Our education birds are kept under special state and federal education permits. All are birds of prey, also known as raptors. In the wild, these birds would all hunt live food, which they kill before eating. Food ranges from insects, reptiles, amphibians, small mammals such as mice, rats, gophers, etc., larger mammals for the larger birds, and other birds. In captivity our volunteers feed them mealworms (for the tiny birds) and rats, mice, and quail, which we purchase frozen. Each has his or her own “house,” called a mew, designed to accommodate his or her disability. While not all birds of prey can tolerate life in captivity, these birds have a somewhat mellow disposition for their species and are thus good choices for education. They accompany us to presentations and community events to help educate the public and benefit the environment. Please read more about our educational presentations. All but one of our birds came to us or to other rehabilitators with the hope of eventual release. They were, for the reasons you will see below, all determined to be non-releasable. Buster is a dark phase male Red-tailed Hawk, acquired in 1992. He was shot in the left coricoid (a bone in the chest near his shoulder) while in flight. This damage leaves him unable to lift his wing properly. Feathers on that wing must be trimmed to avoid his stepping on them. Sinbad is a male Great Horned Owl, acquired in 1993. He was hit by a car, which shattered bones in his left wing. The wing is now frozen so that he is unable to extend his wing. Feathers on that wing must be trimmed to avoid his stepping on them. The accompanying damage to his left eye caused slight tearing to the iris which has widened over the years, leaving an enlarged pupil. Cataracts have formed, limiting his sight. He has been used as a foster “daddy” for 3 years. Jack is a male Merlin, acquired in 1999. A gunshot fractured his left humerus (wing) which has left him unable to fly. Bandit (left) is a male Kestrel, acquired in 2001. He had been held captive illegally. The captor had trimmed his wings and had not treated an infection in one eye. He was turned in to animal control but the eye was already destroyed. Bella (right) is a female Kestrel, acquired in 2001. She had a fractured left wing tip of unknown origin, and has limited flight. Widget is a male Burrowing Owl, acquired in 2001. Neurological damage causes his wing droop, leaving him with limited flight. Xena is a female Red-tailed Hawk, acquired in 2001. She had been electrocuted, causing severe damage on both “wrists.” Her right wing tip self-amputated, leaving her unable to fly. Kera is a female Peregrine Falcon, purchased in 2002 by Stacey Patterson under her falconry permit. She was captive bred, hatched in 2000, and raised by her parents in Utah. She is fully flighted and will be used both for falconry and for education.
	HOME PAGE Mailing Address: South Bay Wildlife Rehab 26363 Silver Spur Rd. Rancho Palos Verdes California 90275 (310) 378-9921 (phone) (310) 378-0969 (fax) [email protected] copyright 2002 SBWR