000+ animals per year.

Donate Now!

Donations are tax deductible.

Emergencies

If you have a wildlife emergency and are in need of assistance, contact us immediately.

If you do not reach someone right away, please leave a message and we will return your call as soon as possible.

480-998-5550

Drop Off

Have you found an injured animal in need of help? Bring them by our new facility.

2600 E. Elwood St.
Phoenix, AZ 85040

Map It

© Copyright 2023 - Liberty Wildlife, Inc. | 2600 E. Elwood St. Phoenix, AZ 85040
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
Scroll to top