Update on TRC Construction from Artemis the Peregrine Falcon

Artemis the peregrine falcon pauses from her meal
to deliver an update on TRC's construction project.

TRC staff and volunteers are taking advantage of the warmer than average weather the past couple of weeks. Some of the education birds, who are temporarily being housed indoors during the new raptor housing destruction/construction project, are brought outside for feeding.

Artemis, the peregrine falcon, in between bites of lunch recently, asked to report on the progress of the project.

“I was able to see the area today while I had a delicious quail lunch (my compliments to the ‘chef’ volunteers.) There is a very large hole where I used to live. Wooden structures are up that I overheard are the forms for the cement infrastructure for our new space. They look great to perch on from here---but people keep adding things to them so things are changing all the time. 

“I heard the non-feathered staff say that they will not miss the stairs or the shovel brigades after a snow storm. I don’t know about that, but I love a good rain bath and tucking my toes under my feathers when it snows.  My fellow winged ambassadors and I will still enjoy access to the variable Minnesota weather, but it will be easier for the TRC volunteers and staff to use covered walkways when it rains and snows.”

View from the side of the new education bird housing.

This is the infrastructure for concrete Artemis mentions.

This is a view from inside TRC, looking out on the
rehabilitation pens.  Concrete is also being
poured.

TRC on Almanac - Links

Here is a link to the Almanac (TPT) show from Friday evening.  Dr. Patrick Redig, Adam Barnett, and Maxime the bald eagle appear at about 30 minutes into the show.

Adam and Artemis the peregrine falcon appeared on a short after-show clip called The Wrap with David Gillette. 

TRC on KARE11 Saturday - 3M Presents Eleven Who Care

Watch for a featured message about The Raptor Center on KARE11 (Mpls NBC affiliate) tomorrow, Saturday, October 25, during the KARE 11 "Eleven Who Care" annual awards ceremony, presented by 3M.

TRC has enjoyed a long-time partnership with 3M, sharing a vision for improving life and a commitment to education and the environment. We are grateful for 3M Foundation’s sponsorship of our Fall Raptor Release event, which many of you got to enjoy just last month.  They also provide many medical products used for our clinic patients such as the wrapping used on this red-tailed hawk patient’s foot. 

TRC Recognizes National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week

This week is National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week.  There are many great sites (some listed below) with tool kits and other ways to empower the general public with education on the topic of lead and humans. 

We’d also like to expand this conversation by including the topic of impacts of lead on wildlife.  As most of you know, The Raptor Center has documented lead poisoning from spent lead ammunition in our bald eagle patients over our 40 years.  We strive to be a leader in educating the public on alternatives to lead ammunition.  Healthy raptors in a healthy shared ecosystem with humans yields great benefits. 

We’d like to share some resources with you.  Here is an article written by our Executive Director, Dr. Julia Ponder, on implications for public health as relating to hunting ammunition choices.

EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) site here

CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) site here

MNDNR site with information on lead for hunters here

Pumpkins for Raptors?

Like many of you are probably doing, TRC is taking advantage of “seasonally available” produce.  We have found pumpkins to be a great way to incorporate into our enrichment activities for our education raptors.  How?  Read on!

Outdoors construction at our site means we have had to move some of our birds to alternative housing.   We are using some creative ways to ensure that the birds are continually comfortable with new surroundings.  Rope “toys” that encourage natural behavior to “foot” their prey are made almost daily by our volunteers.   

Once they are hollowed out, small pumpkins make great places to “hide” the birds’ food.  In this series of photos, Lois the great horned owl is offered her mouse lunch in a pumpkin.  As you can see, Lois very carefully sizes up her “prey” before she withdrew her treat.