Page 26 - June-July 2015 Magazine For Flipbook

These days, an average of 55 volunteers assist at the CRC.
Collectively, these dedicated individuals annually donate an
estimated 11,500 hours in tender loving care to raptors and
the CRC.
Home Safe
The CRC becomes a new home for raptors whose injuries
mean they will never thrive in the wild. For instance, some
might have wings that won’t be strong enough or eyesight
too poor for hunting. Among the raptors deemed non-re-
leasable, many become teaching birds, ambassadors for their
species, as part of the center’s educational outreach program.
These birds participate in presentations on and off the site.
Each year the CRC reaches about 5,000 persons through
tours and outreach programs in school and with other com-
munity groups.
Stedman says, “When people see a raptor up close, it gets
their attention and they get to know one bird’s story. They
often build a connection and concern for the bird that
extends to other members of that species. When people start
paying attention to one of our teaching birds, that interest
can grow into a greater appreciation for all raptors.”
Flights to Freedom
The first hope for each injured bird brought to the center
is that it will be restored to full health and be released back
into the wild. According to Stedman, 55 to 60 percent of
the raptors brought to the center are treated and released.
Stedman says that’s a relatively high percentage for a rehabil-
itation center.
In the process of training a raptor to the glove for educa-
tional purposes, the bird is fitted with anklets and jesses, to
which a leash is attached. This offers some control over the
bird’s actions while an experienced handler teaches the bird
to accept the company of a human partner. Through daily
sessions over a long period of time, eventually these birds
learn to remain calm in front of a crowd and some are fur-
ther trained to accept traveling in a crate for presentations at raptors, the world is better for many other species as well.”
schools and other community groups. The center’s teaching
raptors are trained to work with several handlers.
Hawks
Among the hawks at the center are Grasshopper the
Swainson’s hawk, Rosa the Harris’s hawk; and Angel and
Diego, both red-tailed hawks.
More red-tailed hawks live in and around urban areas these
days, apparently attracted by the rodents that follow human
24 June/July
activities. They’ve been photographed catching pigeons in cit-
ies. In different parts of the country, one will see different vari-
ations of coloring among red-tailed hawks. Red feathers on a
hawks legs, belly, and chest means the bird is termed a “rufous”
red-tail, which are common here in Northern California.
Swainson’s hawks’
Successful Comeback
Swainson’s hawks, named after British naturalist William
Swainson, have made a comeback from 400 California
nesting sites in 1979 to more than 2200 today. This was
largely accomplished after harmful pesticides were banned
in Argentina, and also because of habitat protection, accord-
ing to Bret Stedman, Operations Manager at the California
Raptor Center. GPS tracking systems placed on some birds
provide a signal that goes into space and directly informs sci-
entists of their locations.
In the past, banded birds had to be sighted by observers and
the tracking was much less accurate. The latest tracking sys-
tems have revealed differences in the migration patterns of
the Swainson hawks that live in California, compared with
their counterparts to the east.
Data now shows that Great Basin Swainson’s hawks go all
the way to Argentina whereas Swainson’s hawks that live in
California typically migrate to and from Mexico and Central
American destinations.
Semi-Annual Open Houses
Annually, each spring and fall, the center opens to the public
for its seasonal Open House. The date for this year’s fall Open
House will be October 17th. On this special day, visitors are
treated to viewing the teaching of birds “on the glove” and
display birds perched in their cages.
The CRC benefits birds and enhances people’s awareness of
their relationship with nature. Says Stedman, “Seeing rap-
tors up close often gives people a greater interest in habitat
conversation. When we have an environment that supports
Kristine Mietzner is a Northern California writer. She also
writes for the Benicia Herald, Your Life is a Trip, and Litro
New York.
www.localhappeningsmagazine.com