TL;DR -- how much support do the wildlife rescue orgs you work with provide for renestings?
I've been on call for baby raptor renestings for 2 seasons now. I've done 3 or 4 and provided ground support for a few more. The original wildlife rescue I worked with is very involved with every renesting. They have the baby brought to their HQ for an exam and determine whether it is healthy enough for renesting (something like weakness from rodenticide means they keep it in house to rehab and release once it can live independently, while others can be renested immediately or perhaps after something minor like feeding or rehydrating). One or more staff members meets me at the renesting site, bringing not only the bird but also a basket and bungees (for a new nest if the old one is unsuitable) and some chopped up mice or rat pieces to tide the baby over til the parents hopefully resume care. They actively participate in evaluating the old nest's suitability and selecting a new nest's location. And since I'm working under the supervision / guidance of an on-site staffer with all the appropriate Federal and state licenses / permits, I feel comfortable that I am covered legally in terms of the rules & regs re working with wildlife.
An org I connected with more recently is *100%* opposite, very literally completely hands-off. I get a call saying somebody found a baby on the ground, it has no obvious (to the layperson that found it) injuries or ailments, go meet the finder and renest the baby. They have no further involvement. I'm expected to provide everything for a new nest, decide what needs to be done, and do it.
Given my initial experiences this feels VERY "off". But maybe this latter approach is more the norm? That's why I'm asking here.
This 2nd org says I'm not at any legal risk because I'm still working under their direction (really?), that it's better to not subject the bird to the stress of being driven to their office for an exam and then back to the site (mmm, possibly?) and that it's better to not leave food so the baby is hungry and calling mom and dad to feed it (perhaps, at least as long as it's not too undernourished?).
The financial and time aspect of providing a basket and bungees is a bit off-putting to me but I can deal with that if it is the typical M.O. More concerning in my mind is the lack of guidance / supervision / oversight by anybody with the appropriate wildlife training, experience and legal cover. And my biggest worry is their lack of evaluation of the baby. But again, maybe all this is the norm.
So, those of you that have worked with wildlife rescues -- how much support and guidance do they give you?
Thanks for any insights!
I've been on call for baby raptor renestings for 2 seasons now. I've done 3 or 4 and provided ground support for a few more. The original wildlife rescue I worked with is very involved with every renesting. They have the baby brought to their HQ for an exam and determine whether it is healthy enough for renesting (something like weakness from rodenticide means they keep it in house to rehab and release once it can live independently, while others can be renested immediately or perhaps after something minor like feeding or rehydrating). One or more staff members meets me at the renesting site, bringing not only the bird but also a basket and bungees (for a new nest if the old one is unsuitable) and some chopped up mice or rat pieces to tide the baby over til the parents hopefully resume care. They actively participate in evaluating the old nest's suitability and selecting a new nest's location. And since I'm working under the supervision / guidance of an on-site staffer with all the appropriate Federal and state licenses / permits, I feel comfortable that I am covered legally in terms of the rules & regs re working with wildlife.
An org I connected with more recently is *100%* opposite, very literally completely hands-off. I get a call saying somebody found a baby on the ground, it has no obvious (to the layperson that found it) injuries or ailments, go meet the finder and renest the baby. They have no further involvement. I'm expected to provide everything for a new nest, decide what needs to be done, and do it.
Given my initial experiences this feels VERY "off". But maybe this latter approach is more the norm? That's why I'm asking here.
This 2nd org says I'm not at any legal risk because I'm still working under their direction (really?), that it's better to not subject the bird to the stress of being driven to their office for an exam and then back to the site (mmm, possibly?) and that it's better to not leave food so the baby is hungry and calling mom and dad to feed it (perhaps, at least as long as it's not too undernourished?).
The financial and time aspect of providing a basket and bungees is a bit off-putting to me but I can deal with that if it is the typical M.O. More concerning in my mind is the lack of guidance / supervision / oversight by anybody with the appropriate wildlife training, experience and legal cover. And my biggest worry is their lack of evaluation of the baby. But again, maybe all this is the norm.
So, those of you that have worked with wildlife rescues -- how much support and guidance do they give you?
Thanks for any insights!
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