ATTENTION!

Please note there is a change of venue for the Volunteer

Celebration this Sunday. It will be held at Hockessin United
Methodist Church at 7250 Lancaster Pike, Hockessin, DE 19707

Tri-State Bird Rescue & Research

MONTHLY FLYER
A Volunteer Newsletter

April 2019

Celebrating 43 years of excellence in

wildlife rehabilitation and research
0
Photo: Hank Davis Compiled by Tri-State staff and volunteers

YOU ARE INSPIRING, AND WE CAN’T DO IT WITHOUT YOU!

April is National Volunteer Month and we are so thankful to have YOU! All our volunteers play a vital role
in helping Tri-State to achieve its mission. Nationally, this month is dedicated to honoring all the volunteers in
our communities as well as encouraging volunteerism. Here at Tri-State, our volunteers not only give us their
time and service, but they also teach and train new volunteers. With our experienced volunteers lending their
knowledge, expertise, and time, we are able to add new volunteers to our flock. “Mentor” volunteers are skilled
volunteers who have graciously agreed to help train new volunteers in different areas. Some of our volunteers
also provide tours, lead volunteer project groups, and help facilitate special events. The dedication and
determination of our volunteers is boundless. In the last six months, our volunteers have helped to present six
Information Sessions, lead three New Volunteer Orientations, and on-board 24 new volunteers! It may not
always seem like it, but everything our volunteers do ultimately leads to helping healthy birds return to their life
in the wild. The staff is so very grateful to have such an awe-inspiring network of volunteers. Thank you to all
the volunteers for your service, passion, and commitment to Tri-State!

Above: Jenny explains the wash process to new volunteers.

Top right: Kathy leads new volunteers through the clinic.
Right: Jerry trains new volunteer Pam.
Photos: Staff
Tri-State Bird Rescue & Research 2

Left: Jean points out a patient diet board to new volunteers. Right: Linda trains new volunteer Joanne at the front desk.
Photos: Staff

…AND SPEAKING OF VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION…

When: Sunday, April 7th from 1-4pm.

NOTE: CHANGE OF VENUE!

The celebration will now take place at
Hockessin United Methodist Church
7250 Lancaster Pike, Hockessin, DE 19707
What: A celebration of appreciation for all of our
wonderful volunteers
Why: Because we could not achieve our mission
without you, so please join us!

LOVE LETTERS FROM OUR YOUNG FANS

Each month, we receive many letters from elementary schools all over the
country. Volunteers like Jean (left), read and respond to the curious
environmental stewards. This is another example of how we educate. Here
are a few excerpts from some of our young fans:

“Dear Volunteer…You’ve been a great help to our country and to the animals –
even know that when they fought back and bit you it was worth it to save the
animals…you deserve a prize.” – Maryland

“Thank you guys so so much. You guys are life savers. If I can help, let me
know please. I want to save animals too.” – Ohio
Monthly Flyer, April, 2019 3

“Thank you for saving our animals and mammals from the oil spill. And technically saving us cause we eat fish
and stuff that lives in the ocean.” – Missouri

“You guys really have a lot on your hands when there is an oil spill. My number one concern about an oil spill is
basically everything that happens…It makes me even more mad when it happened on purpose.” – Wisconsin

“Thank you for saving all the animals I love and everybody should love all these good and cute outside
animals…Please send me a message back. We love you.” – Arizona

CARING CREATES A MISSION AT ANY AGE

Carol has been a dedicated volunteer with

Tri-State for over four years, and she is also
very active in her community. Once a month,
her local church (where she is a member)
tries to come up with an easy service project
for the children of their congregation. The
kids range in age and start as young as three
years old. However, it is very important to
them to engage the kids in service projects
where they may be active participants. This
past month, with inspiration and guidance
from Carol, they made bird nests that will be
used in our clinic. The Sunday school children
collected over 100 rolls of toilet paper and
made 75 nests lined with toilet paper in 2
different sizes. They also donated the unused
supplies in addition to some other much
needed items Church members of all ages collected supplies and made bird nests to
benefit baby birds at Tri-State. Photo provided by Carol Buckley
for the birds in our care.

Thank you to Carol and the Sunday school children for helping our soon-to-be baby bird patients!
Tri-State Bird Rescue & Research 4

19-106 CANG GAINS A SECOND CHANCE

Thanks to an entire group of highly-skilled volunteers and staff, this Canada Goose was given a clean bill of
health after a lengthy recuperation. The intake revealed multiple injuries sustained from being shot. Radiographs
revealed three pellets and an ulna fracture, and all the primary feathers in the right wing were damaged. Under
anesthesia, the wounds were cleaned and sutured, and the fracture stabilized. Expert care, a nutritious diet,
exercise, and plenty of rest led to the adult waterbird regaining its good health and strength. When it was time to
go back to the wild, volunteer Jerry released it in an appropriate habitat where other Canada Geese were
observed.

Click the picture below to watch the Canada Goose’s release

Monthly Flyer, April, 2019 5

RED-TAILED HAWK RETURNS TO THE WILD

It’s amazing how quickly wild birds heal compared to us human counterparts. This Red-tailed Hawk was in our
care for 21 days. It was found in the road by a concerned citizen, and and it did not react or fly when
approached—it clearly was in need of help. The presenter brought the raptor to us for care; its injuries were
found to correlate with an impact, most likely from a vehicle. The immature hawk had head trauma, was
severely dehydrated and depressed, and all its tail featheres were damaged. It had a lot going against it, but
thankfully our dedicated volunteers and staff nursed it back to excellent health. Additionally, our team was able
to replace (imp) its tail feathers with the utmost precision. With professional care, it was cleared for release
after three weeks.

