Megan Mosby
Executive Director
Appreciation Overflows
Yesterday was our annual Volunteer Appreciation Day. It is one of the most fun days on our campus each year. Not only does it celebrate our most precious resource–our people, it also is the scene of some of the best food around. Each person is invited to come, bring their families, and to share a favorite dish. I save my calories for a week just to be able to sample the cuisine, and it is worth it. The food, fun, and friends make for a perfect happening…
Here’s another reason why it is important. We could never do all that we do without the consistent, compassionate, and competent help of the people of the Valley. Well actually, let me hasten to say, we have volunteers around and even out of state! The almost 350 or 400 (the number varies during the seasons) seems astronomical, but when you consider we are staffed with volunteers from about 6 in the morning until 7 or so in the evening—every day of the week, month, and year. A small staff makes in necessary and expedient to solicit and train this cadre of incredible people to do the multitude of tasks that must get done from manning the phone, rescuing animals, feeding, cleaning, providing medical assistance, to educating and caring for the animal ambassadors and all that entails. We have one-time volunteers who build enclosures, clean windows, pull weeds, trim trees, and fill other assorted needs.
It is easy to see the value of these volunteers, but there is also a way to make the donation more transparent. Together with the University of Maryland’s Do Good Institute, a group called the Independent Sector puts out a yearly report. They present an annual equivalent value of volunteer time. The amount is based on the “average earnings of private sector workers…i.e., the annual average hourly earnings for all productive and non-supervisory workers on private, non-farm payrolls.” This year’s equivalency amount of volunteer time per hour is $31.80. Our last annual report indicates our volunteer time/pay equivalency was $2,489,781.00. Eye popping, right? Especially when our budget in actual dollar expense accounting terms is about half as large at that!
All this support represents a great win for wildlife. Not only is the care consistent, the Liberty Family is enlarged and caring. More hands represent a greater impact. As our numbers increase by the year so do our programs offered. Our Non-Eagle Feather Repository has passed 6000 orders to provide feathers to help maintain Native cultures. Our Education group has reached out to hundreds of thousand people in the past year with a message about the power and value of wildlife and nature to all of us. Every call to the Hotline is an opportunity for us to help, inform, and enrich our community. Every animal helped (into the tens of thousands) reduces the suffering and keeps the balance intact.
I am overly proud of what this organization has become in 45 years in existence. And, trust me—one of the most important
factors is the wealth of the volunteer contribution. I already look forward to next year’s volunteer appreciation event…stay tuned.
And, in the meantime, look for news on our next big event – which will celebrate the living riving, the Salt River, that flows outside our back door… save the date – Mar. 2nd, 2024.
— Megan
PS – I’d like to extend a public “thank you” to all those who responded to our Giving Tuesday appeal this past month. We had 150 people step forward with support. And the average gift of these regular supporters was $150! Together with the 25 new and renewing members this month, you are ensuring that we can sustain all of our programs. Thank you!
This Week @ Liberty – December 5, 2023
It’s crazy to realize I only have this, and one other blog to write, before the closure of 2023 and we start a brand spanking new year. Even in our ‘slow’ season (and let’s be honest, it’s not that slow) we’ve seen a plethora of animals coming to our door. And that’s all because of you guys—you’re taking the time to notice the world around you, keep tabs on it, and take the time to call or bring the animal to us. The truth of it is, we wouldn’t be here without all of you keeping a watchful eye on Arizona’s wildlife, and caring enough to take that step.
If I’ve said it once I’ll say it again; thank you for all you do. We see you, we appreciate you, and we love to see all the hard work that goes in to caring for our wildlife.
BB’s and Harris’s Hawks
It is, unfortunately, something we see more often than I care to admit. Birds of prey are carnivorous; depending on the species, it is not uncommon for them to grab livestock—like chickens—for a meal. So while someone may think they’re protecting their own, the thing some forget is, raptors don’t differentiate between a pet and another wild animal. To them, food is food, and they’re going to grab it when, and where, they can.
