Fall 2014 - Raptor Center

The Raptor Center
Ensuring the health of raptors and the world we share
Raptor Release
Fall 2014
FROM THE DIRECTOR
Raptor Release
The Raptor Center
Fall 2014
Contents
From the Director
2
When Raptors and Humans
Collide 3
Tales from the Trauma
Center 5
TRC Friends Show Spirit
of Generosity 6
Education: Reaching Out—
in Person and Online 7
Conservation/Research:
Getting Involved Through
Citizen Science
8
Book Review: Citizen
Scientists: Be a Part of
Scientific Discovery from
Your Own Backyard
9
Around The Raptor
Center10
Mark Your Calendar/
Contact Us11
On the cover
Dr. Pat Redig, The Raptor Center’s
co-founder and director emeritus,
released a bald eagle in celebration of
TRC’s 40th anniversary at the
Fall Raptor Release on September 27.
Photos by Amber Burnette
2 Raptor Release Fall 2014
From the director
Dear Friends,
This past summer, we admitted 81 Cooper’s hawks to
our clinic. These hawks constituted nearly one-quarter
of our total summer admissions. Last year, Cooper’s
hawks accounted for 13 percent of our total caseload.
They were not even among the top-five species seen
by us when we first opened our doors in 1974. What
exactly is this telling us?
Cooper’s hawks are becoming more prevalent in urban areas. As urban birds,
they are prone to human-related injuries. While we know these agile hawks
are adapting quickly to urban environments, we don’t know yet whether their
ability to adapt is occurring at the expense of other birds, like the American
kestrel, whose numbers among our caseload are dropping.
Other raptor species, like broad-winged hawks and bald eagles, are also
becoming more prevalent in urban settings. According to the Minnesota
Department of Natural Resources, more than 60 breeding pairs of bald eagles
nested in the Twin Cities metro area in 2014. That’s astounding.
So what does this mean for The Raptor Center? As you’ll read in this issue
of Raptor Release, the increasing numbers of human-raptor conflicts—
unintentional though they might be—are providing us with new insights and
information on the everyday challenges raptors face in the wild at the same
time they are straining the resources we need to complete our daily work.
As our resources continue to be stretched, we increasingly depend on generous
donors like you and other visionaries who understand our role and the role of
raptors in the health of the environment. Doug Dayton was generous in his
support before his death, and his legacy and longtime relationship with The
Raptor Center live on through a generous family gift. An environmentalist
before it became fashionable, Doug knew that more than 60 percent of The
Raptor Center’s operating budget depends on the generosity of people like
you, who agree with our mission and the importance of One Health—the
concept that our health is inextricably connected with the health of animals
and the environment.
As always, thank you for your continued support. We are all in this together,
and together we can work to solve the challenges facing raptors, wildlife, and
humans alike.
Sincerely,
Julia Ponder, D.V.M.
Executive Director
HUMAN-RAPTOR CONNECTIONS
When raptors and humans collide
By Fran Howard
H
uman activity results in the death
of an estimated 1 billion birds each
year, many of them raptors. As
the interface between humans, wildlife,
and the environment changes, the rush
or delay to adopt new technologies often
creates unintended consequences for
wildlife. Developing policy to mitigate the
substantial loss of wildlife often proves
difficult due to the many stakeholders
involved.
As humans continue to move into the
edges of wildlife habitat, wildlife species
become a part of urban and suburban
yards. Adaptable species, like the
Cooper’s and broad-winged hawks, are
also increasing in number. This can create
problems for people if the birds feed on
songbirds at backyard feeders or become
too territorial around their nests, but it also
ups the ante for raptors trying to navigate
urban and other developed landscapes.
Numerous species of raptors and other
birds migrate through human-dominated
landscapes each year. These birds face
starvation when their much-needed food
sources are destroyed to make way for
development. If they have to fly farther
to find a new source of food, tired birds
are more likely to collide with manmade
objects, including tall buildings, wind
turbines, electrical wires, and poles.
Domestic cats alone destroy millions of
songbirds each year, and contaminants
also kill a significant number of raptors.
