Megan Mosby
Executive Director
Spreading our Wings
Liberty Wildlife continues to expand our programs to serve the nature and wildlife of Arizona and the Southwest, and to provide conservation across the state. This is more than our past occasionally forays into other parts of the state to help with wildlife needs and educational offerings. Of course, most know about our Non-Eagle Feather Repository — which is national in its reach. And we continue to assist The Peregrine Fund with California Condors from northern Arizona. But we aren’t through yet with this expanded reach.
We now have extended our direct assistance for injured and orphaned wildlife by supporting two agent organizations in different parts of the state. Our agent in the Show Low/Pinetop area is an excellent rehabber who has been active for many years. We have now teamed up to provide the additional rehabilitation care after she stabilizes the animals for transport to Liberty Wildlife main campus in Phoenix. We look forward to continuing and to expanding this service in the future.
Another area of the state that we are supporting is the Southwest Arizona Hummingbird Rescue organization in the Tucson area. Four hard-working hummingbird specialists take in orphaned, injured, ill hummingbirds and move them efficiently and carefully through the process which is needed in each case. Each volunteer specializes in different aspects of rehabilitation, and they work to spell each other in this demanding venture. Just manning the telephone is a fete in itself, and they are awesome at it. They are at a point now where they have doubled last year’s numbers using this team approach, and we are anticipating with the publicity that they are getting that the number of hummingbirds they help will increase significantly. This is good for the public seeking help, and good for the hummingbirds in need.
We also have reached out to another rehabilitation center in the western part of the state, Vida, to help them as they get started in providing help to wildlife in that area of the state. They have successfully been able to transport difficult cases to us as our facility and staff is better equipped to help the hard cases… and we are more than happy to assist. It does, after all, take a village.
We will continue to look for opportunities to grow our reach and our impact. You care about the wellbeing of wildlife in our state, and we aim to meet those needs wherever, and whenever possible.
Education Update
On another note, our education programs grew by one big event this year. I am pleased to report the success of our El Rio Vivo event last Saturday. Our first endeavor at celebrating the river, art, music, and nature was a great party for one and all. Our walk on the river included animals, interpreters, birders, and informational signage…and over 300 people took the opportunity to check it out. Over 700 joined us on our campus, where the music was fun and the dancing, face painting, rock painting and coloring was the cat’s meow for kids and adults alike. Food was delicious. Artists presented a plethora of talent and goods for purchase. And a dozen conservation partners shared information at booths across the campus. Together we had a great time, while learning and sharing about the importance of the nature all around us, and along the shores of our living desert river.
This Week @ Liberty – March 12, 2024
There’s a lot happening here in Phoenix over the next month. Spring training is in full force, lots of festivities for St. Patrick’s Day, the Renaissance Festival…there’s certainly no shortage of events to partake in over the next few weeks. Even we have an event coming up this weekend—the Orphan Care Baby Shower—and a few more before summer hits. And, with El Rio Vivo’s success, if you didn’t make it this year, keep an eye out for what may come next year…
There’s always something in the works here at Liberty Wildlife!
Zone-Tailed Hawk and the Fight with Canker
Zone-Tailed Hawks are not a bird you see too often here in the valley. They prefer higher elevations, where they can hang by rivers where trees like cottonwoods and willows are available, both to nest and hunt from. And, since they are only found in the southwestern U.S. (AZ, NM, TX), it means you’ve got to get out and go find these birds out in their natural habitat (most of the time) if you’re hoping to see one.
This hawk is even known to resemble a carrion eating friend—the Turkey Vulture. Zone-Tailed Hawks fly low over the rocky terrain, often times rocking side to side. Their coloring, and wing shape, even looks like a Turkey Vulture. In fact, one of the only ways I can tell if I’m looking at one or the other is the tail—Zone-Tails have anywhere from two to five light bands on those feathers, whereas the Turkey Vulture has those two-toned wings.
