Jun 9, 2008 6:47 pm US/Mountain
Facility Helps Birds Hurt Or Orphaned By Tornadoes
Reporting
Paul Day
FORT COLLINS, Colo. (CBS4) ―
It turns out more than people and property were hurt and destroyed in last month's tornadoes in northern Colorado. The deadly storms took a heavy toll on wildlife as well.
One great horned owl was found stuffed into an irrigation pipe by winds up to 150 miles per hour. The owl's shoulder was broken and his head was injured.
"We bandaged him, we gave him supportive care fluids and food," said Gail Kratz, Medical Director for the Rocky Mountain Raptor Program.
The specialized facility is caring for birds of prey hurt or orphaned by May's devastating twisters.
"We knew we were going to have a situation with nesting birds and injuries," said Mike Tincher, a medical associate.
The storms tore up long-standing cottonwood groves, prime habitat for raptors, at the peak of nesting season.
Tincher showed a crew from CBS4 a family of orphaned, baby kestrals. The small falcons were unhurt when their nest tree smashed into a shed. But the young birds surely would have starved to death if kind-hearted residents had not interrupted their own storm clean up to find the birds a new home, Tincher said.
"It just blows me away," Tincher said. "Their home and town is in tatters and they take they time to call because they care about these birds."
Several birds were caked in mud when they were first brought to the facility. They had to be carefully cleaned before they could be checked for injuries.
The prognosis for the injured Great Horned Owl was guarded.
"Shoulder injuries are very difficult," explained Kratz. "These guys need to be 100 percent to fly."
A juvenile Swainson hawk was already testing his wings in a facility flight cage Monday. The dirt and debris embedded in his feathers by the twisters had been removed and he was ready for release.
The Swainson was among the lucky ones. Nobody knows for sure how many birds, how much wildlife, perished in the disasters.
Bob Francella, Director of Public Support for the Rocky Mountain Raptor Program, said caring for the injured and orphaned birds is straining the facility's budget.
Those who would like to help should visit their Web site as
www.rmrp.org.
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