The Fab Four: Meet Our New Birds!
by Anna Autilio Lead, Environmental Educator This summer, VINS was fortunate to welcome a whopping four new birds to the education team. We are excited to introduce you to them, and look forward to your meeting them eye-to-eye as raptor ambassadors! Miami, the Eastern Screech Owl When next you come to VINS, keep your eyes…
VINS Volunteer Transporter Training
by Lauren Adams Lead Wildlife Keeper Love animals? Live in Vermont or New Hampshire? Have a car? Have some flexibility in your schedule? We need you! Help VINS rescue and rehabilitate injured wild birds by being a volunteer transporter! Every year, VINS rescues and rehabilitates around 500 wild birds from all over the state of…
Book Review: Happiness is a Rare Bird
Happiness is a Rare Bird by Gene Walz was published in 2016. Gene is a friend of VINS’ executive director, Charlie Rattigan, and supports our mission to motivate people to care about the environment through education, research, and rehabilitation, and the appreciation of birds. Review by Katharine Britton Successful birding requires stamina, perseverance, patience, and…
A Change of Feathers: The Molt
By Anna Autilio Lead Environmental Educator Feathers are one of the defining characteristics of birds. They produce the brilliant red of the Northern Cardinal, and the shocking blue of an Indigo Bunting. Though one purpose of feathers is to be flashy and attractive, especially to a potential mate, feathers have a host of other functions.…
The Red-tailed Hawk with Bald Eagle Parents
by Anna Autilio Environmental Educator Amidst the news stories this week is the curious tale of a nestling Red-tailed Hawk in British Columbia, Canada. Why is this little bird, of the most common hawk species in North America, the subject of headlines across Canada and the United States? Nestling Red-tailed Hawk (front, left) with Bald…
Trucker Holds Injured Eagle After Accident: What you should do instead!
A truck driver in Washington state held an injured eagle in his arms while waiting for assistance to transport the bird. His rig had collided with the bird minutes earlier. The police who responded to the incident also shared a photo of the event. Since it went viral, many people have been praising the man’s…
Our Tiniest Patient: the Northern Saw-whet Owl
by Calah BeckwithLead Wildlife KeeperHawks, falcons, eagles, owls. We treat a variety of raptors, each with his or her own unique challenges and needs. These predators of the sky range in size from the 10-pound bald eagle to the 1/4-pound American kestrel. Without exception, we know that regardless of size all raptors have extremely sharp…
A Hawk Hullabaloo and a Barred Owl Bonanza
At the Center for Wild Bird Rehabilitation, we serve myriad bird orders: raptors, songbirds, waterfowl, wading birds….the list goes on. However, each season brings us a new “assortment” of avian patients. During the spring and summer months, we are inundated with baby birds, mostly of the songbird variety, but we also see a number of…
A Falcon Finds Freedom
The peregrine falcon with his wing splinted. by Calah BeckwithLead Wildlife KeeperA juvenile peregrine falcon has made his way back home after a stint at the VINS Center for Wild Bird Rehabilitation. The young falcon came to VINS at the beginning of June after an unsuccessful first flight from his nest, in which he collided…
Bald Eagle….Freedom for A Special Patient
by Calah BeckwithLead Wildlife KeeperA bald eagle is a rare and special patient at the VINS Wild Bird Hospital. Recently, we had the privilege of providing care for an injured juvenile eagle. He was found on March 21 in Danby, VT by game warden Justin Stedman. He was sitting on the side of a road,…
