Last month we traveled with friends to Montana and to the Glacier National Park. The park vistas were magnificent and we enjoyed some hiking, e-biking and a river float trip. On the morning of our last day, we stopped by a nearby park in Kalispell and happened upon exhibits sponsored by the Montana Wild Wings Recovery Center which is a rehab facility for injured raptors. The images in this essay are of some of the birds rescued by this organization.
Like many similar organizations throughout the country, the Montana group is dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of raptors that have been injured and are possibly able to be returned to the wild. Often the injuries are serious and caused by the intervention of man. For example, the apple core that is discarded out of the car window can later become the “bait” that attracts an eagle or an owl to the road at night in the path of oncoming traffic. Window strikes also account for a significant number of broken wings and concussions for unlucky birds of prey.
When an injured bird is transported to a recue center it is typically placed in isolation to be tested for avian flu and to prevent contamination. If possible, the damage can be repaired, and the bird is ultimately able to regain its strength and return to the wild. Others cannot. In these cases, the birds will live the rest of their lives in the rehab centers and be available for exhibits and educational events.
I applaud the work of the Montana Wild Wings Center and while I was photographing the birds at the exhibit, I was focused on the striking profiles of these magnificent creatures.