Click on the video to watch volunteer Charlene release the Red-tailed Hawk.
Tri-State Bird Rescue & Research 6

VOLUNTEERING BEYOND TRI-STATE, ALL FOR THE LOVE OF OSPREYS

Jodi is a volunteer transporter for Tri-State Bird Rescue & Research. Living near White’s Creek in Sussex
County, DE, she has volunteered with the Delaware Fish & Wildlife Citizen Osprey Monitoring Program (COMP)
since 2013. It is her love of Ospreys (and other birds) that later led her to join Tri-State as a volunteer
transporter.

Recently Jodi was interviewed by Coastal Point about her work with COMP in regards to diverting osprey from a
“nuisance nest” location back to their original, safer nesting spot along White’s Creek.

To find out more about their plan with Jodi’s help, please read the article at
http://www.coastalpoint.com/44781/feature/osprey-be-diverted-lb-rooftop-back-original-home.

With amazing volunteers, we can accomplish AMAZING things to help our wild, native birds!

Above: Jodi utilizes an eagle kite as a deterrent. Right: Jodi’s dog

also assists in deterring Osprey from settling in on a ‘nuisance nest’.
Photos courtesy of Jodi McLaughlin.

Remember when you started as a volunteer

at Tri-State? We bet many volunteers would
like to read about your memories and
experiences when you began volunteering
Volunteer Services March 2019 here (we know we would!). If you’d like to
share a story with other volunteers who
receive the Monthly Flyer, please contact
Number of Hours Served 1,155.25
Anita, Marketing Associate, at
amoos@tristatebird.org, or call her at
Number of Volunteers 84 302-737-9543 extension 117. You can also
see Melody, Volunteer Services Manager, in
Highest Number of 71.75 her office or at mwhitaker@tristatebird.org.
We’d love to hear from you!
Hours Served
(Monthly/Individual)
Monthly Flyer, April, 2019 7

APRIL VOLUNTEER ANNIVERSARIES—THANK YOU FOR BEING A MEMBER OF

TRI-STATE’S FLOCK.
WE CAN’T DO IT WITHOUT YOU!

35 years: Sherry Grizzel 28 years: Jay Baumgardner 26 years: Vera Lee Rao 24 years: Barry Flewelling
and Linda Flewelling 22 years: Linda Mullin 10 years: Paulette Derkach, Karen Dibble, and Carol Loveless
4 years: Nivek Gahunia, Cindy Salvadori, and Jacqueline Winkler 3 years: Linda Amundsen
2 years: Lynne Riley 1 year: Nancy Snyder
*Please Note: if your anniversary date is wrong or missing, please help us correct it by emailing corrections to
mwhitaker@tristatebird.org, thank you!

Long-time volunteer and Bird Care Assistant (BCA) Jim is

holding a Great Horned Owl for our Wildlife Veterinarian,
Cristin. All our bird patients receive an intake exam on arrival
to assess their injuries. Here Jim is safely and securely holding
the owl with its head covered to help minimize stress. It is
very important to keep the bird calm and people safe during
an exam.

PLEASE KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR BABY BIRDS OF ALL

SPECIES!

Tri-State aims to foster healthy baby birds that we receive

into wild families whenever possible. It’s better for babies to
be raised by parents of their own species than by humans!
Please let us know if you spot any wild baby birds, whether
that be a nest of songbirds, a fledgling songbird, baby
raptors, or baby waterfowl.

For baby raptors, contact Aimee Federer at

afederer@tristatebird.org
For baby songbirds and waterfowl, contact Jessica Hicken at
jhicken@tristatebird.org

Northern Flicker photo courtesy of volunteer Marian Quinn

Tri-State Bird Rescue & Research 8

SAVE THE DATE…. AND HELP SPREAD THE WORD.

Take tours of our wild bird clinic and state-of-the-art Wildlife

Response Annex.

Meet former patient Conrad the Blue Jay and learn about his
story.

Attend exciting presentations given by special guests:

Banding Birds by Dr. Erica Miller.

Dr. Doug Tallamy, nationally recognized author and

University of Delaware professor of Entomology and
Wildlife Ecology will discuss the benefits of native plants.

An introduction to the Wilmington, DE Peregrine Falcon

nestcam by Mary Behal.

Get to know our community partners and local wildlife

agencies.

Visit with New Castle County's mounted patrol featuring

Clydesdale horses.

Learn about the magic of owl pellets.

Enjoy tasty cuisine from a local food truck.

Guaranteed to be a fun-filled day, full of exciting activities!

Stay connected and up-to-date with further additions to our

Open House event here.

If you are interested in volunteering at Open House please contact Chris at

Cchapdelaine@tristatebird.org or call 302-737-9543 x109

WANTED: GOOD HOMES FOR COMPANION RESCUE BIRDS

Although Tri-State treats only wild birds, many of our volunteers open their
homes and hearts to companion birds. If you are interested in adopting an
exotic bird, contact longtime Tri-State volunteers Vera Lee Rao
(veraleerao@gmail.com) or Diane Korolog (dianekkorolog@gmail.com) for
more information. Photo courtesy of Kim Steininger.