Bird TLC's Raptor Walk 2009
Friday 9-18-2009 at 8 AM we checked out of our hotel room in Haines, then went to breakfast before starting our 700+ mile journey home. Our original plan had been to take a couple days for the road trip home … but our plans were about to change. We had learned on Monday 9-14-2009 (via a cell phone call from our daughter as we were on the road headed to Haines, AK) about a special event that Bird TLC was having on Saturday the 19th at Kincaid Park, in Anchorage. The event ‘The Raptor Walk 2009’ was something that we really wanted to take part in even though we did not know what it entailed, we just knew that it would be a wonderful opportunity to photograph some of the wild birds that had been taken in and treated at Bird TLC. (Because of the extent of their injuries, they could not be released back into the wild … and they are now part of Bird TLC’s Educational Program).
Meet Petra … she is a 14 year old Bald Eagle, she came to Bird TLC in February 1995 as a hatch-year bird, she was rescued from a mammal trap in Cordova, AK., she was found by a local trapper buried under snow with 2 of her toes caught in the trap … Petra is now part of Bird TLC’s educational program.
Meet Ghost … Snowy Owl, 5 years old 2008, injury was a broken wing … Ghost is now part of the educational program at Bird TLC.
Meet Gos … Northern Gos Hawk … Gos is also part of Bird TLC’s educational program.
Many of the birds that have arrived at Bird TLC, and that are now part of their educational program, have sustained injuries that have kept them from being released back into the wild. No one really knows how the birds received these injuries, it is just speculated that many were hit by a vehicle (especially the owls as they tend to hunt the edges of the roadways at night).
These birds are still wild … they just have to live in a human environment to survive. They have to go against their wild nature and learn to trust those who are there to care for them, feed them (by one form or another), and keep them alive and healthy. This takes a lot of TIME and DEDICATION with not much reward (except for the one that you feel knowing that you helped save the life of a helpless animal that became injured [knowingly or unknowingly] at the hands of a human being … [hit by a car, caught in a trap, shot with an arrow, pellet gun etc.]).
Rick and I found this event to be very educational and we hope that Bird TLC continues having such events as this, for years to come where the public can mingle with the birds and their caretakers, and maybe garner a little knowledge into the lives of these beautiful creatures. All you birds lovers out there (if you haven’t already), maybe it’s time to check out your local Bird Rehab and Treatment facility to see what you can do to lend a hand (or maybe a donation).
Thank You Bird TLC (and Park’s and Recreation) for putting this event together, we are sure that it took lots of volunteers and time … and a huge Thank You for giving us the opportunity to photograph these wonderful & beautiful creatures … an even bigger THANK YOU to all those who care for these birds, without you they wouldn’t have survived their ordeals.
Here are a couple more shots of Ghost as he spreads his wings for us.
If anyone is interested, they can check out Bird TLC at www.birdtlc.com
Photos and story © Deb Larson
Comments
Awesome read….and so very informative. Great job !!
THANKS SO MUCH Sean … sorry that you caught it before I had it finished though (my big oops for forgetting to unpublish it while I was adding the photos etc.), really appreciate your kindness!! Take Care ~ Deb ~ ☺
– Rick & Deb Larson
Thanks for sharing your trip with us. You got some fantabulous shots!! Super!
Hi Kay THANKS SO VERY MUCH!! It was really ‘fantabulous’ seeing these birds up close, it’s just sad knowing that so many of these beautiful creatures were injured as they were … we’re glad that there are resources and wonderful people, out there to help them. Thanks again and Take Care ~ Rick & Deb ~ ☺
– Rick & Deb Larson
WOW! Loved reading this. Excellent images :D
THANKS SO MUCH Pam, appreciate your kindness … and so glad that you enjoyed our outing!! Take Care ~ Deb ~ ☺
– Rick & Deb Larson
Sensational Deb. Great images, great story link.
Hey Barb THANK YOU Dear Friend … we really ♥ enjoyed the outing and getting to see and learn the stories of these amazing birds. Take Care ~ Rick & Deb ~ ☺
– Rick & Deb Larson
Wow, all so very well deserved. Such beautiful birds !! Amazing captures !! and such deserving honors to you !!
