posted by MJ Blanchette
last night i was lucky enough to attend the release of two beautiful great horned owlets by the Center for Wildlife. it was so humbling to have such a close look at these amazing creatures.
Karen McElmurry, executive director of CFW, gives us all a few minutes to take in their beauty
Amy Titcomb, operations director for CFW, prepares for the release
prior to the release, Kristen Lamb, Education and outreach director for the Center for Wildlife wrote:
Both great horned owlets were admitted this spring due to injuries sustained from falling from the nest. They received medical care and attention and once stable were put outside with our permanent foster great horned owl Galileo. Once fully flighted and at the stage where they would fledge from the nest they were put in our 100 foot flight enclosure to build up strong flight muscles and practice hunting (owls move to hunting grounds in the fall to practice hunting with supplemental feeding from parents). They are both 100% recovered and are fierce great horned owls ready for release. We have banded them and taken wing-chord, tail, and habitat information thanks to a partnership with Biodiversity Research Institute. They are ready to go!
the release took place on former KLT board member Bill Cutts’s property, which is just adjacent to the Cutts Conservation land; 22 acres of upland forest and wetland.
we had a good turnout for the event and the evening couldn’t have been more beautiful — cool temps, clear sky, full moon — what a special and heartwarming send-off.
small crowd of friends, supporters and board members (past, present and perhaps future) of both KLT and CFW
the Kittery Land Trust and the Center for Wildlife are partners in the Gateway to Maine Outside program. KLT thanks the Center for Wildlife for the opportunity to be part of such a wonderful occasion!
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Thank you to Kittery Land Trust for partnering and allowing us to release these great horned owls on such perfect habitat! We are so grateful to the land trusts for their work in conservation. At least 60% of our 1,600 annual patients are admitted due to injuries sustained from being hit by cars or nest sites disturbed (the root cause being development of roads, commercial plazas, etc). Beyond being beautiful and inspiring, each species of wildlife like these great horned owls play an important role in keeping ecosystems in balance. These great horneds will go on to keep rodent populations stable, promoting healthy vegetation, and keeping disease at a minimum. Thanks again from all of the CFW staff, volunteers and interns, and wild patients!!!