Bird Treatment and Learning Center

Bird Treatment and Learning Center
Formation1988
FounderJames R. Scott
HeadquartersAnchorage, Alaska
Websitewww.birdtlc.org

The Bird Treatment and Learning Center (also known as Bird TLC) is a wildlife rehabilitation center based in Anchorage, Alaska. It was founded in the 1980s by a veterinarian James R. Scott, and some of its early activities were funded partially by money given to Scott by Exxon in the wake of the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill. The center started to move their operations to Potter Marsh in the second half of the 2010s.

History

Bird TLC was established as the Bird Treatment and Learning Center in 1988 by veterinarian James R. Scott.[1][2] It had previously been a part of Scott's Arctic Animal Hospital, but split into a separate entity due to high demand.[3] In 1991, after the Exxon Valdez oil spill, Bird TLC built a temporary[3] flight center in JBER to exercise injured birds and help them gain strength.[2] The center was built with $102,000 Exxon gave to Scott, money which would also be used for the care of bald eagles.[4][5] Using the money, Bird TLC and the Alaska Raptor Rehabilitation Center planned to work in tandem to care for injured raptors[6] as part of a larger "eagle MASH operation"[3] in the aftermath the oil spill.[3][6] They received 24 bald eagles, out of which thirteen died and three were permanently injured.[3]

In 2003 the center announced that they intended to use land at Potter Marsh to build a new flight and educational center. The proposed plans did not go ahead due to funding and scope issues, but in February 2016 Bird TLC was given permission by the municipality of Anchorage to build a flight center on the land. However, a bald eagle built a nest at the proposed sight and forced a delay in construction.[1] Bird TLC had previously used the land to release rehabilitated birds, leading the organization to speculate that the bald eagle might have been cared for by them.[2] Construction had resumed by 2017 and the center planned to finish moving to the new location in 2018.[7]

The center accepted over 400 malnourished common murres during the 2016 common murre die-off, which strained their resources and volunteers.[8] During the 2022 avian flue outbreak in Alaska, the center became one of the few in the state to continue accepting birds. They euthanized birds with severe symptoms, and kept the new intakes separated until they could be released. They took in birds from Valdez and Dutch Harbor.[9] Some birds found outside of Anchorage have been flown to Bird TLC by Ravn Air which, as of 2015, donated flights to the center.[10]

In June 2024 the center held a fundraiser inspired by Anchorage's white raven. Local photographers donated pictures and gave talks about their experiences with the raven.[11]

Facilities

In 1991, Bird TLC used money from Exxon to build a flight center at Fort Richardson. Built by volunteers, the flight center contained three flight pens, nine mews,[5] and a medical exam room. It lacked running water and the organization did not own the land it was built on, so in the 2000's Bird TLC announced it would build a new flight center at Potter Marsh.[2] Construction had started by 2017.[7] The flight pens are used to let injured birds strengthen their wings. To encourage eagles to fly, volunteers are responsible for chasing them down the flight pens.[12]

As of 2017, the center leased a warehouse in South Anchorage. The warehouse functioned as a clinic and a place for birds to live before transfer to the JBER flight center.[2][7]

Programs

A park ranger and a man standing in front of a visitor's centre. The man is holding a snowy owl.
Bird TLC presentation of a snowy owl at the King Salmon Visitor Center in Katmai National Park and Preserve

Bird TLC has released rehabilitated bald eagles on multiple occasions during the annual Alaska Bald Eagle Festival.[13][14]

Injured birds that are unable to be re-introduced into the wild stay with the center and some become Ambassador Birds.[10][15] Birds that lived full time at the center have included Girdie, a North American crow who was found in Girdwood with an injured wing,[15][16] Shavila, a black-billed magpie,[11] and One Wing, a bald eagled injured during the Exxon Valdez oil spill.[17] Ambassador Birds are taken to schools and events to allow the public to interact with them.[7]

See also

Notes

1.^ The 1940 Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act prohibits anybody from interfering with a bald eagle or bald eagle nest.

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bird Treatment and Learning Center.
  1. ^ "About Bird TLC". Bird Treatment and Learning Center. Retrieved 2024-11-22.
  2. ^ a b c d e Kelly, Devin (2016-02-20). "Anchorage bird rehab's plans to move are held up by a nesting eagle". Anchorage Daily News. Retrieved 2024-11-22.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Dedicated Anchorage veterinarian to open state's first bird hospital". The Frederick News-Post. 1991-11-14. C-7.
  4. ^ Monahan, Thomas P.; Maki, Alan W. (1991-03-01). "The Exxon Valdez 1989 Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Program". International Oil Spill Conference Proceedings. 1991 (1): 134. doi:10.7901/2169-3358-1991-1-131. ISSN 2169-3358.
  5. ^ a b Scott 1991, p. 1381
  6. ^ a b Swagel, Will (1989-06-19). "Two raptor centers agree on oily birds". Daily Sitka Sentinel. Vol. 51, no. 122. 35c.
  7. ^ a b c d Hughes, Zachariah (2017-12-08). "AK: In the industrial heart of Anchorage is a warehouse full of wild birds". Alaska's News Source. Retrieved 2024-11-23.
  8. ^ Medred, Craig (2016-01-14). "Mass deaths of Alaska seabirds linked to starvation as scientists race to find clues". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-11-23.
  9. ^ Anastas, Katie (2022-07-01). "'There's no treatment': Anchorage bird rescue faces avian influenza". Alaska Public Media. Retrieved 2024-11-22.
  10. ^ a b Capps, Kris (2015-08-18). "Rescued raven takes emergency flight to Anchorage". Fairbanks Daily News Miner. A-3.
  11. ^ a b McBride, Rhonda (2024-06-03). "Anchorage Bird Treatment and Learning Center hopes to draw White Raven enthusiasts to fundraiser". KNBA. Retrieved 2024-11-22.
  12. ^ Price, Susan (1995-07-04). "A little dye, glue: eagle's tail as good as new". Fairbanks Daily News Miner. A-5. The nonprofit center run by veterinarian has a 100-foot run for eagles where volunteers actually chase the birds to get them used to flying
  13. ^ "Healed bald eagles released in Haines". Fairbanks Daily News Miner. 1999-11-23. A-3.
  14. ^ Hage, Matt (2004-10-31). "Celebrating the gathering of eagles in Haines". Fairbanks Daily News Miner. pp. H-9.
  15. ^ a b Baty, Elinor (2022-02-11). "Ellie's Furcast: Meet Girdie from Bird TLC in Anchorage". Alaska's News Source.
  16. ^ Dillon, Hannah. "Girdie the Crow hops and squawks at the Gerrish Library". Turnagain News. Retrieved 2024-11-22.
  17. ^ George, Rebecca (2008-07-27). "One Wing honored with songs and celebration". Fairbanks Daily News Miner. pp. B1.

Bibliography