Megan Mosby
Executive Director
A big round of applause for everyone at Liberty Wildlife and for our supporters after this weekend’s successful fundraiser, Wishes for Wildlife, our 29th version of this event, and the third time now in this hybrid-virtual format.
There are many things about this model of fundraising that we like.
- We can provide you with a wonderful experience in the comfort of your home or that of friends/family.
- You can serve anything you like from potluck to pizza to a full-on gourmet dinner if you choose.
- You can have your neighborhood, your family, your co-workers, your best friends, or a mixture of all and share your love of Liberty Wildlife and our mission.
- You can watch behind the scenes videos of the work we do that others aren’t privy to.
- You can bid on a plethora of fun and different auction items.
- You can host educational handlers and educational wildlife in your home, on your patio, or whatever space works for you. That, of course, gives you bragging rights… only party with wildlife as a component… and this year’s program culminated with the release of a rehabilitated great horned owl… to wild audience applause.
- AND best of all, you can feel good about your support of nature and wildlife at the same time.
I am telling you this because, as I mentioned, all of that already happened – this past weekend to wild raves. Everyone enjoyed the experience. Fortunately, the other unique part of this party model is that you do not have to have your party on the night of the auction!
In fact, you can still schedule a party–at a time that works best for you… how can you beat that? So, if you are inspired, call and schedule your party for when family is in town for Thanksgiving, a birthday, another holiday, or special occasion during the month of November. The auction is over, but the video is still available, and the live, in-person, educational experience is still possible!
There is another part of this model important from the standpoint of raising money for a non-profit organization. All the funds go directly to the mission and not to expenses. Enough said.
Now, you can also start thinking of hosting a party of your own for next year’s Wishes for Wildlife, (#30 for those keeping track!)
It seems the month of October has been a rockin’ and rollin’ month for us. The premier of our documentary was the culmination of two years of planning, writing, filming, editing, and distributing by our hotshot team at Quantum Leap Productions. Thankfully, there is still a chance for you to stream “The Weight of a Feather” in the comfort of your home.
Here’s how: Go to: https://aesaz.co/ELP/WISHES22/Donation.
You can also still purchase the ability to stream our new documentary film, “The Weight of a Feather” now through November 7th. You can also follow the same link to make a gift to support our educational programs, our wildlife rehabilitation, and the great conservation work we do throughout the year.
Thanks for all the support from the community, the volunteers, and the staff of Liberty Wildlife…. See you at Wishes for Wildlife next year.
This Week @ Liberty – October 25, 2022
October has come and gone, and with it, Wishes for Wildlife. We’re well on our way to a new year with new events and another annual fundraiser, which I’m sure will be here before we know it. Things have slowed down considerably for our medical and rehabilitation side, while our education volunteers have been on the go with on-site field trips, tours, and off-site programs.
Of course, coupled with the holidays, we’re never short of bird nerd cheer. At the end of November, Liberty Wildlife will join the Verde Canyon Railroad for their Christmas Train (with an eagle, to boot!), and in December volunteers will be at the Desert Botanical Garden for their Las Noches de las Luminarias. If you’ve never been to either, I highly recommend both; the Botanical Garden is a fixture at this time of the year here in the valley, and though the train is a bit of at trek, I promise both are completely worth the effort.
Plus, they’re great to give as gifts of memories made and time spent together, whether it’s with friends or your family.
Wildlife vs. Glue Traps
Glue traps seem like an easy fix. They’re compact and convenient, and for the most part, do the job they’re intended to do by catching those little critters in your home you don’t necessarily want there.
The problem with glue traps, however, is their inadvertent ability to catch everything; snakes, geckos, lizards…and, believe it or not, birds, too. Smaller birds, like this Cactus Wren, get caught in the crossfire, and their feathers take the brunt of the damage. Our Medical Volunteers have to be extra careful when removing them; depending on what kind of glue trap, we use a powder or a spray to help dissolve the glue. They then work that into the glue and around the body parts stuck, while gently lifting, to help remove the bird from the trap.
