To Fly for Another Day
Injured birds of prey given a second chance at the Owl Moon Raptor Center
BY WIB MIDDLETON
Guess what the fastest animal on the planet is . No , it ’ s not the cheetah that can do 0 to 60 mph in three seconds . It ’ s the peregrine falcon . These magnificent raptors have been clocked at a top diving speed of 240 miles per hour . Their precision , velocity and agility make them master predators .
Maryland is home to some 19 kinds of raptors , including hawks , owls , eagles , falcons and vultures . Many of these beautiful birds can be spotted in Montgomery County ’ s Agricultural Reserve . Unfortunately over the past few decades their natural habitats and bird populations in general have diminished dramatically due to land development and various interactions with humans . Fortunately the Ag Reserve remains a prime habitat for their protection in our area .
Sadly , it is not uncommon for birds of prey to get badly injured . Ospreys get tangled in fishing lines ; the young ones can fall from their nests . Coooper ’ s hawks with their uncanny maneuvering through heavily wooded tree branches can mistake a home ’ s window reflection for the forest with disastrous results . Often raptors are illegally killed by birdshot . All native birds are protected under the Migratory Bird Act . More commonly , owls and hawks collide with fast moving cars . Any injury is life threatening without intervention because a bird ’ s ability to hunt is impaired . A responsible person who finds an injured bird , encountering what may be the most stunning creature they have ever seen up close , will seek help from a rescue operation . That ’ s where the Owl Moon Raptor Center in Boyds , Maryland , comes in .
Suzanne Shoemaker , who with her husband Jan Lewandrowski , has run the center for 20 years . The nonprofit is a state and federally licensed wildlife rehabilitation center specializing in birds of prey . Their mission is “ to rescue and rehabilitate injured , sick , and orphaned birds of prey and return them to the wild in sound , athletic condition ; and to educate the public about raptors in the process .”
In a typical year Owl Moon can take in close to 500 birds . Depending on the severity of their injuries , if they survive the first 24 hours , birds have a 75 percent chance of being rehabilitated and returned to the wild .
46 plenty I spring sowing 2022