The Desert Willow Wildlife Rehabilitation Center moved two of its educational bird ambassadors into their new permanent homes on January 13, 2023.
Jack Black, a common raven, and Harrison Ford, a Harris hawk, were welcomed into their new enclosure by a group of ConocoPhillips volunteers.
The Desert Willow Wildlife Rehabilitation Center has seven educational bird ambassadors, and two of them required a more appropriate space for living. The Center applied for a charitable giving grant through ConocoPhillips to build the new enclosure and was awarded $10,000 to cover the cost of materials. The enclosure was built by KCG Construction. The enclosure has two spaces for smaller birds up to hawk or owl size, and one larger space that can be used for bigger birds or multiple birds.
There are many reasons why it is important for these ambassadors to have their own space. Outreach Coordinator Robert Kasuboski shared a few: “Part of our permits for education birds define the enclosure size that is required for each bird. The birds do better when they have a dedicated home. They get comfortable there and stay healthier if we are not moving them between different cages. It also helps isolate the birds from our wild patients that come into the facility, reducing the likelihood of illness.” The center sees hundreds of animals come through its doors every year. In 2022 the center saw 591 animals, the majority were birds.
Connecting companies that encounter wildlife to resources available within local communities assists in building relationships and partnerships. Charles Beauvais, Sr. Environmental Engineer for Environmental Operations with ConocoPhillips stated that his department works to “protect wildlife within the community, report wildlife encounters, and respond with appropriate resources. Our partnership with the Desert Willow Wildlife Rehabilitation Center helps us do that efficiently, and we know the animals will be well cared for.”
The Desert Willow Wildlife Rehabilitation Center provides care to injured and orphaned native wildlife while also educating the public about the importance of wildlife to our ecosystem and livelihood. If you find injured wildlife, call the clinic at 575.689.6711 for guidance before touching the animal. If you reach the voicemail, keep listening as it has instructions on what to do if there is no answer. Facebook is good for general questions, and for emergencies call 575.200.9399.
512 E. Fiesta | Carlsbad, NM 88220
info@dwwrc.org | (575) 689-6711
Article written by Michele Robertson and originally published in Focus on Carlsbad 2023 Spring edition.
