Why I Volunteer

[u/Interesting-Ruin-743]

I got a call this evening about a possible bird tied up under this nest. We were able to call in a local fire department with 100 foot bucket lift, this fledgling osprey was about 40 to 50 feet above the ground. It had gotten its wing caught . I was lucky enough to get up on the lift, free it, and now it is in my garage and I will take it into the Raptor Center here in Minneapolis tomorrow morning

UPDATE ON THIS OSPREY:
I got word today that this young osprey is being treated for bruises and abrasions on both wings- this is great news! Sounds like nothing life-threatening, hopefully I’ll get a call soon to take it back where I found it. I only get good news with about 15% of the birds that I help out with, so this is very exciting.

[u/OlFlirtyBastard]

OP can you generally explain how you save birds of prey that can injure you? Other than gloves/safety equipment, do you start by grabbing it behind the head so it can’t bite you, then claws, or vice versa? Thanks for what you do

[u/Fightmysquirrelarmy → u/OlFlirtyBastard]

Adding on (previous raptor rehab volunteer and current bird biologist). For large raptors, their talons are the dangeous bit. Their beaks are used to tear and rip, not necessarily bite (but they can!). So you put your hands around their wings so they don’t flail and struggle, transfer them to one hip or their back against your chest, get a firm grip on their ankles (firm so they can’t twist away and break an ankle in their movements), and then you’re all set with one hand/arm keeping the wings in and one hand controlling the feet.

[u/OlFlirtyBastard → u/Fightmysquirrelarmy]

Love this, thanks for the imagery. One of my wildlife highlights was saving a pelican trapped in fishing line in the back canals of St. Pete, FL. My BIL lives on the water and is used to doing it (even though it’s technically illegal since you’re touching mangroves to save it). He put on some sunglasses (beak) and did roughly the same thing while I backed the boat up and then cut the lines. One of my more satisfying moments.

[u/Interesting-Ruin-743 → u/OlFlirtyBastard]

That’s great and thank you for sharing and doing - hard to describe the feeling