Making policy
Technology can be both friend and foe
to wildlife. GPS trackers, for instance,
have helped scientists discover much
about migration routes that often need
protection. Wind turbines reduce the use
of fossil fuels that hasten climate change,
which is putting many wildlife species in
peril, but they also have proven deadly to
migrating birds and bats when sited along
migration routes or flight corridors.
After many bird and bat deaths, the
U.S. Department of the Interior in 2012
released voluntary
guidelines for wind
development in the
United States. Siting
guidelines now include
avoiding migratory
pathways and significant
bird habitats, including
Important Bird Areas.
Also recommended are
larger, slower-moving
blades, strobe lighting,
buried transmission
lines, comprehensive
monitoring of wildlife
deaths once a site is
developed, and even
compensation when
deaths occur to restore
quality habitat elsewhere.
Glass windows are a hazard for birds. Glass is invisible to birds, and if
it reflects the images of trees, bushes, the sky, or other natural habitat,
birds may fly directly into it.
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar noted
that the voluntary guidelines were the
result of an intensive public process and
significant input from the wind energy
industry, state agencies, and wildlife
conservation groups.
“The number of stakeholders involved
in developing policy to protect wildlife
across a number of issues can often be
daunting, but policy development must
occur at the national, regional, local, and
even organizational level,” says Dr. Julia
Ponder, executive director of The Raptor
Center (TRC).
TRC was an early pioneer in informing
policy that eventually led to the banning
of lead ammunition in waterfowl hunting
in the United States. However, spent
lead ammunition used in deer hunting
continues to be a major problem for
raptors.
The problem of glass
Reflective and see-through glass windows
are also a hazard for birds. In fall 2012,
an estimated 40 birds, primarily cedar
waxwings, perished within a three-hour
period when they struck a series of new
glass railings on a second-level plaza
between Ruttan Hall and McGrath Library
on the University of Minnesota’s St. Paul
Campus.
TRC, Audubon Minnesota, and the
University joined forces to stop the
carnage. The University’s Facilities
Management staff was first to respond,
placing blue painter’s tape in large
x-shaped configurations on the panels.
“It was really amazing,” says Joanna
Eckles, coordinator of Project BirdSafe
and Lights Out for Audubon Minnesota.
“Typically, it is really hard to get anybody
to take action, but the problem was
so obvious, they had to act.” Within a
month, volunteers from TRC, Project
BirdSafe, and the University permanently
replaced the blue tape with American
Bird Conservancy BirdTape, a translucent
material that gives the appearance of
etched glass and deters birds.
In 2010, Minnesota Audubon and the
University started working on bird-safe
policies to include in the Minnesota
Sustainable Building Guidelines, which
were adopted in 2013 and apply to all
state bonded projects. If the new Vikings
stadium, which will have large glass
panels, had been designed after the release
of the guidelines, it would have had to
install bird-safe glass.
(continued on page 4)
Raptor Release Fall 2014 3
HUMAN-RAPTOR CONNECTIONS
Technology raises new issues
Nest cams are another good example
of how policy sometimes follows the
release of a technology. This past spring,
the Minnesota Department of Natural
Resources (DNR) was faced with a
growing dilemma as the public watched an
eaglet struggle in a metro-area bald eagle
nest equipped with a nest cam.
“As soon as you put a camera on nature,
emotions take over and people expect
intervention when there is a problem
in the nest,” says Lori Naumann, DNR
information officer, Nongame Wildlife
Program. Despite concerns about
disturbing the nest, the DNR eventually
did intervene to remove the eaglet, but the
bird did not survive due to an untreatable
wing fracture.
Unsuccessfully navigating
human-made challenges­—
The D.C. snowy owl
The federal government is currently
finalizing regulations that will stipulate
that anyone putting a nest cam into an
eagle’s nest must obtain a federal permit,
and installation of the camera can only
occur when the nest is unoccupied
to minimize disturbance to the birds,
Naumann adds.
By Amber Burnette and Fran Howard
As raptors continue to navigate the
growing number of human-made
obstacles in urban, suburban, and even
rural habitats, the impact on TRC’s clinic
is obvious—more injured and ill birds,
more severe injuries, and more intense
rehabilitation, but also more information
about the everyday challenges these birds
face in the wild, which could eventually
lead to more bird-safe public and
voluntary policies.
