COALDALE, Alta. – Senator Joyce gazes around silently, looking bored, seemingly wondering when lunch starts.
This three-year-old great horned owl, named after senator Joyce Fairbairn, is a resident at the Alberta birds of prey centre near Coaldale.
Orphaned as a chick and financially supported by the senator, this owl spends her life doing publicity for the preservation centre.
She can never leave the centre.
Raised by humans since she was a few days old, she has imprinted on people and lacks the survival skills necessary to hunt and find a home in her natural habitat.
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“As long as a bird has been raised by its own kind and has gotten some savvy out in the wild, it doesn’t lose that,” said Heather Hanson, who works at the centre.
Conservationists Colin Weir and Wendy Slaytor started the centre in 1982 as a registered charity to rescue birds of prey. It has branched into conservation programs, as well as breeding and release programs for endangered species like burrowing owls.
The centre’s main job is rehabilitating sick and injured birds and if possible, returning them to the wild. It has a large aviary for the various species of birds so visitors can see them up close. However, these birds do not bond with humans and usually ignore people, including their caregivers.
At any given time, the centre looks after 200 to 300 birds that include eagles, hawks, owls and vultures. Organizers suspect they only see a small percentage of birds needing help.
Winter and spring are peak periods. Weak, starving birds are brought in during cold winter months while orphans appear at their doorstep in the spring.
The centre depends on private donations to feed the birds and keep the centre running. There is no government aid.
Farmers and ranchers are its greatest supporters.
“They have the closest bond to the land. Most landowners do everything they can to encourage wildlife,” said Hanson.
In fact, many encourage birds of prey to move onto their land.
“Having a resident great horned owl family is like having a mouse and rabbit vacuum,” said Hanson.
“Red-tailed hawks and the ferruginous hawks are gopher-eating machines. Anytime you can have a bird like that on your property, it is definitely good for the landowner.”
The centre’s Prairie Keepers program works with landowners to preserve wildlife across the three prairie provinces. Centre employees look for landowners who voluntarily encourage wildlife on their property. This includes landowners who have fenced off areas for habitat and ranchers who monitor grazing so young birds can be raised to adulthood.
The centre also offers education and awareness programs for children.
“You’d be amazed how many children think they have the right to throw rocks at nests. I’ve seen some pretty horrible things happen from that,” said Hanson.
Sometimes people try and raise foundling birds as pets. When the bird becomes an adult, it is unmanageable with no survival skills. It will likely die when it is released.
The centre’s website is www.burrowingowl.com.
