COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho — Bald eagles and other raptors are getting a second chance at life thanks to a local nonprofit.
At Birds of Prey Northwest, an Idaho nonprofit, injured raptors, including eagles, falcons and owls are nursed back to health. The organization focuses on rescue, rehabilitation and education.
Led by Janie Veltkamp and her husband, Birds of Prey Northwest works with a team of volunteers to treat birds suffering from lead poisoning, car collisions, starvation, fractured wings and even illegal shootings.
“This large female will go back tomorrow to Elk, Washington,” Veltkamp said, referencing one of the many birds ready for release after months of rehabilitation. “We have a bald eagle ready for release tomorrow that’s from Elk, Washington. We have three pygmy owls that are going next week. We have two great horned owls ready to go.”
Most of the injuries these birds suffer are caused by humans.
“The first problem is lead poisoning from our use of lead bullets. Secondly, illegal shooting is a big problem for eagles. And third, they collide with the cars. They have car collisions. Those are the three common injuries for eagles,” Veltkamp explained.
Beyond rescue and rehabilitation, Birds of Prey Northwest is committed to education. Some birds, like Kootenai—a four-year-old bald eagle with a golf ball-sized hole in his wing—become permanent residents and serve as educational ambassadors.
Veltkamp believes teaching the next generation about conservation is the most rewarding part of her work.
“We take our educational birds into the classroom and talk about their natural history and their biology, and what students can do to conserve raptors,” Veltkamp said.
Birds of Prey Northwest will host educational programs at the Coeur d’Alene Library on May 4 and 11. For more information click here.
For more information on Birds of Prey Northwest and their other educational programs, visit their website, www.birdsofpreynorthwest.org.
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