On April 19, the D.C. snowy was released near Superior, Wisconsin, in an area
that provided ample hunting grounds and had been frequented by snowy owls in
the past. Unfortunately, the D.C. snowy did not survive the everyday challenges an
arctic bird would need to navigate before returning to its breeding grounds north
of the Arctic Circle. A month after being released, the owl’s body was found on
the shoulder of a Minnesota highway.
Fran Howard is a St. Paul-based freelance
writer specializing in veterinary medicine,
wildlife, and conservation writing.
4 Raptor Release Fall 2014
I
n January, a snowy owl was reportedly hit by a bus in one of the nation’s
most populous metropolitan areas, Washington D.C. Dubbed the D.C. snowy
owl, the bird arrived in Minnesota in March to receive treatment at TRC.
Clinic staff replaced the bird’s singed flight feathers with implanted donor
feathers to help power his flight and hopefully return him to the wild.
The owl’s body was transferred to TRC, where clinical staff performed a necropsy.
His body was in good condition, indicating D.C. had been hunting successfully.
Evidence of severe trauma, which included multiple broken bones in both wings,
the skull, and lower jaw, as well as internal trauma to the organs, supported TRC’s
suspicion that the owl had been struck by a vehicle.
TALES FROM THE TRAUMA CENTER
Tales from the trauma center
a sprained wing as he struggled to free
himself. After wound care, cage rest, and
reconditioning, he was returned to his
natal area.
By Lori Arent
F
irst impressions often stay with us
for life. Much like meeting a new
employer or schoolteacher can set
the stage for years to come, interacting
with wild creatures we are not familiar
with can create impressions that result in
either lifelong fear or awe. People who
have the opportunity to get up close to
raptors, whether they find an injured bird
or attend an educational program, often
end up experiencing the magical aura
these magnificent birds emanate.
Although raptors are spirited creatures
that deserve our respect, they are also
vulnerable to our modernization and the
changes it brings to their landscape. As
development continues to encroach on
established raptor territories, cars, wires,
nets, and windows pose challenges as the
birds navigate their changing environment.
The Raptor Center’s clinic is witness to
this fact, with a high number of patients
admitted due to trauma from one of
these sources. This past summer, many
species collided with windows, including
Cooper’s hawks, broad-winged hawks,
barred owls, great horned owls, merlins,
and a sharp-shinned hawk. Several owls
became entangled in fishing line that was
left behind or soccer nets that were left up.
One bird even got caught in a badminton
net. Removing spent line, taking down
or covering recreational nets after each
use, and putting distractors on windows
can all help prevent these injuries. When
designing new homes or structures, we
can be mindful of the impact on wildlife
and try to incorporate bird-safe materials.
We can also speak out when businesses
pursue development projects that result
in threats to wildlife. We don’t want our
first, middle, or last impression of a raptor
to be the silhouette it leaves behind after
crashing into a plate of glass.
The clinic had a busy summer, with 331
birds admitted in June through August.
The top-five species during this time were
Cooper’s hawks (81), red-tailed hawks
(62), great horned owls (49), broad-
A juvenile broad-winged hawk collided
with a window in St. Paul and suffered
from a condition called Horner’s
syndrome. In this syndrome, a nerve
disorder, one of the facial nerves has
been damaged. It is characterized by head
feathers that stick up on half of the head
and a droopy eyelid on the same side.
Nerve damage is generally slow to heal,
but with non-steroidal anti-inflammatories
and the tincture of time, birds suffering
from this condition often recover.
This juvenile broad-winged hawk collided with a
window and suffered nerve damage.
winged hawks (37), and bald eagles (28).
In addition to several birds entangled
in nets, TRC admitted a couple of birds
whose feathers were covered in muck
after they took a dip in waste management
sloughs.
The tales of three raptors
Many memorable patients visited the
clinic this summer.
In mid-July, a young great horned owl was
tangled in a badminton net in Prior Lake.
He suffered a few soft-tissue wounds and
In late
August,
a great
horned
owl was
disguised
by the
dirt and
muck that
coated his
feathers
after he
landed in
a tank at the This unfortunate great horned owl
in a tank at a wastewater
wastewater landed
treatment facility and was coated
treatment
in muck.
facility in
Prescott, Wisconsin. After a little rest and
several baths, the bird was ready to take
wing again and was returned to his home.
