Ambassador Birds

Chup
(Peregrine Falcon)

Chup found his way to our center in the spring of 2001 after being declared unreleaseable. Chup was probably hatched in the spring of 1999 in the tundra of Canada . We assume during his first migration south he was hit by a car in Pennsylvania . He did fracture a bone in his wing at this time that healed incorrectly. During his healing, he developed the equivalent of bed sores on the bottom of his feet, which some peregrines are prone to. He was eventually taken to Cornell University where surgery was performed on his feet.

Peregrines are the fastest living thing on earth. They often have a hyper personality. Chup is no exception, and in spite of being very vocal about things, he has adapted well to living in captivity.

 

Trig
(American Kestrel)

Trig, an American Kestrel, was a fledgling just leaving the nest and learning to fly when a cat attacked him seconds after landing on the ground. A cat bite is lethal for any bird due to the amount of bacteria in their mouths. It was necessary to start Trig on antibiotics as soon as he entered our center. The cat bite also damaged one of his wings so he has limited flight. He enjoys spending time on his perch especially designed for him, overlooking the woods. American Kestrels are one of the few raptors where male and female is distinguished by their plumage. His grey wings and tail are both indicators that he is male. Another unique feature of all falcons is the malar stripe that is on his face.