CANORA — With no noticeable slowing of injuries to Saskatchewan birds, including raptors (birds of prey), Majestic Raptor Rehab of Canora continues to provide care and rehabilitation to raptors in need.
Marilyn Schigol, one of the volunteers working at Majestic Raptor Rehab, told Canora Courier on Aug. 12 that they are presently working with a number of injured birds.
It appears that a great horned owl named Mavis was hit by a vehicle “and probably suffered head trauma,” said Schigol.
Mavis was a transfer from the Silverwood Wildlife Rehab facility in Whitewood, Sask less than a week earlier, and couldn’t fly or walk, or even hold herself upright.
“At first we had to place the feed in her mouth, but she’s eating on her own now and coming along well,” said Schigol. “She’s clacking at people now and starting to get her fight back.”
Gibbs is a young bald eagle about three or four months old.
“Gibbs blew out of a nest when he was really young,” said Schigol. “The fall resulted in a broken wing. Gibbs will likely be here for about two years before he’s ready to be back in nature.”
Like other bald eagles, Gibbs has mostly black feathers as a youngster, but should be pure white by around the age of five years.
Also presently rehabilitating at Raptor Rehab are a trio of American Kestrels named Monica, Bella and Fredrika. Schigol said the American Kestrel is similar to the hawk, but much smaller.
One was an oil bird rescue after being caught in a canola crushing plant. The other two were fledgling rescues, including one that came out of its nest when the tree in which the nest was built was cut down by loggers.
Schigol said the cost of looking after these birds adds up rapidly. Bald eagles such as Gibbs need about $7 worth of food per day, but that pales in comparison to some other raptors. Feeding a baby great horned owl can run up to $24 per day.
Don't count on social media to deliver your local news to you. Keep your news a touch away by bookmarking Canora Courier's homepage at this link.
Bookmark SASKTODAY.ca, Saskatchewan's home page, at this link.
