Birds of Prey at MVN&RC
On October 2, 2023, a special educational program was presented for residents, family members, and staff, on the front porch by Susan Gallagher. Susan is a Chief Naturalist and a licensed Wildlife Rehabilitator. In addition, she serves as the Director of the Carbon County Environmental Education Center (CCEEC) located at the west end of Mauch Chunk Lake.
Susan informed the crowd that the CCEEC promotes awareness and understanding of our environment through education. The CCEEC is licensed by the PA Game Commission and the US Fish and Wildlife Service to rehabilitate certain wild mammals and birds. They work with veterinarians to treat injured wildlife. The goal of the CCEEC is always to get birds and mammals back into the wild where they belong. In some cases, animals that can’t be released into the wild are “put to work” in their education programs.
Susan’s program was entitled “Birds of Prey”, and brought with her 2 Hawks, 1 Falcon, and 1 Screech Owl. She presented general information about hawks, falcons, screech owls and other owls, including what they ate, their natural habitat, migration patterns, and other information. Susan also shared specific information about each bird, she brought with her to show the residents and others who were present at this program. Everyone was delighted to see, first hand, the birds, as Susan walked among the crowd. Each bird was tethered by a narrow leash fastened to its lower leg. This was done to keep the birds safe and restrained.
The first bird, Susan introduced to us, was the small adult Screech Owl who was part of the education program, due to an eye injury, which prevented its survival in the wild because it was unable to hunt for food and fly safely. This small owl was cute! Susan said these small screech owls live in our area, but often go undetected, due to their camouflage and quietness.
Next Susan brought out a small Kestrel Falcon and walked among the crowd wearing a large leather glove for her protection from the bird’s talons, while she was providing us with general and specific information about this particular raptor. Although the Kestrel Falcon was a smaller bird, he was larger than the screech owl.
The next two raptors Susan presented to the crowd were larger hawks. Susan first showed us a Broad Winged Hawk, and then the beautiful Red Tail Hawk, as she walked among the crowd, enabling everyone to see their beautiful feathers. Again, Susan gave general and specific information about these two hawks. She was always open to answering whatever questions anyone had, about the birds.
Susan also brought along a collection of talons, wing and tail feathers for the residents to see and touch, and enabled the crowd to listen to the sounds each of these birds, have the ability to make, using a small electronic device.
It was wonderful to see up close these magnificent raptors and learn so much information about them. Although these particular birds were unable to be released back into the wild for their own safety, these and other program birds, are provided with food, housing, and medical care, for life, at the Carbon County Environmental Education Center.
