Soar into 2024!
Dear Hawk Creek Family,
Have you ever experienced the thrill of a hawk flying inches above your head, so close you can feel the wind from their wingbeats? Or had your children excitedly recount that a HUGE vulture soared over them? If you have been to Hawk Creek then your answer is likely, “yes!” These are the types of impactful experiences that our educators try to create during every encounter we facilitate with our animal ambassadors. Our flying bird team makes these breathtaking moments possible and create memories that last a lifetime for our guests. This group of highly trained birds have specialized enclosure requirements and Hawk Creek is preparing to construct this major animal housing section at our facility. Will you help us soar into 2024 and support these incredible birds?
As a not-for-profit, funding must always be prioritized: animal care and safety concerns are always first. Unfortunately the Center faced a barrage of hurdles in the past year that has taken its toll. In the last six weeks alone, our team has dealt with the loss of several elderly, beloved animal residents, braved windstorms, a falling tree taking out a transformer which started a fire, then lake effect snow and a week of real-feel temperatures below 0 degrees Fahrenheit. That’s a lot of challenges, especially when you have over 80 animals depending on you! All of this combined with the damage from the 2022 blizzard that diverted funds that were intended for this vital project for our flying team.
We are built Buffalo tough and we’ve constructed our new Center to withstand the harsh WNY winter weather, but the brutal storms of the last two years have pushed our facilities to their limit, depleting our resources. Hawk Creek is only able to withstand these challenges and bounce back stronger because of the generous support of the community, and we find ourselves needing to call upon that generosity now. Will you help Hawk Creek rise like the phoenix and soar into 2024?
Our flying bird team includes Talon (Red-tailed Hawk), Chase(Harris’ Hawk), Fester (Turkey Vulture), and Chikara (African Trumpeter Hornbill). These birds are as diverse as their histories!
Talon was injured in the wild while he was hunting a squirrel and suffered an injury to his leg making him non-releasable due to his inability to hunt. He’s been given a second chance, he excels at flying in programs at schools leaving students inawe and his favorite activity is flying through the woods with his trainers.
Chase, a former falconry bird, needed a new home when his falconer owner passed away. Chase is best known for flying and weaving through groups of people at events, delighting people at venues including the American Museum of Natural History and the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum.
Fester was abandoned as an egg after his mother was excluded from her nest in a barn. He has some developmental abnormalities that prevent his release back to the wild. In 2023 he started to take over flying engagements for Barf, our 20 year old Turkey Vulture who is entering semi-retirement from flying demonstrations.
Chikara was sent to us by a partner facility when they needed to downsize their traveling bird team. She’s best known for her incredible aerial acrobats while she catches grapes out of the air!
Our flying team loves what they do, and they are critical for the impactful moments that allow us to fulfill our mission of reconnecting humans with nature. When these incredible birds soar over an audience they invite guests to take flight with them, welcoming you into their world. These moments bring back our ancient bonds with the Earth and our lives are richer for it.
Building these specialized enclosures, in addition to finishing repairs from the storm and wind damage, is a huge undertaking but it must be done to continue to provide the highest level of care for the animals that depend on us. The animals are doing vital work in conservation education as ambassadors teaching compassion and inspiring action to protect wildlife and our planet. Will you support this crucial work and help Hawk Creek rise like the phoenix from these latest challenges so we can all soar in 2024 together?
Soar with the Eagles,
Loretta C. Jones
Executive Director
ALERT! As we write this we have been called upon to rescue several raptors from a facility that must place their animals immediately, as of March 1st there will no longer be any staff there to care for them! We will need to feed, house and provide medical care for these animals until permanent homes are found. We will share more info when we can!