Feathers for the Future

We have been extending our wings at Tampa Bay Raptor Rescue.  Our organization rescues and rehabilitates birds of prey. We also manage a collection of educational ambassadors at a City of Clearwater park, called Moccasin Lake Nature Park.  We exhibit the three global raptors, male and female bald eagles, 5 of the 7 falcon species in North America, a select group of migratory raptors, and an assortment of the usual suspects! We hope to provide an exceptional experience with birds of prey for residents and visitors alike. 

We offer numerous flexible volunteer opportunities and internships for college students. The value of our internships was highlighted in St. Petersburg College's magazine. We have hosted interns from SPC, USF, UT and will welcome a student from WVU next summer. Younger students come to us for Bright Future Scholarship hours. Boy Scouts can find Eagle Scout Projects with us.  Girl Scouts can find Silver and Gold Award Projects with us. And retirees of all ages can find a place to connect and enjoy their passion for wildlife with us. 

We are able to take our many programs that all fall under the umbrella, The Art and Science of Birds, to schools, assisted living facilities, other nature centers and clubs, and especially to our honored and revered Veteran's Events.  In order to impact this many people in the community and to assure we are taking top notch care of our birds, we must have adequate funding. Frankly, without it, we could fail in our mission, when failure really is not an option. That is why we are going to work especially hard over the Giving Tuesday fundraiser this year and will broadcast live on Facebook 4 days prior to the event, discussing Raptors - Past, Present and Future, and on Giving Tuesday we will broadcast live for most of the day from Moccasin Lake Nature Park and introduce you to as many of our raptors as we can.

Last year, our 10th Anniversary, was tough due to hurricane activity, rising costs, and the government shutdown.  The end result, post Milton, left us with a damaged shed, damaged enclosures, food losses, and fund-raising losses.  Our major donors kept the ship upright and we are forging ahead with continued repairs and planning next year's budget. This includes on-going repairs and upgrades to our bald eagle enclosures.  On the rehab side, we saw much more tree trimming and therefore displacement of baby raptors this spring. This doubled food costs throughout baby bird season.  

Some of the young eastern screech owls and American kestrels will need a lifetime of human care due to permanent disabilities. While we managed to place all of the birds, we had to hold them an extended period of time during shutdown as transfers could not be legally initiated. Luckily, we have a nice group of new avian ambassadors that will go to Nebraska, Wisconsin, North Carolina, New Jersey, Maine and Montreal! Moving these birds to their permanent facilities has associated costs as well. Nevertheless, we have a code of ethics that allows us to consider placement prior to euthanasia, and we are willing to go the extra mile to increase conservation education opportunities all around the country!

This Giving Tuesday, our rescue is seeing more injured wildlife than ever — and we need your help. We provide emergency medical care for injured, orphaned and sick animals who have no other safety net.  A donation can mean the difference between life and death for a bird struck by a car, poisoned by rodenticide, hung up in fishing line, or displaced by storms. Your generosity covers medical supplies, food, critical enclosures, and expert rehabilitation for birds who have nowhere else to go. Every injured bird has a story and every dollar donated becomes a part of their stories and the futures they face. Rescues receive little to no government funding.  Support truly keeps the door open. 

Donations protect threatened and at-risk species helping preserve biodiversity and protect fragile ecosystems. Wildlife rescues benefit the entire community.  Healthy wildlife controls pests, pollinates plants, and maintains a balanced environment. A thriving ecosystem supports cleaner water, cleaner air, and healthier communities. Donations today help protect wildlife tomorrow.  Climate change, development, and severe weather events are increasing the number of animals that need help.  Supporting us now prepares us for facing that growing demand.  

Wildlife rescues exist because our community cares - and this Giving Tuesday, we're asking for your support.  Your donation helps us respond to emergencies, treat injured raptors, and protect the species that keep Florida's ecosystems healthy.   Together, we can save more lives.

We wish you the best of the holiday season and thank you for your part in conservation Giving Tuesday and every day.

Sincerely,

Barbara Walker, Tampa Bay Raptor Rescue

Facebook: Tampa Bay Raptor Rescue & Sanctuary

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