Northern Saw-whet Owl Recaptured in Rhode Island
A Northern Saw-whet Owl, band #1124-64673, was recently recaptured at a Project Owlnet banding station in Rhode Island this October. This hatch-year female was originally banded at our station just a few weeks earlier from the recapture date. Recaptures like this help us better understand owl migration patterns and the connectivity between regional banding sites.
Far Cross the Rough-legged Hawk Returns
Far Cross, a Rough-legged Hawk equipped with a GPS transmitter in January 2022 by VINS Biologists and Neil Paprocki of the Rough-legged Hawk Project, has returned to Addison County for another winter. He is the sole surviving bird from that season, as the others succumbed to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza. Remarkably, Far Cross has returned to the very field off Far Cross Road where he was first encountered in 2022, demonstrating impressive site fidelity.
New Patient: Purple Gallinule
This fall, the Center for Wild Bird Rehabilitation admitted an unexpected visitor — a Purple Gallinule, a species native to Florida and rarely seen this far north. The bird, a juvenile likely blown off course during migration, arrived slightly underweight but otherwise healthy. Because of the cold temperatures, our team created a specialized indoor habitat with reeds, branches, and shallow water dishes to mimic its natural environment.
Proper husbandry is essential for encouraging natural behavior, and we’re happy to report that the gallinule adjusted quickly, is self-feeding, and now exceeds its intake weight. Our hope is to release the bird as far south as possible — ideally back toward Florida.
The VINS Center for Wild Bird Rehabilitation provides care for injured, orphaned, and sick wild birds throughout Vermont and the surrounding region. If you encounter injured wildlife, please call us at 802.359.5000 x212.
Written By: Bren Lundborg, Director, Center for Wild Bird Rehabilitation, and Celia Reinhardt, Avian Rehabilitator