Article and photos by Jen Howard,
Approximate read time: 3 minutes
Most of you may know about Rusty, our red tail hawk, an education raptor from Wye Marsh. He is a permanent resident at Procyon Wildlife. As part of our agreement with the MNRF, we were required to provide a 50-foot flight cage. Well, we are proud to announce that is in the process of being built.
We have hired Kaner Construction Company to build it. In honour of their daughters, they have also generously provided Procyon with a discounted donation towards the cost of the building. Win-win for all. In fact, this is going to be an amazing Aviary Flight building.
Along with it being a flight area for Rusty, it will also be a test flight area for injured raptors/ owls. It’s becoming a regular occurrence having injured hawks and owls brought to Procyon. And they need to be flight tested before they can go back to the wild. Meaning until now we would have to transfer these birds to another Rehabilitation Centre for that important step. This is much better for the birds when they don’t need to be transferred, and less burdensome on our volunteers; saving time and gas shuttling the birds between centres. This aviary flight centre will be amazing and will have viewing windows for the public to see Rusty.
NOTE: other birds in our care will not be on view. Inside the aviary, we will have a dedicated room with doors that will open into the flight aviary room. This special room is where we can house birds for examinations, and for rehabilitation. Then test flight them by just opening the doors without the stress of handling or moving them. Rusty will stay in his enclosure for these times but can be kept in the aviary otherwise. This is his space. He was walked out to get acquainted with his new space. He had a look around, taking it all in and didn’t miss a thing, checking it all out. Rusty approved.
There will also be an area for storage of foods and other supplies. This space is perfect in so many ways. And another great thing to mention is that not only do your wonderful donations go to animal care, but your donations are also helping to build this beautiful flight aviary for Rusty and other patient birds of prey.
Our Centre is growing, as we take more wildlife in, so the addition of this aviary will make it so much easier to not have to turn away injured birds of prey especially those that are local. Less of a drive, less stress. We are all looking forward to the completion of this aviary, including Rusty.
So much work has gone into Procyon in the last few years, giving us more space to take in more in need. Because it seems every year, we have spurts of many admissions until we have to say no for a bit until some can be released. It’s a sign of the times. Everywhere.
Volunteers are always needed. Go to https://www.procyonwildlife.com/new-volunteer-application/ to apply. Dedicating six hours of your time a week whether it be for animal care, cleaning, food prep or other duties means lives saved. We need you. It’s hard work but so rewarding when the animals start going home back to the wild. There is nothing like it. Thank you to Kaner Construction for coming and building this beautiful aviary and for your donation towards lowering our cost. And for all donations from all of our followers and finders and supporters who make it all possible for us to keep going. You have proved… HELP is in our hands… it’s in ALL OUR HANDS. Thank you.
Jen Howard
Procyon Volunteer, Wildlife Photographer