By Julie Kerns Garmendia
The bird, later identified as a red-shouldered hawk, lay motionless on its side, loosely cushioned by a soft cloth lining the bottom of a cardboard box. The terrified bird held its head up just enough to stare straight at the two adults and little girl watching over it, speaking in whispered worried voices. The bird’s eyes glittered with sharp fear, and large claws with razor-tipped talons stayed tightly curled. The fact that it only seemed able to move its head was not a good sign.
“Daddy, will the bird be ok?” Brielle Thompson, 5, anxiously asked her father, Brian Thompson.
“Oh yes, honey, it will be fine,” he replied. “This lady is going to take it to get help.”
It was Mother’s Day weekend, and the Thompson family was inside that Saturday when they heard the distinct, loud sound of something hitting the side of their home fast and hard. Rushing out onto their second-story porch, the family saw a bird lying on the ground below a large window, desperately trying to move its wings and fly but unable to lift. Its head feathers were light brown, with a reddish-cream body and a black tail with narrow white bands.
“I grabbed gloves, a towel and a box to get it off the ground… found a stick for it to bite onto, which it did,” Thompson said. “Then I lifted it up and gently down onto the towel in the box. It did not try to bite or claw me, as if it knew I was only trying to help.”
Thompson called his sister, Mimi Saunders, who immediately posted a message on the neighborhood website Nextdoor. In the message, she described what happened and said her brother had found an injured hawk that was unable to fly. She asked for help from anyone online who might see her message during that holiday weekend.
“People suggested places to call, but the local wildlife rescue organizations we contacted were already full of orphaned baby birds, injured birds or said that they could not accept raptors (all birds of prey),” Saunders said. “We had no idea what to do but knew the hawk was badly hurt and needed a veterinarian.”
Here it was in black and white: what wildlife rescuers and rehabilitators already knew but the public may not fully understand. Many more trained, licensed rescuers and rehabilitators are needed for local injured, ill and orphaned wild birds and raptors.
Currently, Northeast Florida has only one wildlife rescue that can legally care for wild birds and raptors: The Ark Wildlife Rescue in St. Augustine. If The Ark is full, its founder and permitted rehabilitator, Karen Lynch, said that local wildlife rescues could only offer advice, temporarily stabilize birds or help with transport to other licensed bird rehabilitation organizations. Unfortunately, those other bird and raptor rescues are located at least two hours from Jacksonville, according to Lisa Rowell of the Wildlife Rescue Coalition of Northeast Florida (W.R.C.N.E.F.). See the Resources section at the end of this article for the nearest Florida licensed wild bird and raptor rehabilitation facilities.
Until recently, Northeast Florida did have two longtime, nationally recognized wildlife and bird expert rehabilitators whose nonprofit organizations saved the lives of countless birds and raptors of all species over at least four decades: BEAKS (Bird Emergency Aid & Kare Sanctuary ) founded by Cindy Mosling Liliskus and her husband Andy; and HAWKE (Humane Association of Wildlife Care & Education), founded by Melanie Cain Stage with her husband Sam. The loss of these two rescues has left a deadly void with no safety net for native and migratory birds and raptors that need expert rescue, specialized care or rehabilitation for eventual release back to the wild.
BEAKS and HAWKE gradually stopped accepting birds due to obstacles they could not overcome: the founders’ inevitable need to retire, exhaustion after decades of rescue work, their own or family members’ health issues, inability to find or train replacement wildlife rehabilitators, insufficient volunteer help; and inadequate donations to pay for ever-increasing food, supplies and medical care. Wildlife, bird and raptor rehabilitators pay for their training, licensure and continuing education expenses, including animal care for rescued wildlife. They receive no local government, state or federal funding. The nonprofit rescue organizations must rely on personal funds, public donations and volunteers to continue their lifesaving efforts for birds and wildlife.
Other notable facts that distinguish those two major rescue groups were that both women founders held all federal and state licenses to care for every species of wild birds and raptors – credentials that are difficult to obtain. Federal and state laws protect more than 800 species of native and migratory birds, including raptors, making it illegal to kill, injure, harm or harass, capture or possess, sell, trade or transport protected birds, nestlings, eggs, feathers and nests. Laws also regulate the rescue, treatment, rehabilitation, release or permanent sanctuary provided to wild mammals, reptiles, birds and raptors. Endangered species have additional protections. All wildlife violations are punishable by hefty fines that can include jail time.
Citizens may rescue a bird or raptor but must transport it to a permitted facility or private wildlife rehabilitator as soon as possible. The quicker birds receive proper care or rehabilitation, the better their chances for survival and successful release back to freedom.
The Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) issues two types of permits for rescuers: transporters, who may hold wildlife up to 24 hours before delivery to an appropriately licensed wildlife rehabilitator; or a licensed wildlife rehabilitator permit. Individuals caring for birds must hold current state and federal permits or face the closure of their facilities, extensive fines and prosecution, including permanent loss of licensure.
FWC oversees the licensure program for anyone interested in becoming a permitted wildlife rehabilitator. Northeast Florida desperately needs new rehabilitators to complete the required training and licensure. Information and applications to become a Florida licensed wildlife rehabilitator can be found by creating an online account at www.GoOutdoorsFlorida.com. Those who are already licensed rehabilitators are critically needed to volunteer at local rescue organizations inundated with bird and raptor emergency calls, rescue and transport requests.