THANKS SO VERY MUCH Sean for coming back to check out the photos of these amazing birds!! Take Care ~ Deb ~ ☺
– Rick & Deb Larson
awesome and gorgeous!!!
so great that the folks at bird tlc give so much of themselves to nature. she takes care of us in so many ways, its great to read stories like this of us humans giving something back. you represented them wonderfully!!
Hey Angie THANKS SO VERY MUCH Dear Friend … it was so sad learning about what brought them to the treatment facility in the first place, they are such amazing creatures!! Take Care ~ Deb ~ ☺
– Rick & Deb Larson
It was great to meet you two. Thanks for the kind words. I’ll be linking it to our blog @ http://birdtlc.blogspot.com in the next couple of day. Thanks for your support!
Hi Dave, what a small world to find that you are also a bubbler (now I see that you have just joined … welcome to redbubble). You have all done such amazing things for these birds, they are so lucky to have each and everyone of you in their lives (if we still lived in Anchorage I would ♥ to join the list of volunteers). Thanks again, we will be looking forward to Bird TLC’s future events. Take Care ~ Rick & Deb ~ ☺
– Rick & Deb Larson
Now that is a place I would love to visit. It breaks my heart to see these birds injured, more so around here we see them dead on the side of the road (the owls). This though, is a wonderful end or beginning for these birds at the bird TLC. End to their suffering, and a beginning of a new life of love and caring. Make sure you tell Dave thank you for what he and his team do for all of these birds, it’s people like the folks at Birds TLC that give the rest of us something to strive for in our day to day lives. Thanks again for posting this story, and for the awesome photos, again, you guys rock!!!!!
Hi Ashby WOW … THANK YOU SO MUCH for your wonderful and caring words (and I will make sure that Dave and the rest of the Bird TLC group receive your kind words of Thanks). I felt so bad when I heard the stories that were relayed about these birds, hopefully their stories will start hitting home to those who need to realize what they do when they hit an animal and then just drive off, or if they think it is funny to go out and use an innocent animal for target practice with a pellet gun or bow and arrow (about a month ago a Trumpeter Swan was found at Tern lake with an arrow through it’s wing … people rescued the swan and were able to remove the arrow … to date we have no idea if the authorities found the person who did this). Thanks again, so much for reading my story on the Raptor walk … do you have a bird rehab facility somewhere near you? Take Care ~ Deb ~ ☺
– Rick & Deb Larson
Deb, thanks to your story it is something I am looking in to. I have found a couple near me, well within 60 miles. Not a place where I would be able to volunteer every weekend, but would give my behind to be able to. Like you, I’m not a fan of people that do the birds wrong. There is nothing worse than taking a photo of a bird to find something wrong with it that a person did. I’ve had a few of them cross my lens and the only thing you can do is feel helpless. Fortunately they were all very mobile, unfortunately that puts them in a position where they can’t be caught or screen very well to find out the extent of their injury. Thanks again for the story.
Hi Ashby, thanks for stopping back by … glad to know that this story piqued your curiosity … you will have to share your experience with us after you’ve had the opportunity to check out the facilities down there. The swan that had the arrow in it’s wing, apparently didn’t require much care and was released back into the wild pretty promptly, I really hope that it is doing okay. I can’t figure out what brings people to harm innocent animals like that … someday it will all come back and bite them in the butt (hopefully). Thanks again Ashby for your interest in our story and for wanting to help in some way … we live a little over 50 miles from the one in Anchorage … distance does play a big part in what a person can do (but if we were still living in Anchorage, I would donate time everyday of the week). Take Care ~ Deb ~ ☺
– Rick & Deb Larson
Beautiful story and images. WOW!
Hi Gina THANKS SO MUCH my friend, much appreciated!! This was so much FUN … we drove straight back home from Haines so that we could go to this. The birds were so awesome, and to be so close to them was really something … they are such amazing creatures. If it wasn’t for all the wonderful people at Bird TLC these creatures wouldn’t have survived. We are really looking forward to next year’s event (hopefully they continue doing them … I know that it took lots of time getting it all set up, so hopefully it was worth their wild to continue the event). Thanks again and Take Care ~ Deb ~ ☺
– Rick & Deb Larson