Wildness Defined
This beautiful red-tailed hawk is currently receiving care at the Vermont Institute of Natural Science. She was found sitting in a road, not flying away when approached; we suspect she was struck by a car. Upon examination, we found no fractures or open wounds on the bird, but we did find she was suffering from…
It’s Great to be Gray
Last month, staff at the Vermont Institute of Natural Science (VINS) provided health exams to all of the center’s residential birds — from the golden eagles in our raptor exhibits, to our little mourning doves in the songbird exhibit. Our great gray owls — a male and female — both came to VINS after sustaining…
Meet Our Screech Owl
The VINS Nature Center in Quechee, Vermont, does a lot more than patch up injured birds and return them to the wild. We also care for dozens of permanent resident birds. Previously injured owls, hawks, eagles and songbirds — who could not otherwise survive in the wild — find sanctuary here at VINS, where they…
Bald Eagles Receive Pedicure
OK, our bald eagles didn’t really receive pedicures … or did they??? Take a look at our video and you be the judge. Twice a year, all of our permanent resident birds receive full health exams by the trained staff here at VINS. As you’ll see in this video, one of our two exhibit bald…
Oh babe, I hate to go…
It appeared to be a little hard for this barred owl to say goodbye to staff here at the Vermont Institute of Natural Science. The owl, recently released back into the wild after successful rehabilitation here at VINS, took a while to fly from VINS intern Priya Subbarayan’s outstretched arms, as you’ll see in our…
Golden eagles: check!
Yesterday, VINS staff donned heavy-duty welding gloves and tackled golden eagles. Sounds a little weird, but it’s all in the name of health!Watch our video of VINS staff examining golden eagles. Twice a year, all of our exhibit raptors — from screech owls to turkey vultures — are taken out of their enclosures and given…
That’s a Wrap!
Slowly but surely, things are looking up for a barred owl who came to VINS a few weeks ago with a broken wing and massive head trauma. We suspect the bird was struck by a car. See a video of this bird’s care at VINS. Today, VINS Wildlife Services Manager Sara Eisenhauer removed the wrap…
Back to the Daily Grind
The VINS Wildlife Services department has gotten off to a slow start this winter season, with a surprisingly small number of patients in for care as compared to previous years. Watch a video of our red-tailed hawk patient. However, with colder temps and snowfall, we’re now seeing patients suffering various ailments come in daily for…
Love is in the Air
Why wait until spring to fall in love when you can now? Great-horned owls wouldn’t have it any other way. While the “love” may be questionable, there’s no question breeding season for these large raptors is about to get underway. Great-horned owls begin to search for mates in winter, nesting as early as January and…
First Barred of the Winter
The VINS Wildlife Services department received its first barred owl patient of the winter. The owl, found laying in a person’s yard in Norwich, VT, was brought in Wednesday for treatment. See a video of the owl. In the photo, VINS intern Hannah Goldman holds the owl as we prepare to give him treatment. Normally…