Lori Arent is the
clinic manager at
TRC and author of
Raptors in Captivity,
Guidelines for Care
and Management,
available at www.
TheRaptorCenter.org.
This young great horned owl was found tangled in a badminton net.
Raptor Release Fall 2014 5
PARTNERSHIPS IN GIVING
TRC friends show spirit of generosity
By Ellen Orndorf, Susan
Hommes, and Sue Kirchoff
Foundation. All gifts up to
$50,000 received during the
24-hour period will be doubled.
TRC has much to be grateful
for. Along with the many raptors
it has rehabilitated, veterinarians
it has helped educate, and the
countless people who have
benefitted from raptor-based
educational programs, TRC
has developed many loyal and
generous friendships.
“We are so grateful to our
family of donors. Give to the
Max Day has become a critical
component of our fundraising
efforts,” says Dr. Julia Ponder,
TRC’s executive director. “We
raise a significant portion of
our operating budget on this
day.”
Celebrating a legacy of
giving: Doug Dayton
Please plan to join other
supporters of TRC at
http://tinyurl.com/
TRCGiveMN2014
and give to the max.
Doug Dayton was a longtime
supporter and friend of TRC,
an environmentalist before it
became fashionable, who shared
TRC’s vision of a better world
for raptors, humans, and the
environment.
Giving appreciated
assets helps you
In 1999, Dayton established the
Patrick T. Redig Professorship
in Raptor Medicine and Surgery.
“This permanent University
professorship made raptor medicine a
priority by providing support for visiting
veterinarians in The Raptor Center’s
clinical training and research program,”
says TRC co-founder Dr. Pat Redig.
“Thanks to Doug’s foresight, this program
ensures that raptors will always have
strong, knowledgeable advocates in
Minnesota and around the world.”
In addition, Dayton’s annual support was
steadfast in economically good and bad
years.
“Doug was someone we could always
count on,” Redig says.
A $1 million gift to TRC was given to
honor Dayton’s legacy and ensure the next
era of TRC. Dayton knew that a majority
of TRC’s annual operating budget comes
from philanthropy, and one of his final
wishes was that TRC would survive for
generations to come.
6 Raptor Release Fall 2014
A longtime supporter and friend of The Raptor
Center, Doug Dayton released a bald eagle back
to the wild.
Dayton’s legacy continues in many ways.
In addition to the ongoing support of his
widow, Wendy, Dayton’s son, Bruce,
recently made a generous gift in memory
of his father. Dayton’s stepdaughter, Lizzie
Nelson, recently joined TRC’s advisory
board. To recognize the support of Doug
Dayton and his family, the soon-to-be
renovated mews (bird housing) will be
named the Douglas Dayton Education
Wing.
Help keep The Raptor Center
soaring — Give to the Max
November 13
Mark your calendar for Give to the Max
Day on Thursday, November 13. The first
$50,000 in gifts to TRC will be matched
by three loyal donors: Rachel Hollstadt,
the Sarah J. Andersen Fund of the Hugh
J. Andersen Foundation, and the WM
Giving a gift of appreciated
stock, bonds, or mutual fund
shares that have been held
more than one year can provide
an immediate benefit to The
Raptor Center—and can be
more tax-efficient than giving cash.
By making your gift using appreciated
securities, you receive a double tax
benefit. You avoid capital gains tax on the
appreciation of the donated asset, and you
can claim an immediate deduction for the
current fair-market value of the property—
up to 30 percent of your adjusted gross
income.
You can also carry forward any unclaimed
portion of the deduction for up to five
additional years, subject to the same
annual limit. Because the donated property
is appreciated, the benefit of your gift to
The Raptor Center may be considerably
greater than its original cost to you.
For more information about making a gift
of appreciated securities, or to learn about
other ways to support The Raptor Center,
please contact Ellen Orndorf, TRC’s
development officer, at 612-624-8457 or
[email protected].
EDUCATION
Reaching out — in person and online
By Amber Burnette
S
ummer and early fall are
particularly busy for TRC’s
education team, and this year
was no exception. TRC’s winged
ambassadors traveled throughout
Minnesota and to neighboring
states to teach others about raptors
and their role in the environment.
