Raptor Center of Southeast Michigan

By Alysha Albrecht

It has been an ever- expanding Summer. Our team has grown and a few have fledged our care. In mid-July Ontario, the non-releasable Red Tail Hawk we received in February, was transferred to Ogden Nature Center in Utah. The center offers many types of enrichment like allowing the birds to build nests and Ontario has already begun his flight training! Staff at the center are overjoyed with his willingness to learn and he took to his enclosure very well. We’re excited for Ontario’s new adventures.

Our first year Red-Tail Hawk fledgling, Pivot, who is blind in the right eye has found a forever home. He was transferred to Turtle Bay Exploration Center in Redding California at the end of October. This center also has high credentials and was extremely excited to receive Pivot. He is such a sweet bird and will soon be going through his flight training. We couldn’t be happier for these two, they have found fabulous homes that will continue to care for them and make sure they are getting the best training possible!

We released two birds this summer. One was a young Red Tail Hawk that got caught up in a chicken coop, while looking for a fast meal. He captured his meal, but could not get out. Thankfully, we removed him safely and checked him over. He was fat, full and had a clean bill of health, so we released him far from the chicken coop. Sorry to the finder, who lost one of his chickens. The second bird we released was a fierce young Cooper’s Hawk who had a run- in with a window. Thankfully she was a fighter and continued to get better each day. She was released and flew to a far tree. It was so joyful to see them both fly free again and get a second chance, that is what rehab is all about!

Since then we’ve had a diversity of call and intakes ranging from owls to a peregrine falcon. The Peregrine is going to be transferred to Falconer Dave Hogan since he has more experience reconditioning them. As for our human team, we were given a gift of an avid birder… his story is on the back of the newsletter. We’re so excited to welcome Dave and his wife Sarah Spratt to our team! And in other great news, Scott and I are expecting our first child in mid-February! Times are changing and we’re embracing each day.