Our Flight Barns Benefit Rescued Raptors from the Whole North Bay
Rescue facilities oftentimes share their resources.
This is true with the Kenwood flight barns.......
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When a rescued bird of prey heals to the point that they can tolerate exercise, our flight barns are the perfect place for them to safely enjoy their last weeks or days of the rehabilitation process. The raptors can be observed easily to check for fluidity in flight, balance, stability and skill in taking off and landing. Feeding platforms are in place in several locations throughout the barns.
Open air windows and skylights allow sunlight graced by the sounds of the wilderness that surround the barns. Real tree perches are in place to stimulate practice holding themselves up and landing. Fifty feet of length enables the patient to open their wings wide and feel they are out and free again. However, they are safe from competition, predators and far from humans made sounds like voices and loud rustling. One of the barns contains a smaller enclosure to hold raptors that have not yet reached the level of wellness to spread their wings and become airborne, but they are inspired to flourish, feeling and hearing the great outdoors around them.
At the time of release, the doors are rolled back and Mother Nature beckons them to join in with the rest of the creatures of the forest. They feel comfortable after their respite inside the barn and glide out into the day or night.
The large doors generally remain open for safety sake. If the residents have been barn owls a special covered hole is exposed so that they can return. Great Horned Owls need the door to remain open since they are considerably larger than barn owls. Whether the patients are nocturnal (owls) or diurnal, (hawks, turkey vultures, or ravens) the food is placed on an elevated platform outside. Data is collected to determine if they are flourishing by keeping count of consumed food. Oftentimes the patients are able to sustain themselves for the first week or so, but then begin to return for food if hunting becomes too difficult. Food is left for them for at least two to three weeks or until it no longer disappears from the platform.
These barns have not only been available to the rescued raptors of Kenwood Wildlife Center, but also to those from Wildcare in Marin County and Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue in Cotati. Birds from other organizations are ultimately transported back and then released as close as possible to the site where they were rescued.
Keep the Kenwood Wildlife Center Working……
…Long Live the Beloved and Famous Flight Barns!!