Vergennes LEOS Project Impacts Injured Birds

For the second year, the Vergennes LEOS have been in partnership with the Otter Creek Wildlife Rescue in Addison, Vermont to work on projects that improve our understanding of being stewards of the natural world and improve the ability of the wildlife rehabbers to help injured birds and mammals. In 2023, through the generosity of a LEO Service Grant, trees were planted, ecological corridors were created and an owl house appeared. In 2024, the goal was to design, fundraise for and build a raptor flight cage 26 feet long X 14 feet high. The building would serve a critical need in the process of rehabilitating raptors. Before they can transition back to the wild they must demonstrate their ability to fly and hunt. The new flight cage would provide space and safety while the birds progress and heal. The LEOS worked with OCWR rehabbers Julianna and Dale Whitlock to see how a design would be created based on raptor needs, wildlife rehabilitation guidelines and the existing locations available. The second task at hand was to research costs, design a fundraising plan and to hold several local fundraisers in addition to reaching out to local and state donors. The project came together and began to appear on the landscape five months ago. Lion dads who were also contractors donated their time and skill so that each step of the process was a learning one for the LEOS. Father/son teams of Chris and Colin Clair, Eric and Wilder Jacobson andDale and Camdon Whitlock led the charge and put in over seventy hours each on the build. Since completion, the LEOS have been watching videos of owls, Kestrels and other birds using the flight cage prior to their return to the wild. The LEOS learned so much about building design, power tools, measuring twice and cutting once, and working to bring an idea to fruition. The project linked generations, established community bonds and gave a lesson of how to take a project from an idea to a reality.