When a hawk or eagle is injured, raptor rehabilitator Marge Gibson comes to its rescue. She’ll talk about the process of caring for an injured bird and the dangers awaiting birds throughout the 4th of July weekend.
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Independence Day Activities Put Birds at Risk
Residents might enjoy July 4 festivities, but fireworks pose a threat to some bird species’ fledglings in Wisconsin.
July 4 isn’t only a weekend to celebrate U.S. independence, but for some bird species to leave their nest for the first time.
“July 4 happens to be the time our eaglets in northern Wisconsin fledge or leave the nest naturally,” said Marge Gibson, co-founder of the Raptor Education Group.
The holiday is especially sensitive in northern Wisconsin, which has over 107 species, she said. For young loons hatching near water, fireworks over lakes can be fatal.
“There’s nothing patriotic about killing America’s symbol, the eagles or loons. These are the very things people come up to northern Wisconsin to see and experience,” Gibson said.
People visiting areas full of sensitive birds should be careful not to disturb the wildlife, she said. Some bird species are very diurnal and become frightened by loud noises.
“We try to tell people that there has to be a balance, and municipalities generally aren’t something we worry about,” Gibson said. “There is going to be collateral damage. There are going to be some problems and interaction with wildlife that we can’t control.”
The Raptor Education Group worries about private and/or illegal fireworks, not municipalities. Residents should be conscious of the wildlife around them and the species affected, she said.
“It’s those private ones, the ones that are done on lakes that really do a lot of damage to our native species,” Gibson said.
An eagle flew through fireworks exploding over a lake and died as a result, and last year someone threw explosives into a nest full of eaglets that couldn’t fly yet, burning one of the eaglet’s face, Gibson said.
Firecrackers, roman candles, bottle rockets and mortars are illegal in Wisconsin without a valid permit, but local law enforcement determines rules for other types of fireworks, Gibson said.
This creates risks for many birds and a problem for the Raptor Education Group, which cares for birds throughout the year.
“We take care of over 800 or 900 native wild bird species per year,” Gibson said. “We do over 100 eagles per year, as well as anything in feathers, down to hummingbirds, cranes, trumpeters, swans and even the more common robins.”
Residents should visit the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources website for the directory of rehabilitation facilities in their area, she said. The Raptor Education Group cares for birds from all over the state, but residents should find a rehabilitee they are comfortable with.
“There’s a sense of responsibility that comes with living or visiting a nesting area that has rare and endangered species,” Gibson said.
Episode Credits
- Larry Meiller Host
- L. Malik Anderson Producer
- Marge Gibson Guest
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