Megan Mosby
Executive Director
Did you hear that zipping sound? It was the sound of December and 2019 whizzing by at warp speed. When I wrote the date on this blog, the awareness of the passing of not only the month, but also the year, caused me to pause. What did we accomplish this year? Did we live up to those resolutions that we made…that we no longer even remember? Hmmmmmm? Maybe we will rethink the whole resolution thing this coming year…and just not go there.
But, we have accomplished a lot…list or no list. As we near the actual end, I will recount them for you and do a big recap. But right now, I want to take this opportunity to thank all of you who have generously given of your time and assets to help us make this one of the best years ever.
We have had joyous happenings. Our events have been well attended and enjoyed. They have been bountiful laying the ground work for us to accomplish more in the year to come. We have big plans for growing all of our programs to better serve our constituents be they animal or human. We are here to serve.
Our educational programming is constantly growing and working to make your experience on our campus and in the community more personal and meaningful. There aren’t many places where you are allowed to have such an intimate experience with wildlife. And, where else can you learn about the environmental pluses of Indian Running Ducks….like our Cheese and Quackers? We are in the process of extending the educational offerings in our Interactive Room. You will have to visit our campus to see the changes happening in there.
We have had some soul wrenching moments. Losing our first bald eagle, Lady Liberty, who accepted a role change when release wasn’t an option and became an educator of many. She mentored other bald eagles helping babies learn who they would grow up to be. She donated blood to other bald eagles in need. She stood for everything bold and regal as only a bald eagle can do. She posed for photos. She glared with dignity. She taught us as well as the public about how to interact with an apex species. She was grand and she will be missed. Her bugling greeting is already a silent hole.
I am hoping that as the year comes to an end, each of you will consider how valuable we are to you. If your needs are help with wildlife issues, we are here. If you love the educational value of interesting programming centered around nature and wildlife, we are here. If you value the work we do to help Native Americans in their quest to preserve their culture through our Non Eagle Feather Repository…we are the only ones in the world doing it. Our biologists work to relieve negative interactions between the public and wildlife. And we strive at all times to support sustainable practices and serve as an example of how to walk softly on the planet.
Please remember us as you consider your year-end donations. We are so grateful.
This Week @ Liberty – Dec 17, 2019
We’re rapidly approaching the end of 2019 and the intake and rehab activity is slowing to a crawl. But we all know that within a month or two, the numbers will begin increasing as birds and animals begin the next cycle of life. With that in mind, this update will be short as there were only a couple of events that took place in the last two weeks that I’ll cover here today.
All of us here at Liberty Wildlife would like to wish all our readers a wonderful and peaceful Christmas!
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The holiday season gets a jump start with a visit from the Good Earth Montessori School. The kids held a bake sale and raised $195 which they presented to Liberty Wildlife. What a great way to live the Christmas spirit!! Thanks, kids! You helped a lot of birds and animals.
On December 8th, we held our annual Volunteer Appreciation Picnic (which was more of a brunch this year). Despite the cool temperatures and the threat of rain, attendance was gratifying and everyone appeared to have a good time. Prizes were raffled off and the food was, as ever, plentiful and delicious, but beyond that the volunteers got to hang out together in a low-impact, no pressure setting without mouse parts and strange odors clouding the issue. Camaraderie is what Liberty relies on to keep going. If we don’t say it often enough, thanks to all our wonderful volunteers!
(Look for 9 photos)
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As Megan explained above (in HHH), our senior bald eagle left us recently. Even though those of us who had the privilege of working with her for all these years can collectively offer stories and compare bruises and scars from our intimate association with “Libby,” we loved her dearly. She could be a handful when she felt like it, but she never failed to wow the kids at her programs. She was the Queen mum for nearly 30 years and we will never forget her.
Humbly, I put a small slide presentation together for all of our TW@L readers. (You’ll notice her handlers changed more than she did in almost 3 decades…)
My heartfelt thanks to George Winston for his beautiful music.
Posted by Terry Stevens
Operations Director