The education team has also been
working on a very exciting project
that has the potential to reach
thousands, perhaps hundreds of
thousands, of individuals.
The Raptor Lab
This past year, Minnesota
Environment and Natural Resource
Trust Fund dollars began supporting
the development of a raptor-based
science, technology, engineering,
and math (STEM)-focused
curriculum for seventh and eighth
graders. The curriculum, called The
Raptor Lab, is using the University’s
Learning Technologies Media Lab’s
adventure learning model. This model
allows students to access environments
they normally would not be able to
through an online platform.
The Raptor Lab will eventually provide
students with a lens into TRC’s clinic via
analysis and exploration of real-world data
from raptor patients. It will demonstrate
the process of scientific investigation so
students can apply it to their own research
projects. The project’s ultimate goal is
to actively engage and inspire the next
generation of scientists.
Gail Buhl, education program manager, introduces a barred owl to guests at a Raptor Release event. The
Raptor Center’s education programs and events reach 150,000 people every year. Photo by Sue Kirchoff
also visited 17 cities in Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wisconsin, providing plenty
of opportunities to meet new friends.
Visit TRC’s public events calendar at http://tinyurl.com/TheRaptorCenterCalendar
for information on where to see an outreach program. You can also book a program at
your school, library, or other special-event venue by calling 612-624-2756 or e-mailing
[email protected].
Amber Burnette
is TRC’s program
associate.
A pilot version of this yearlong
environmental education curriculum was
well-received when used in three schools
over the past few years. The full program
should be ready for classroom use in 2016.
Here, there, and everywhere
Each year, TRC staff, volunteers, and
winged ambassadors reach nearly 150,000
people. In 2014, the outreach team visited
94 cities in Minnesota alone. These teams
Educators from
The Raptor Center
visited 94 Minnesota
cities in 2014, as
well as venues in
Iowa, Nebraska,
South Dakota, and
Wisconsin.
Raptor Release Fall 2014 7
CONSERVATION/RESEARCH
Getting involved through citizen science
By Amber Burnette
R
aptors face numerous challenges
within urban settings, and TRC
plays many roles in responding
to these challenges. TRC not only
collects data at the clinical level to aid
in recognizing patterns, but it also treats
patients admitted to its clinic and educates
the public about why raptors are not
always successful in navigating humanmade structures and other barriers.
TRC strives to be a part of the solutions
to the complex problems faced by raptors.
Empowering others by providing them
with an understanding of what they can
do to make a difference for birds is an
important part of TRC’s role. Many
opportunities exist for people without
formal scientific training to contribute vital
information to help scientists understand
the threats birds face and to find solutions
to these challenges. These initiatives are
referred to as “citizen science.”
One such project is eBird (ebird.org),
which provides rich data sources of
basic information on bird abundance
and distribution. Sponsored by Audubon
and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology,
eBird has created one of the largest
and fastest-growing biodiversity data
resources known. Citizen scientists spread
throughout the country create their own
lists of the birds they see as well as where
and when.
The longest-running citizen science survey
in the world, the Christmas Bird Count
(http://birds.audubon.org/christmasbird-count) starts December 14. This fun
outing, which is in its 115th year, has
become a family tradition for many. The
count provides information that scientists
use to develop conservation strategies to
protect birds and their habitat and helps
identify environmental issues that could
have implications for people. For example,
local trends in bird populations can signal
an immediate environmental threat,
such as groundwater contamination or
poisoning from improper use of pesticides,
according to Audubon.
8 Raptor Release Fall 2014
Citizen science projects like the Christmas Bird Count have become a family tradition for many.
Each year, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology
hosts Project FeederWatch and
NestWatch (www.feederwatch.org and
www.nestwatch.org). From November
through early April, FeederWatch
volunteers periodically count birds they
see at their feeders and submit their counts
to Project FeederWatch. The data helps
scientists track broadscale movements
of winter bird populations and long-term
trends in bird distribution and abundance.
NestWatch is designed to track status and
trends in the reproductive biology of birds,
including when nesting occurs, the number
of eggs laid and hatched, and how many
hatchlings survive. According to Cornell,
this data provides clues to how breeding
bird populations could be changing
as a result of climate change, habitat
degradation and loss, urban development
and expansion, and the introduction of
nonnative plants and animals.