Of course, we can’t say for sure if the BB that had been in this juvenile Harris’s Hawk leg was from a situation like this or something else entirely. We know it has been in his leg long enough to become encapsulated (basically a protective barrier around the pellet to keep the raptor from getting sick); once Alex removed it, we were able to dissect the pellet from the barrier. Alex then made quick work of stitching the area back up.
For this juvenile, the pellet isn’t the only thing he has to worry about. He also has a fractured ulna (think large bone in your forearm); wrapped and currently in ICU with antibiotics and anti-inflammatories, he’ll have to wait for the fracture to heal before being placed outside with other Harris’s to regain his strength.
And for anyone out looking for these birds of prey, remember they’re one of the only raptors who hunt in packs (aptly named the wolves of the sky). Adults are brown (for the most part), with reddish wings and a white band on their tail just below their rump and another at the edge. This time of year, they’ll be out and about in open areas where they’re likely to hunt rabbits and other mammals they’ll flush out together.
One of Many Insect Eating Owls
We’ve seen a number of owls this year we don’t often see, including the world’s smallest raptor, the Elf Owl. And while we’ve had a few Flammulated Owl’s, they’re another small raptor who is just as elusive as the Elf Owl.
At a weight between 1.5-2.2 ounces (less than a stick of butter!), these small owls are notoriously difficult to find, especially during the day. They are so well camouflaged, in fact, that finding them at night—by their calls, no less—is far easier than attempting to spot them during the daylight hours. Still, even that can be difficult, as their calls can be further away than what they actually sound like.
If you’re out and about hoping to spot one of them, they tend to gravitate towards ponderosa pines and forests that offer a lot of natural cavities where they will nest. You aren’t likely to find them in lower elevations, but that doesn’t mean you won’t see them in a variety of habitats. This can include deserts, riparian corridors and valleys. All these places provide great spots for them to find insects; moths, crickets, grasshoppers and beetles are on their list, though they can go after small birds and bats, too.
Our little friend is at Liberty Wildlife, however, because of a humerus fracture (think your upper arm). And while that has healed, his range of motion has become less because of the wound. Physical therapy helps with range of motion, and a little scab at the end of his wrist (the bald spot you’re seeing in the photos) is healing well, too.
Like most animals who come through our doors, only time can tell. But for now, he’s doing well in ICU, getting bugs on the daily and physical therapy a few times a week to help strengthen the now healed wing.
Notable Mentions
I take so many pictures at work that I often forget other people (aka volunteers) do the same. There is a plethora of people here who get to experience wildlife first hand, and take just as many photos as I do (it does make me feel better that I’m not the only crazy bird lady!). Which means that, when they get sent to me, I like to showcase them, too (there’s only a few this time around, but there will certainly be more!).
Without further ado, here are this weeks’ notable mentions:
- Volunteer Doris and hangs with Animal Ambassador Cochise for her very first Verde Canyon Railroad experience (1 picture – by Claudia)
- A Round-Tailed Ground Squirrel finds a good hiding spot in his enclosure (1 picture)
- Zelda the Grey Hawk hangs in her new enclosure by the wetlands (1 picture)
- The goats make an escape after going home for the night and wonder if they get more treats… the answer is yes, they do get more treats! (1 picture)
- Dr. Bautista and Midwestern assess a juvenile Harris’s Hawk while an engaged field trip watches (1 picture)
- Volunteers Tara, Teresa and Laura hang at Desert Botanical Gardens with owls and snakes (1 picture – by Teresa)
- A Long-Eared Owl is given medicine by medical service volunteer Mel while volunteer Aly holds (2 pictures)
- A Western Grey Squirrel hangs in triage (1 picture – by Jake)
- Medical service volunteers Amber and Teresa re-wrap a wing on an American Kestrel (1 picture)
As always, thanks for making it this far. Public Hours are in full swing still from 10am-1pm on Wednesday’s, Saturday’s and Sunday. And remember with the holidays coming up, our intake window is closed on Christmas day. If you find an animal who needs care, you can either keep it in a warm, dark quiet place and bring to us on December 26th, or take to our partners at Veterinary Emergency Group at 7210 W Ray Road, Chandler, AZ.
Until next time!
Posted by Acacia Parker
Public Outreach Coordinator