Each year, this haven for disabled birds of prey teaches thousands of visitors how the bounties and persecution of yesteryear have turned to beneficence and protection. More than 25 species can be seen here, including all the breeds that nest or visit Vermont even rarely. Founded 12 years ago, the facility's longevity has allowed researchers to study raptors' life spans and old-age diseases. Eight barred owls nursed back to health here are being tracked in Maine, where they were released to gain insight into success rates of rehabilitated animals in the wild. During three daily educational programs, members of the public learn tips like leaving dead trees standing to provide habitat for raptors, or to take any injured birds they find straight to a rehabilitation center without trying to care for them at home.
Guests also can make their way up the hillside on a self-guided tour.
By the golden eagles, they can spread their arms to see how their reach compares with the majestic bird's seven-foot wingspan, marked on a length of chain. At the top of the gravel trail, a display case shows the similarity between a wing and a human arm and points out the differences between types of feathers, from sensory bristles to insulating down. It takes 1,500 mice per week to feed more than 600 birds that pass through the raptor center each year, says caregiver Julia Lankton. In the infirmary and intensive care unit, which are off limits to the public, workers try to rehabilitate any birds that arrive, not just raptors, she says. Some of her patients have collided with automobiles, power lines or buildings.