It’s delicate work, and often times these birds are dehydrated and skinny from lack of food and water. Broken limbs and feather loss are also on the radar, as the glue can pull feathers out, and bones can be broken while the bird attempts to free himself before being brought to us.
Thankfully, Medical Volunteers Jake and Lane were able to free this little guy without further harm; some fluids and a dawn bath later (to remove excess glue and powder), this Cactus Wren is resting in ICU until he’s strong enough to be released.
AZ Game and Fish: Tagging Birds
On my very first blog post not so long ago, I shared a photo in Notable Mentions of a Golden Eagle (just for kicks, I’ve included them again here); look at those wings! The size! The beauty!
Well, she has a story to tell, and I’m happy to help tell it.
She came to us in June of this year after having been found on the ground; based on her wounds, she may have been hit by a car, although we can’t confirm that was the case. She was skinny and dehydrated, but after some much needed care in ICU, she was moved outside to one of our flight cages to flex those wings. She also stocked up on some good eats, too; she weighed almost 12 pounds before her release on October 20th!
But that’s not all; Arizona Game and Fish manages sub-adult and young adult Golden Eagles who’ve been in rehabilitation facilities through a tracking program. They are fitted with a tracker and a tag prior to release, which allows Game and Fish to monitor the success rate of these amazing birds of prey after they’re back in the wild. It also gives them information on where they land, their migratory path, their range and life expectancy, and a whole slew of data we otherwise were unaware of before.
Two other Golden Eagles who’ve stayed with us have been tagged and are continuing to be monitored; if you’re interested, you can find more information here about what Game and Fish does, and what they’re looking for.
For now, we’re happy she’s back out where she’s supposed to be, and excited we were able to help get her there.
How to Become a Medical Service Volunteer
Medical Services holds a very special place in my heart for a number of reasons. Admittedly, it wasn’t something I ever considered doing because I didn’t realize it was something I could do, nor did I realize just how much I would love it.
I was nearly a year into volunteering with Daily Care before it hit me that medical services was something I absolutely wanted to learn.
Much like becoming an Education Volunteer, learning medical services takes time. You must be a volunteer here at Liberty Wildlife for a minimum of six months prior to signing up for a 10-week course, which takes you through various traits of birds, bunnies and reptiles. Not only do you learn how to handle the animals who come in, you’ll learn anatomy, drugs to administer, how to wrap a broken wing and/or leg, and even how to give fluids properly to those animals who come in dehydrated.
Everything is done on-site, too; you don’t need a medical background to learn medical services. What you do need is an aptitude for reading the animal’s body language, knowing when to ask questions and get help, and recognizing there’s something new to learn every day you come in.
It’s a rewarding experience, to say the least, especially with those animals who come in on death’s door and are released days, weeks, and months later. It’s one you can experience as well, if given the time and opportunity.
You can check out Liberty Wildlife’s volunteer opportunities here…there’s plenty of space to fill, and lots of work ready to be done!
Notable Mentions
It’s that time again, which means the blog is coming to end (for this week, anyway). This time of year, when things slow down, my photo feed slows down, too. Don’t worry, it won’t last for long, and I promise I take every opportunity to take photos whenever I get the chance (remember, official bird nerd here).
So without further ado, here are this week’s notable mentions:
Marshmellow, one of 6 resident goats, takes a very close look at my camera (1 picture)
Laura with Animal Ambassador Tucker at a Wishes for Wildlife ‘table’ (1 picture)
Joe with Animal Ambassador Aurora hangs with Laura (1 picture)
Rehabilitated and newly released Harris’s Hawks hang on a light pole in North Phoenix (1 picture)
A Red-Tailed Hawk in one of our many flight cages grabs a bite to eat (1 picture)
Animal Ambassador Henry says hello at Wishes for Wildlife (1 picture – by Jenny Curtis)
Elf Owl takes a test flight outside (1 picture)
Remember, you can always come visit us for Public Hours Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday from 10am-1pm; between keepers talks and scheduled programs, there’s a ton to learn and see.
Until next time!
Posted by Acacia Parker
Public Outreach Coordinator