A few weeks ago we received a call from the Denver International Airport about a juvenile Great Horned Owl on the runway. The thought of a beaten-up owl on a runway was not very encouraging and I was very concerned about his condition.
When "Jet" arrived I realized what a lucky bird this was. He sustained fractures on his carpals, which would be the equivalent of our hand. I slightly immobilized the wing of this cute youngster and thought of the place he came from. He reminded me of a newspaper story from May of 2007.
I had read the amazing story about a pair of Great Horned Owls that had taken up residence in the top spires on the north end of the white tents at Denver International Airport ten years ago. The owls have become a minor celebrity amongst employees and their image can be found on the cover of the employee directory. Sometimes they can be seen by people traveling early in the day on Concourse A. They have become the unofficial mascots of the airport. I believe these owls are the parents of young "Jet". Jet’s recovery is progressing and he recently was moved outside into a flight cage to exercise his damaged wing.
Two orphaned and one adult Flammulated Owl survived the mosquito laden summer months in a room inside the ICU and thrived. They grew up in a large cage with live little juniper trees, lots of branches and plenty of hiding places. The cage next to them held our Boreal Owl and his little Saw Whet Owl friend. Both had to be brought inside to protect against the West Nile virus. At night the two owls were freed to roam the whole room.
A large tree branch provides lots of perching opportunities. I was a little concerned about the safety of the much smaller and fragile Flammulated Owls, should they escape. We covered the top of their enclosure with window screening to prevent accidental escapes and possible death. Each morning I checked and made sure every little owl was accounted for. One day I made a surprising discovery. One of these clever little owls found his way out of the cage by squeezing through two slightly bowed wooden slats at the front of the cage. The tiny Flammulated Owl had perched next to the towering Boreal Owl and appeared to be content and fearless. From then on all five owls have been living together happily ever after. It seems to me that “Opi” our Boreal Owl not only made friends with his cousin the Saw Whet Owl, but he generously accepted the little Flammulated Owls into his life. I suspect Opi is hosting nightly parties for his little friends and it seems to me they are having a blast.
Summer and fall are gone and there is a sense of well deserved peace. Many young hawks, falcons and owls grew up and were released to the wild. For now, 420 birds of 32 species were admitted and about 220 of them were released.
Spring and summer were tough on the birds and on us. Many youngsters suffered from West Nile Virus and other secondary diseases. ICU was filled with sick and recovering young Swainson’s and Red Tailed Hawks. We are very grateful for every bird that beat the odds.
Many of the recovered birds will have to remain for the winter and spring of next year and dream of freedom. And I too have a dream.
I have been dreaming of a mosquito proofed facility where our young birds can be raised without exposure to the virus. This year young Swainson’s Hawks and young Red Tailed Hawks were greatly affected. Most adult birds did not contract the virus, and interestingly enough, neither did young or adult Great Horned Owls. For the second time since 2003 Boulder County has had one of the highest counts of infected mosquitoes, who are the major culprits carrying the virus. In addition this new facility would serve as much needed winter shelter for cold-sensitive birds, such as Turkey Vultures, Kites, Flammulated Owls and others. I know it would never be empty!!
We have been very fortunate this year. Our friend Valerie Gates so generously donated funds for an Endowment Plan with the Denver Foundation. The grants from this fund will ensure the employment of additional staff to care for the injured and orphaned birds in ICU and the maintenance of about 100 birds outside.
Valerie gave me the peace of mind and the hope of continuing the Foundation’s work beyond my days of participation, (I have no intention to leave my work and the birds in the near future). In the past year I have been in the pleasant position to step back, observe and applaud my staff and volunteers for the good work they are doing.
Thank you, Valerie, thank you from the bottom of my heart!!
The preparations are not completed but the foundation for the future is laid. Many of our friends are participating in the Challenge Grant to raise more funds for the Endowment Fund, and we thank you for your support.
In addition we are so grateful for the support our members and friends provided us with. So many of you adopted our birds and helped us with the rising cost of food for the birds. We were able to maintain and repair our cages, which is an ongoing project. You all came to our Phantom Ball, and we will see you there next year!
You visited us at our Open House, and we had fun and a great time! You came to our fabulous Fall Migration Dinner to enjoy each other. At the end of the evening I took Adam, our precious Bald Eagle from his cage and held him for the first time. He was a perfect gentleman when he gave me the honor of being so close to him. I felt humbled and honored by his presence. It was a great evening.
You sent us money in memory of your loved ones that passed away, and each time we release a bird their spirits rise to the sky. We honor and respect your love and sorrow.
Wise men say that each morning you wake you need to give thanks to the Creator for a new day. I do so every morning. I enjoy the colorful sunrise in the east as the light fills the house. I look out at the vista of Rocky Mountain National Park and the Flatirons as they are aglow in the rising sun each morning and I thank God for a new day that will be filled with new wonders, learning, service and gratitude.
And now, in the winter, when the sun sets in the south and reveals a new aspect of the mountains; the shadows and edges altered by winter light makes them look so different and magic. Each season brings its own beauty and becomes more awesome to me every year.
We wish you the best for the next year: happiness, health, good fortune and God’s Blessings! We wish you a meaningful Holiday Season filled with peace in your hearts.
