 9 May 2003 @ 20:19, by Quidnovi
Katelyn Mariah aka Swan is best known around NCN for her online journal, Swan's Song and Hummingbird's Heart and for her Avalon Gallery of Visionary Art. And with names such as "swan" and "hummingbird" and the ever present bird related imagery of many of her paintings it should have come as no surprise to The Muse that her interest in birds would be something that Katelyn would also actively pursue in her daily life outside of cyberspace. But no swans or hummingbirds here, no casual birding either, as it turns out---Surprise! Surprise!---Katelyn has been working as a volunteer at a rehab center for birds of prey for about seven years now.
Swan, why Raptors? And why all the secrecy, I mean, seven years, and we only find out today?
Well It really wasn't a secret, it just didn't come up in the course of conversation.
I started working at the Raptor Center of Minnesota in 1996. As many of you know I have a fascination with birds in general. Before I started working at the Raptor Center I was following the migration of the Eagles. I like to spend time at the St. Croix River, which is the river that borders Minnesota and Wisconsin. In the summer there is an abundance of Eagles. In the fall they migrate to southern Minnesota and the Mississippi River and I would often drive 80 miles in the winter to see them. I discovered the Raptor Center and thought it would be my way of seeing the raptors up close but also do my part for the environment by helping them return after they were healed.
There are several areas that volunteers can work in the Raptor Center. In the clinic as a clinic helper, in education as a part of the group that does presentations to the public, and on the flight crew. I work as a flight crew member and I job is to take the birds outside and exercise them. I will go more into the details in another segment of the interview.
What can you tell us about the center and what are some of the things you do there?
This is a statement from the Raptor Center about what we do :"Established in 1974, The Raptor Center at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine specializes in the medical care, rehabilitation, conservation, and study of eagles, hawks, owls, and falcons. In addition to treating more than 800 birds a year, we provide training in raptor medicine and surgery for veterinarians from around the world, reach more than 250,000 people each year through public education programs and events, and identify emerging issues related to raptor health and populations. The essence of our mission is to strengthen the bond between humans and birds, to improve the quality of life for both, and to contribute to the preservation of the natural world. The majority of our funding comes from private donations. "
As a member of the flight crew we take the raptors out and make sure they get exercise. My crew works mostly with hawks, falcons and owls. I have flown 7 or 8 types of owls. I mention owls because they are my favorite raptor. We get injured birds in from all over the world, so I have seen harpy eagles, gyrfalcons, golden eagles and other raptors not usually seen. We do get swans into the center for rehab but they are too big to exercise. I was surprised the first time a saw a swan up close because they are bigger than I am!
I go to the center every Thursday for 2- 3 hours. We usually fly six birds. We go to the flight cages and catch the birds by their feet, turn them upside down and carry them in our arms like they are babies. The first time you hold a bird like that is so incredible. You are looking eye to eye with a bird that is wild and can be dangerous, because their natural instinct is to defend themselves. We have to be aware at all times what the bird is doing because they are very quick and if you aren't paying attention you can get bit or clawed with thier talons. Yes I have experienced both! It is possible to be seriously injured by the birds. One crew member got a talon through his finger because he wasn't paying attention. In the photo you see that I am wearing safety glasses and heavy protective gloves. Even with the gloves you can get caught in a birds talons and it hurts. To get them ready for flying we must check thier wing feathers to make sure there are no problems and check thier feet for open cuts or sores.
This is the greathorned owl that I released about 6 years ago. I was very attached to her.
Each raptor has 10 primary wing feathers and 12 tail feathers. Those are the feathers we check because if there are too many broken or in blood it impacts thier ability to fly properly. We put straps of leather, called jesses on thier feet and attach a leader to that. When we get to the field we attach the lead to a rope or a fishing line and fly them that way. Each bird gets eight flights and that is thier exercise routine for the day.
When we return to the center we make notes on how they flew, if they land properly, if the wings extend properly, and if they could turn and gain altitude. This is how the clinic keeps track of the progress they are making and knows when it is time for them to return to the wild.
------------------------------------------------------------NOTE TO OUR READERS---------------------------------------------------------------------------
This is an ongoing online interview, if there is anything you would like to ask about The Raptor Center or about Katelyn or about her Gallery, please feel free to post your question(s) in the Comment section (here below) and Katelyn will try and answer them, next time she logs in.
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