Rehab & Release
SOAR provides care for well over 300 birds each year that have been injured or orphaned, primarily from western Iowa.
Coopers released, Coopers admitted
At the end of June / first part of July, a Cooper’s hawk admitted from Shenandoah, Iowa was released. This Coops was an older hatch-year 2021 bird. In the same time frame, two more hatch-year 2021 Cooper’s hawks were admitted.
Urbandale HY21 bald eagle
A bald eagle nest in Urbandale, Iowa, is closely monitored (and has a livestream camera) by human neighbors. SOAR was alerted by nearby homeowners that one of the two eaglets may need assistance. On 10 June 2021, SOAR volunteer Deb traveled to the location and reported that both eaglets were fully feathered. One was perching
Two babies, two different counties
These two broad-winged hawks are now unintended siblings! One broad-winged hawk is from Prairie City and has puncture wounds on its little rump. The other broad-winged hawk nestling was found on the ground in Story County and no one could locate the nest. Youngsters at this developmental age should still be in a nest and
“Homeless” hatch-year kestrels
These two hatch-year 2021 American kestrels were found in Woodbury County after their nest tree was removed. There was no where safe for the nestlings.
Growing owls
The baby owl population is growing – figuratively and literally! Hatch-year 2021 owls are still being admitted. Earlier hatch-year owl admits are growing and needing more space. These “teenage” barred owls are just starting to take short flights and will be moved to a larger flight area soon. These hatch-year 2021 screech owls were
Barreds released
Two adult barred owls were released on 31 May 2021. Birds are released back in to appropriate habitat for that species. Barred owl habitat is river bottom timber. Barred owls will move along the river corridor to find an open spot to claim.
Cooper’s released
This hatch-year 2020 (HY20) Cooper’s hawk was admitted at the end of April 2020 from Dallas County, Iowa, with a bruised shoulder.
Babies
Hatch-year 2021 (HY21) great horned and barred owls continue to be admitted. The first HY21 red-tailed hawk has also been admitted. Yes, it is always best if the raptor parent(s) raise their young. Sometimes intervention is the best course of action when the nest or nest cavity cannot be located, adults are not present, or
Sometimes young birds do need help
Yes, it is always best if the raptor parent(s) raise their young. Knowing when to intervene is difficult. Many patients admitted in the spring and even into the summer are still considered nestlings (can also be called hatchlings) and they should still be in their nest but for unknown reason(s) are not. Below are terms
L&D 10 Bald Eagle Release
In mid-December, Lock & Dam 10 (Guttenberg, IA) staff alerted the Federal Warden of an injured bald eagle. The warden rescued and met up with Wildthunder for immediate care and then transfer to SOAR. This bald eagle was in rough shape with a fractured left femur, a pretty serious wound in her left wingpit, and