In the Twin Cities area, Project BirdSafe
(http://mn.audubon.org/project-birdsafe)
works to reduce the number of birds
killed or injured when they collide with
structures such as buildings. Volunteers
monitor designated routes in Minneapolis
and St. Paul to answer basic questions
about bird collisions such as: How many
birds are affected in Minnesota? What
species? And what factors create the most
risk?
Advances in technology make it easy for
children as well as adults who did not
grow up with smartphones or computers
to capture and submit data about birds.
Most projects have developed guides to
help with identification as well as steps to
complete the projects. Data uploading is
easy and can be accomplished from home
or the field.
These and other citizen science projects
help researchers ask better questions,
recognize patterns and trends, and
connect data across time and location.
These projects also help to increase the
number of scientifically literate adults
who are then able to make more informed
decisions about public policy.
Amber Burnette is TRC’s program
associate and blogmaster.
BOOK REVIEW
Book gives tips—
Becoming a citizen scientist
By Sue McCarthy
Citizen Scientists: Be a Part of
Scientific Discovery from Your
Own Backyard
By Loree Griffin Burns
Henry Holt and Co., 2012, $19.99
C
olorful photographs of a monarch
butterfly, red-bellied woodpecker,
frog, and ladybug frame the title,
Citizen Scientists, of this nonfiction book
for upper-elementary and lower-middleschool students. Each species helps tell the
story of citizen science.
Loree Griffin Burns begins by defining
citizen science as “a study of our world by
the people who live in it.” She emphasizes
that you don’t have to be a professional
with a PhD and a laboratory to be a
scientist. All you need is interest and a
little background information, and you can
join the ranks of people who are making a
difference in helping the environment.
Citizen Scientists: Be a Part of Scientific
Discovery from Your Own Backyard is
organized around the four seasons, with
one animal featured for each season. What
makes the book interesting is the historical
background explaining why people started
studying each of the four species. Citizen
scientists who are actively working with
each animal are pictured, along with other
colorful photographs.
Many people are already aware of the
various initiatives that are available
to help monarch butterflies, and all
the information you need to join in is
available in this book. Fewer have heard
about the Lost Ladybug Project. There
are many species of ladybugs in North
America, but three in particular are
becoming quite rare: the nine-spotted, the
transverse, and the two-spotted. Citizen
scientists are helping to study what is
happening to these ladybugs in the wild,
which could include your own backyard.
In the book, you can find out how to
identify ladybugs, especially the invasive
Asian ladybug, and start your own study.
Gear checklists for what you, as a citizen
scientist, need to start making discoveries
in your own backyard are included, along
with resources such as field guides, other
books, and Internet information.
Sue McCarthy is a longtime volunteer at
TRC.
Update on the new Douglas Dayton Education Wing
By Amber Burnette
I
n early October, the long-awaited renovation of TRC’s outdoor raptor housing
began with the demolition of the existing structures. It capped a very busy time
of planning and preparation for the temporary housing of our education birds in
animal holding facilities on the University of Minnesota’s St. Paul Campus. In addition,
our rehabilitation birds have been moved to a variety of managed locations during
construction. Despite all this disruption, programming for educational offerings will
continue, as will the daily care and maintenance of our winged ambassadors. Each of
our clinic patients will also continue on the road to recovery, with staff and volunteers
monitoring their treatments and flight reconditioning.
Demolition of the old pens took place
in early October. All of the old building
materials will be recycled.
This work is a culmination of a capital fundraising campaign that began three years ago. The worn-out wooden facilities
and stairs were removed, and our outdoor spaces will be rebuilt, using contemporary materials to create a safer and more
educational environment for both visitors and raptors. With an enhanced gathering place and additional exhibits, visitors will be
able to view the birds in every season from one vantage point.
The new Douglas Dayton Education Wing will be a vital part of our future education efforts. We look forward to inviting you to
our new facilities this coming spring.
Raptor Release Fall 2014 9
AROUND THE RAPTOR CENTER
Around The Raptor Center
lead poisoning in
bald eagles and the
development of a
grassroots stakeholder
model for community
education at the
annual meeting of the
Minnesota Chapter of
The Wildlife Society.
