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holding small owl

Conservation > Montana WILD's Wildlife Center Meet the Ambassador Birds

The MT WILD Ambassador Bird Program teaches participants about raptors, a group of birds that are specialized predators with unique adaptations and are an important part of every ecosystem in Montana.  The program capitalizes on trained live raptors that are housed and cared for by the MT WILD Wildlife Center adjacent to the education center. Currently, MT WILD has 15 raptors that provide this service. These birds came into the Wildlife Center for rehabilitation but were unable to be released back to the wild, often because their injuries were too great to survive on their own. The ambassadors represent 4 different categories of raptors: eagles, hawks, falcons, and owls.  Ambassadors are an integral part of the program, because they give participants an opportunity to experience and engage with a live raptor, which for many is the closest they will ever get to these majestic birds. 

The Ambassadors, on average, have over 25,000 contacts with the public annually. Often, there are up to 100+ participants attending Raptor programs.


Come see the birds!

The public can also view the ambassador birds Monday-Friday from 9 a.m.–10:30 a.m. at the MT WILD Education Center located at 2668 Broadwater Avenue in Helena.

 

Photos taken by Brian Powers 

Rubicon

golden eagle

Rubicon, who is affectionately known as Rubi, came to the Wildlife Center in December of 2016 from Red Rocks, Montana. Rubi was shot from below while she was flying. Although she is cosmetically correct there was too much damage to the muscles in that wing to allow her to fly.

golden eagle

Noxon

bald eagle

Noxon was brought to the Wildlife Center in March of 2012 from Noxon, Montana. Noxon was accidently run over by 2 snow mobiles that were racing on a trail. The individuals who were responsible brought her in for rehabilitation. Unfortunately, her injuries are permanent and she is unable to be released.

bald eagle

Luna

great horned owl

Luna arrived at the Wildlife Center in December of 2012 from Potomac, Montana. Luna was found in a schoolyard with a damaged wing. Despite intervention, some dead bone required removal and she is unable to fly.

great horned owl

Slash

great horned owl

Slash came to the Wildlife Center in July of 2014 from the Freezout Lake Area near Choteau, Montana. Slash’s left shoulder was damaged by some sort of impact. The wing was repaired surgically but with loss of full range of motion. Slash cannot fly well enough to survive and is unable to be released.

great horned owl

Kila

Western screech owl

Kila was brought to the Wildlife Center in February of 2015 from Kila, Montana. Kila was received from another facility with her injured left wing already healed in place. We do not know the initial cause of the injury. However, Kila cannot be released back to the wild.

western screech owl

Cowboy

long-eared owl

Cowboy arrived at the Wildlife Center in August of 2016 from Sun River, Montana. Cowboy was brought to us from a veterinary clinic with a damaged right wing. The fracture was too severe to surgically repair, and Cowboy is not able to be released.

long-eared owl

Charlo

Northern saw-whet owl

Charlo came to the Wildlife Center in December of 2015 from Pablo, Montana. Charlo’s wrist suffered permanent damage probably from an impact while hunting during dusk. Due to the wrist injury, Charlo is not releasable.                

northern saw-whet owl

Rojo

American kestrel

Rojo was brought to the Wildlife Center in September of 2013 from Great Falls, Montana. Rojo was one of a group of chicks that fell out of a blown down tree. Both nerve and bone damage to her wing make her flight inaccurate and she is unable to be released.

american kestrel

Spike

American kestrel

Spike arrived at the Wildlife Center in July of 2016 from Great Falls, Montana. Spike was found along a set of railroad tracks. Both wing tips were compromised and required amputation. He is unable to fly and can’t be released.

american kestrel

Blossom

American kestrel

Blossom came to the Wildlife Center in August of 2016 from Wolf Creek, Montana. Blossom has a wing injury and was habituated to human care. She does not have the proper skills or fear of humans and predators needed to survive in the wild. For these reasons she is unable to be released.               

american kestrel

Garnet

ferruginous hawk

Garnet was brought to the Wildlife Center in July of 2016 from Dutton, Montana. Garnet was captured on the ground in poor condition. There were no obvious injuries, and we suspect that Garnet is an old bird. After flight conditioning and training, Garnet was still unable to sustain flight well enough to be released.

ferruginous hawk

Tula

red-tailed hawk

Tula arrived at the Wildlife Center in March of 2015 from Sims, Montana. Tula was shot on two different occasions. The first gunshot injury was able to heal without intervention, but the second time caused a lot of visible damage. Tula is unable to fly well enough to be released.

red-tailed hawk

Taiga

rough-legged hawk

Taiga came to the Wildlife Center in December of 2014 from Helena, Montana. Taiga somehow damaged her shoulder during migration and has been unable to fly well since that time.

rough-legged hawk

Zero

Swainson's hawk

Zero was brought to the Wildlife Center in August of 2017 from Malmstrom Air Force Base in Great Falls, Montana.  Zero was a chick that fell out of the nest and suffered a concussion and broken wing. The fracture was at the wrist and required amputation.

Swanson's hawk

Aria

merlin

Aria arrived at the Wildlife Center in January of 2019 from Great Falls, Montana. Aria had an open fracture of her left humerus that did not heal correctly. She has nerve damage and lacks control, function, and feeling in her left wing and is not able to be released.

merlin