Wildlife: Ill, Injured, and Orphaned Birds Need Love Too

Avian Rehab in Nevada

A Red Tail Hawk with an eye injury. This hawk was rescued, treated, the eye healed, and released - 7 - 2024Photo byH. Mikel Feilen

My wife, Suzette Feilen, just showed me a Burrowing Owl with its wing hanging to its side by just a few feathers. A photo of this is too disturbing since the thought of it is bad enough ergo, I will not offer one.

When I initially stared at this so very tiny, beautiful owl, sadly I understood it could never be released back into the wild. I'm not sure how the injury happened - I think it may have hit a trucker's window, regardless, it was sad to see it suffer especially because I know they suffer in silence.

Animals instinctively do not want to make too many sounds if injured. That draws attention to them making it easier for predators to find them. So, they have evolved to take the pain. Granted there are cases where the pain is so extreme you will hear animals cry out.

That is a sound that makes my skin crawl, the sound of a hurt animal.

Suzette is a career wild bird rehabilitator and has been for more than 30 years. Our home is our sanctuary, "FlyAway Bird Rescue in Silver Springs, NV. This season we have taken in more than 400 birds.

With the help of the sanctuary's wildlife veterinarian, Dr. Patricia Handal, she and Suzette can fix many injuries that look awful at first, as with the Red Tail Hawk's eye in the above photo.

This bird's eye healed up like new and was released successfully.

At the peak, we had over 100 birds on the premises. The bird species ranged from Hummingbirds to Eagles but the majority this year were Barn Owls.

Baby Barn Owls filled the different rooms inside the house, later to be transferred to outdoor flight aviaries.

Baby Barn Owl - 2024Photo bySuzette Feilen

The large flight pens allow the birds to practice flying and hunting. Live mice are placed inside a big farm master tank with perches around the outside. The owls must prove they can hunt and fly before they can be released.

Flight Pen - 24' x 12' x 12' - Donated by the Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care.Photo byH. Mikel Feilen

This beautiful flight pen above was donated by Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care. The birds in this picture are Ravens.

When the pen was first erected we thought we would give the birds we had over the winter - Ravens - the first crack at it before releasing them - they loved it.

However, many birds that come to us are severely injured and sick. Many are beyond repair like the Burrowing Owl, a body part torn and dangling cannot be fixed.

Yet, you never hear a cry or a yelp for help from this tiny warrior in pain.

Animals cry out when trying to contact another member of their group. It is known as "Contact Calls".

Babies cry for mommies and parents make contact sounds to locate their babies. However, pain is dealt with differently by most animals - I call it "Survival of the quietest."

They simply suffer within - quietly waiting to heal or die.

I applaud Suzette because regardless of the condition the bird arrives in, she shows each animal love even if she knows she will have to do the worst task a rehabber must shoulder - euthanasia!

First, she kisses them goodbye and apologizes - then after the deed is done she gives them one last hug, a prayer of her creation, and with tears in her eyes, she proceeds to the next bird.

Being a rehabber is a pretty thankless job and it is not for the faint of heart. It is every day - 365 days a year. I have been married to her for 36 years and I can tell you that Suzette is insane.

Crazy for birds, dogs, and any other defenseless creature on the planet.

So, if you ever find a sick, injured, or orphaned birdie, just call:

FlyAway Bird Rescue - Silver Springs, Nevada 89429

Suzette Feilen: 775 515-9832

Call to get the address - Suzette Feilen

Thank you to all of our volunteers, avian transport assistance by the public, and donors. - Suzette Feilen

References:

Suzette Feilen - FlyAway Bird Rescue Silver Springs, NV.

H. Mikel Feilen - FlyAway Bird Rescue and NewsBreak.com

Hummingbirds are learning to eat using live flowers before being released.Photo bySuzette Feilen

Peace, Love, and Unconditional Happiness!

I'm Done!Photo byH. Mikel Feilen