New grants
A grant from the Environment and
Natural Resources Trust Fund will
fund the expansion of TRC’s yearlong
middle school curriculum, The Raptor
Lab, to an innovative online platform. The
project is being done in partnership with
the University of Minnesota’s Learning
Technologies Media Lab.
Morris Animal Foundation awarded
Dr. Julia Ponder, executive director,
a grant to evaluate food-web toxicity
following a rodent eradication project.
Dr. Patrick Redig, professor and director
emeritus, received a grant to evaluate an
implant vehicle for slow-release, longterm delivery of antifungal drugs in birds.
Staff news
Veterinary technicians Jamie Karlin and
Katie White and assistant rehabilitation
coordinator Lily Carey have joined TRC’s
clinic. Dr. Devin Tunseth, TRC’s new
clinical intern, will replace Dr. LingMin Wang of Taiwan when she departs
in early 2015. Tunseth is a graduate of
the University of Minnesota College
of Veterinary Medicine and worked for
TRC when he was a veterinary student.
TRC’s education department has added
interpretive naturalists Molly GezellaBarancyk and Dan Hnilicka.
On the road
In May, Dr. Julia Ponder, executive
director, led a raptor bandaging wet
lab for veterinary students as a Lafeber
visiting instructor at Kansas State
University College of Veterinary
Medicine. In March, she was part of
an international delegation that visited
the World Organisation for Animal
Health, World Health Organization,
World Trade Organization, and Food
and Agricultural Organization of the
United Nations. The purpose of the trip
was to build networks and understand
how to work with these organizations to
build international capacity for One Health
efforts.
Dr. Pat Redig, professor and director
emeritus, presented TRC’s research on
10 Raptor Release Fall 2014
Dr. Pat Redig
In August, Ponder
and Redig attended the Association of
Avian Veterinarians conference in New
Orleans. Ponder co-taught “Orthopedic
Management of the Avian Wing” and
Redig moderated a wildlife conservation
program.
Dr. Michelle Willette, staff veterinarian,
gave two presentations, “Is There Science
in Rehab?” and “Starvation in Raptors,”
at the National Wildlife Rehabilitators
Symposium in Murfreesboro, Tennessee,
in March. Gail Buhl, education program
manager, made the presentation “Training
101.”
In September, clinical intern Dr. LingMin Wang presented “A Retrospective
Analysis of Raptor Rehabilitation” at the
Raptor Research Foundation conference
in Corpus Christi, Texas.
Events and workshops
On April 28, TRC held a formal
groundbreaking ceremony, followed by
Eagle at Eastcliff
Gail Buhl, education program manager, introduced
Maxime, a bald eagle to TRC donors at Eastcliff,
the official residence of the president of the
University of Minnesota, in April. Photo by Sue
Kirchoff
a major donor event at Eastcliff hosted by
University of Minnesota President Eric
Kaler and Mrs. Karen Kaler.
In May, Dr. Julia Ponder, executive
director, co-hosted a Wildlife Health
Monitoring workshop with participants
from the University of Minnesota, U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service, National
Wildlife Health Center, Zoo Animal
Health Network, U.S. Departments of
Defense and Homeland Security, U.S.
Geological Survey,
and Centers for
Disease Control and
Prevention. The goal
of the workshop
was to identify
currently available
resources for wildlife
health monitoring
and develop a gap
Dr. Julia Ponder
analysis.
A Care and Management of Captive
Raptors workshop was held at TRC
October 7-11. Twenty participants
attended the intensive four-day workshop,
which provides hands-on training for bird
managers on the finer points of caring
for and maintaining captive raptors for
educational purposes.
This year’s Fall Raptor Release, a free
public event, was held at the Carpenter-St.
Croix Valley Nature Center on September
27. The event was part of TRC’s yearlong
40th anniversary celebration. Activities
included hay wagon tours, pick-your-ownapple offerings, children’s activities, and
opportunities to meet TRC’s education
birds.
Dr. Pat Redig presented the Duke
Lecture, “The Raptor Center's 40-Year
Odyssey: A Founder's Perspective; the
Journey Ahead” on October 9. Dr. William
H. and Mary E. Holleman, lifelong friends
of Dr. Gary Duke, TRC co-founder,
established the Duke Lecture series in
2006 through an endowment fund to pay
tribute to Duke’s work and legacy at the
University and TRC.
