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Wild birds visit Brockport By Allison Kowalski Soaring red-tailed hawks and tiny owls that hoot in trees were shown to students as an ecology lesson at The College at Brockport Thursday, May 1 in Briggs Hall. Paul Schnell and his wife, Anne who is an environmental science professor at Finger Lakes Community College, run a section for their Institute of Environmental Learning where they care for and show birds of prey. A show and tell was provided, showing an Eastern screech owl, a barred owl, a red-tailed hawk and a bald eagle. The Schnells’ home serves as a wildlife refuge for injured birds of prey. A majority of the birds shown had some form of injury, and are still coping with ailments with help from the Schnells. “I’ve been working with birds of prey since I was 12 years old,” Schnell said. “I’ve been very involved in wildlife throughout the years.” The first bird Schnell showed was an eastern screech owl. It is one of the smallest owls in New York. This particular owl only has one functioning eye (the other was lost in an accident before it came to the shelter), though it has good flight. The next bird of prey, a female barred owl, was slightly larger than the eastern screech owl. Female barred owls are larger and generally more aggressive than males. This owl was hit by a car and crawled into a shed until it was found. Now, the barred owl is making a full rehabilitation. Next the red-tailed hawk was revealed, though this was the least friendly looking of all the birds of prey. With deep, small eyes and a crouched figure, it scanned students as if it were to attack. Schnell said when the a bird droops its body and wings, it is exhibiting deadly behavior. This bird is approximately 32 years old and is making its way to being one of the oldest red-tailed hawks in North America, Schell said. Last but not least, the crowd pleaser was the U.S.’s national bird, the bald eagle, named Liberty. Schnell said that Ben Franklin wanted to promote the turkey as the national bird because it was honest and simple. However, John Adams promoted the bald eagle because it was powerful and strong. At her home, Liberty has a mate, a male bald eagle named Solo. Eagles generally mate for life. Unfortunately, a majority of birds of prey live longer in captivity than in nature. Captivity provides a safe, secure environment, while there are dangers such as cars and other animals that may harm birds of prey. Schnell said the conservation of birds for prey is slowly decreasing due to the construction of new malls, housing developments and new churches. These buildings are built in forests or places where birds of prey live, causing them to lose their homes to paved parking lots. Because human elements alter the birds of prey’s habitats, their numbers are declining. “Today, where there was wide open space, there is human habitation,” Schnell said. Forty-two percent of bald eagles today are currently in danger of extinction because of human elements, Schnell said. Schnell cares for one of two traveling bald eagles in the United States. However, the Schnells are trying to save what is left of the birds-of-prey world. They are prolonging the life of birds that would die in their natural habitat by caring for them at their home. As proven by the Schnells, one person can make a change and there is potential in the power of one. |
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