Written by volunteer Amy Rembold

It’s that time of year when family and friends join together to honor the tradition of Thanksgiving. We at Owl Moon Raptor Center are a family that comes together daily to work to save raptors that are sick or injured. Our director, Suzanne Shoemaker, spends every day (minus the rare days away), from morning until night, taking care of these incredible birds of prey. Volunteers come in to clean cages, help hold birds to administer medications and other treatments, prepare food, or fly the birds on a creance line to recondition them for release. Others transport birds to the center at all hours, and finally help with the release. There are a million other tasks that our partners accomplish.  Veterinarians such as those at Bennett Creek Animal Hospital and Eye Care For Animals provide birds with x-rays, examinations, and surgeries and other procedures. Arborists such as those at Comprehensive Tree Care help us rescue birds entangled in fishing line in trees, and return fallen nestlings to their nests to rejoin their families. There are so many to thank!

So far in 2017, Owl Moon has admitted well over 200 birds of prey needing our attention, and the numbers are increasing every year. We are dependent on our “family” which includes you, the concerned citizens who notify us of an injured raptor, rescue and transporters that drive many miles to move the injured raptor to Owl Moon, our director and volunteers who work tirelessly to provide the best care for the injured patient for the ultimate goal of returning the bird back into the wild, and finally the donors that provide us with the means to pay for medicine, medical care, food and the supplies that are essential for the everyday care of these magnificent birds.

We thank you and the raptors thank you! Happy Thanksgiving!!! We hope you enjoy your feast as much as this owl enjoys his (Warning: this video is not for the squeamish)!

Our 2018 Owl Moon calendar is again one you will be proud to display in your home or office, and give as a gift to friends and family this holiday season. As in the past, the 2018 Owl Moon Calendar features wonderful images and stories of some of the owl, hawk, falcon, and eagle patients that have come through our rehabilitation center this year, as well as a “raptor calendar” describing what is happening in the raptor world each month.

This year’s calendar will be slightly smaller than in recent years, and will be bound by saddle-stitching and staples, rather than a spiral binding. These changes allow us to save on printing and mailing costs so that more of your donation can go to the care and treatment of the birds of prey that come to us in need.

The 2018 calendar features stories about “Chessie”, an adult osprey who recovered from fractures in both her shoulders and was able to fly free again, and “Wilbur, a young Great Horned Owl who survived West Nile Virus. and many more.

2018 Calendars are available for a donation of $25 for one or $100 for five.

Please specify (in the comments after you donate online) if would like a calendar with your donation, and how many.  Thank you!

You can receive your calendar in person with a donation at the Owl Moon Raptor Festival at Black Hill Regional Park, 12pm-4pm on November 12th (see post below), or…

Donate online or mail your check to:

Owl Moon Raptor Center
20201 Bucklodge Rd.
Boyds, MD 20841

Features:

• Nesting and migration dates for Mid-Atlantic birds of prey
• 12 stories
• 24 full-color images
• Card stock covers
• Saddle stitched and stapled binding
• 8.75 x 11.5 inches
• Tax deductible
• All proceeds support the care of the birds!

Owl Moon is a registered 501(c)(3) and all donations are tax deductible.