UPCOMING EVENTS/CONTACT US
Upcoming events
The Raptor Center directory
Donations
Gifts, endowments, estate
gifts, and grants:
Ellen Orndorf, 612-624-8457
or [email protected]
Adopt-a-Raptor program:
Amber Burnette, 612-624-3391
or [email protected]
Give to the Max
Double your donation on Give to the Max Day, Thursday,
November 13. The first $50,000 in gifts to The Raptor Center will
be matched by three loyal donors: Rachel Hollstadt, the Sarah J.
Andersen Fund of the Hugh J. Andersen Foundation, and the WM
Foundation.
Raptors of Minnesota weekend programs
Offered most Saturdays and Sundays at 1 p.m. (check website).
This exciting program, based on Minnesota and national science
standards, is an unforgettable learning experience. Ideal for
groups or interactive family events, the program explores
the raptor species found in Minnesota and their role in the
environment. Participants learn the three key features of all
raptors and what makes raptors different from other birds. This
course is offered on a first-come, first-served basis only.
Raptors: Diversity, Anatomy, Flight
November 6, 13, and 20
This noncredit University of Minnesota LearningLife course
offers the opportunity to study with three members of TRC’s
staff who are known for their work with these remarkable birds.
You will learn to identify raptor species found in Minnesota,
as well as species' migration patterns, roles in the ecosystem,
and ultimately, how these roles influence the cycle of species
diversity. Registration information can be found at
http://tinyurl.com/TRCcourse.
Educational programs
Field trips, outreach programs,
and events
612-624-2756
[email protected]
E-communications
Want to receive
e-communications? Go to
www.TheRaptorCenter.org and
click Connect with Us.
E-mail
[email protected]
Events calendar
TRC public events calendar
http://tinyurl.com/
TheRaptorCenterCalendar
Fax
612-624-8740
Front desk
Injured raptors; general
information
612-624-4745
Watch for information on events celebrating the completion
of the Douglas Dayton Education Wing expected in spring
2015.
Mailing address
1920 Fitch Ave.
St. Paul, MN 55108
Recycling for Raptors
To learn about drop-off
locations, e-mail
[email protected].
Social media
Facebook: www.facebook.com/
TheRaptorCenter
Blog:
www.TheRaptorCenterNews.
blogspot.com
Volunteer opportunities
Volunteer positions and
upcoming training sessions
Nancie Klebba,
[email protected],
612-624-3928, or
[email protected]
Website
www.TheRaptorCenter.org
Raptor Release
Basic Raptor Rehabilitation workshop
May 5-8, 2015
This intensive four-day workshop will provide rehabilitators and
veterinarians with practical knowledge of the steps involved in
raptor rehabilitation. Registration is limited to 20 participants.
To register, you must be a currently licensed rehabilitator with
a minimum of two years rehabilitation experience or a licensed
veterinarian with a strong interest in rehabilitation. For registration
and other information, go to http://tinyurl.com/TRC-BRR.
Gift shop
TRC’s online gift shop offers
raptor-themed items such
as clothing, books, toys, and
jewelry. Go to
www.TheRaptorCenter.org and
click Shop.
The Raptor Center
Volume 33 Number 2
Executive director
Editorial team
Design
Fall 2014
Dr. Julia Ponder
Lori Arent, Amber Burnette,
Fran Howard, Sue Kirchoff,
Ellen Orndorf, Dr. Julia Ponder
Sue Kirchoff
Please notify us of your change of address or duplicate mailing.
Call 612-624-7624, e-mail [email protected], or write to
Advancement Department, College of Veterinary Medicine,
1365 Gortner Avenue, St. Paul MN 55108.
The Raptor Release
The Raptor Center
College of Veterinary Medicine
University of Minnesota
1920 Fitch Avenue
St. Paul, Minnesota 55108
612-624-4745
www.TheRaptorCenter.org
www.Facebook.com/TheRaptorCenter
www.TheRaptorCenterNews.blogspot.com
Celebrating four decades of dedication to raptors
NONPROFIT ORG.
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
TWIN CITIES, MN
PERMIT NO. 90155