A new home is under construction for injured birds of prey. The cage will be located on the Ohio Bird Sanctuary’s property but will not be open to the public because the cage will be designated for the recuperation of injured birds of prey like, peregrine falcons, eagles, hawks, and owls.
The design of the cage is unique in that it caters to the conditioning of injured birds. Most cages are rectangular in shape, but this one is shaped more like an oval, so the birds can fly around the 250-foot-long perimeter. The plans contain three cages within the outside perimeter for smaller birds like owls. The cage will be 55-feet-wide. The blue prints were acquired from the Vermont Raptor Center by Executive Director of the Ohio Bird Sanctuary, Gail Laux.
“I like that this cage uses less wood and that it’s shaped like the ‘O’ in Ohio State. These birds fly many miles a day. The oval shape will give the birds lots of space to fly around,” said Laux.
The effort to conserve birds of prey is a joined effort all over North America. Many species are endangered. The Ohio Bird Sanctuary is one of the few centers in the state licensed to rehabilitate endangered and and threatened raptors, including osprey, peregrines, barn owls and eagles. Laux noted that this cage will be more centrally located, “greatly reducing stress to the birds.”
Raptors are both natural predators and scavengers. The dual role makes them both active and important parts of the ecological system. Therefore, this cage, which will be used to rehabilitate birds of prey in order to release them into their natural environment, and to their place in the ecological system.
The construction of the “Mary Kowalchik Flight Cage” is projected to be finished in approximately one month. The project also benefits from volunteer support. Among the contributors are Century Link, Ralph Roberts, Fanello Concrete, Blankenship Excavation, J&B Acoustical, Mike Walker, Richland Lumber, Red White and Blue Masonry.
The Rotary Club of Mansfield presented a check to the Ohio Bird Sanctuary on July 16 in the amount of $3,000. The club also offered “sweat equity” for the construction of the cage.
The total cost of the cage is approximately $50,000. Most of this money is being donated to the project by the businesses listed above.
“We still need some financial help, around four to five thousand dollars. We thank everyone who has helped with this,” said Laux.
The Ohio Bird Sanctuary is a non-profit organization, and the 52-acre lot is open to the public with hiking trails and different educational opportunities. For more information on the Ohio Bird Sanctuary and how to donate, visit their website or call 419-884-4295.
“I like that this cage uses less wood and that it’s shaped like the ‘O’ in Ohio State. These birds fly many miles a day. The oval shape will give the birds lots of space to fly around,” said Gail Laux.