Cue in a little protozoan we call avian trichomoniasis—or canker. It’s a disease caused by a parasite that lives in the crop and oesophagus. It’s often found in pigeons and doves, and if those same passerines are taken as prey, can be transferred to a new host. It’s what caused this Zone-Tailed Hawk to come to Liberty Wildlife. A watchful citizen found him on the ground, non-responsive, and leapt into action. Once here, medical service volunteers assessed him fully to ensure there was nothing else happening past the canker.
As you can see, if left untreated, canker can spread. And quickly. It can move into the nasal cavities, the occipital bones, and even further down. When caught early enough and with the right treatment, canker can be beaten, and in most cases, these same birds can be released once they’re healthy.
Unfortunately, for this Zone-Tailed Hawk, the parasite had already caused too much damage. After two days of treatment, the hawk passed, albeit in a warm, dark, quiet—and safe—environment. We hope he’s flying free, and strong, in spirit.
Abert’s Towhee
Last week, a kind member of the public approached our intake window and advised she had a whole nest of what she believed to be towhees in her vehicle. The mother had not been back for a number of days, and she knew if left alone, they would not make it. I made the short trek with her to her vehicle, and what do you know? We certainly had a whole nest—and three babies! —of Abert’s towhees.
These birds thrive in the southwestern U.S. and Mexico where they like to hang around native shrubs of the area. Here in Phoenix, you’ll often find them where lots of brush is present, especially where we have native and exotic plantings mixed.
As for their nests, they’re going to build in mesquite, cottonwoods or in thick shrubs. Parents will often times find leaves and bark of those same trees to build their nest. Even grasses can be placed in there! But, no matter the material, they’ll typically build it about five to seven feet above the ground where there’s a good amount of shade to protect the babies from the sun, and from prying eyes.
Three kids is a pretty typical clutch size, too. The nestling period only lasts about twelve to thirteen days, where from there they will fledge, but continue to hang around until they’re fully-flighted and capable of eating on their own.
They are also one of the first babies we see come the start of Orphan Care season!
Newest Intakes
If you’re tired of me saying it, well, I’m going to say it again…baby season is upon us. That means we’ll be seeing a lot more intakes in our hospital as well. And not just babies; the spring and summer months get people outside, which means there are more eyes on deck, as it were, for all of you to spot injured animals in need of care. Here are a few of the intakes we’ve seen the past two weeks:
- Pigeon nestlings who fell from their nests and just need a place to grow up! (1 picture)
- A Great Horned Owl found on the ground with only one foot (the other is missing and healed), with minor bruising on the left wing (2 pictures)
- A construction worker found three baby desert cottontails and brought them all snuggled in a glove, can you see them all? (1 picture)
- A Rock Pigeon found with both legs in a trap… (1 picture)
Notable Mentions
It’s that time again; you’ve done all the reading and made it to the end. If you don’t follow us on social media, you may have missed a few events we have coming up! The first is our Orphan Care Baby Shower happening this Saturday, March 16 during public hours! It’s free to come in if you donate something from our wish list; you can find more information here. After that, we’ll have another Sippin’ in the Southwest event on April 13th; more information to come on that.
Definitely a lot happening, so make sure to keep up. We don’t want you to miss anything!
And without further ado, here are this week’s notable mentions:
- Hershey hangs on a grate (1 picture)
- House Sparrows have taken over a corner of the amphitheater (1 picture)
- Bodhi the Harris’s Hawk hangs on the trail for El Rio Vivo (mid rouse, too!) (1 picture)
- A tiny noodle (aka black-headed snake) finds themselves in need of care (1 picture)
- A Peregrine Falcon gets a figure-8 wing wrap change by medical services (1 picture)
- A radiograph of a fractured radius/ulna on a Rock Pigeon (1 picture)
- Darwin the Great Horned Owl hangs with her foster sibling (1 picture – by Susie V.)
As always, thanks for being here with us, especially as we move into busy season. Remember we’re open to the public on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays from 10am-1pm.
Until next time!
Posted by Acacia Parker
Public Outreach Coordinator