Bird-splanation

So, most of you notice that I post a link to this blog directly to FaceBook.  It seems like the right place, and anyone who wants to can read it.  A couple of people who are regulars asked "What's the deal with the bird icon?"  Well, kids, to sum up, I used to help out at The Raptor Trust in Millington, NJ, on the edge of the Great Swamp of NJ.  Yes, there's a swamp in NJ.  No, to my knowledge it doesn't have the remains of Jimmy Hoffa.  I think that honor goes to the Meadowlands.  However, bodies aside, it does an awesome service for this part of NJ (and the surrounding areas) by taking in injured wild birds, rehabbing them (if possible), and then releasing them back into the wild (again, if possible). 

When I was first getting started with photography, founder Len Soucy allowed me to photograph some of the permanent residents, i.e. those birds either too injured to return to the wild, or those too imprinted on by regular human feedings/interactions.  As the Trust focuses on Raptors, they have quasi-on-display some of the top-of-the-food-chain birds which can never be re-released.  As you can imagine, the animals that are included in this group has many hawks, eagles and owls that are indigenous to this great state of NJ.  And, folks can come almost any day of the year to see who's who in the zoo-ish environment. 

Now, the display thing is quite ancillary to the Trust's true purpose.  Frankly, those animals are being taken care of.  Every day they're fed, cages get cleaned, and medicines are delivered to keep those animals alive.  Nine times out of ten, those injured or orphaned animals are so because of human interference, and the Trust is doing its part to help right the wrongs of the harm done to, typically, the apex predators of our region.

This time of year, the Trust is overrun with orphans: hatchlings, mostly songbirds, but some ducks, geese, and "other" as well.  For those animals that can not immediately be returned to the nest, the Trust houses the babies, feeds them and cares for them until they can be released back into the wild.  As you can imagine, this comes at an enormous expense of this non-profit.  So, this week, as Earth Day has just eclipsed us for another year, I ask that you check out their site.  Not only do they take monetary donations, but a quick call to the Trust will let you know that they use a tremendous amount of paper towels, garbage bags, and dog food...yes, dog food, that can be donated as well.  So, go to the following site, check out what they're about.  Notice that they do both school/scout presentations for local schools and troops as well as on-site demonstrations (for a minimal fee, which goes right back into the care of the animals), and carry Earth Day forward into another week/month/year. 

Here's where they are on the interwebs: www.theraptortrust.org
Here's where they are on the FaceBook: www.facebook.com/theraptortrust

Do good.