A Bored Meeting in progress
Bubba and Friends, Inc.
We started rehabbing raptors in the late 1980s(last century!).In 1995 we incorporated because someone said life would be easier if we had 501c3 nonprofit status. So we applied for and received it.
We maintain a low-key approach to recovering, rehabbing, and release of birds of prey. Most of the raptors picked up are picked up by us. We go into businesses, warehouses, and the like to remove trapped birds. As the years have passed we have assembled a hard core group of volunteers who can handle pretty much anything.
We have recovered Bald Eagles, Ospreys, Redtail Hawks, Red Shoulder Hawks, Broadwing Hawks, Cooper's Hawks, Sharp Shinned Hawks, Kestrels, Black Vultures, Turkey Vultures, Great Horned Owls, Barred Owls, Eastern Screech Owls, Barn Owls, and one Long Earred Owl( which is not even native to Ga.). Most were rehabbed and released. Unfortunately, not all were so fortunate. Some were taken by people as babies and treated like pets. By the time we got them they were hopeless and had to be destroyed. Others were so badly broken up by automobiles they had to be put to sleep. We estimate that, in the last 20 years, we have put between 400-500 back in the wild.
We raise our own rats and quail to feed the raptors. We do not feed day old chicks or grocery store meats to any raptors. Day old chicks have no nutritional value and the meats are dangerous to the raptor's metabolism. I guess you could say we do "organic" rehab.
We started rehabbing raptors in the late 1980s(last century!).In 1995 we incorporated because someone said life would be easier if we had 501c3 nonprofit status. So we applied for and received it.
We maintain a low-key approach to recovering, rehabbing, and release of birds of prey. Most of the raptors picked up are picked up by us. We go into businesses, warehouses, and the like to remove trapped birds. As the years have passed we have assembled a hard core group of volunteers who can handle pretty much anything.
We have recovered Bald Eagles, Ospreys, Redtail Hawks, Red Shoulder Hawks, Broadwing Hawks, Cooper's Hawks, Sharp Shinned Hawks, Kestrels, Black Vultures, Turkey Vultures, Great Horned Owls, Barred Owls, Eastern Screech Owls, Barn Owls, and one Long Earred Owl( which is not even native to Ga.). Most were rehabbed and released. Unfortunately, not all were so fortunate. Some were taken by people as babies and treated like pets. By the time we got them they were hopeless and had to be destroyed. Others were so badly broken up by automobiles they had to be put to sleep. We estimate that, in the last 20 years, we have put between 400-500 back in the wild.
We raise our own rats and quail to feed the raptors. We do not feed day old chicks or grocery store meats to any raptors. Day old chicks have no nutritional value and the meats are dangerous to the raptor's metabolism. I guess you could say we do "organic" rehab.
Barn owl being released
When the raptors are ready for release we make every attempt to get the bird as close as possible to it's pickup point. Mature birds of prey mate for life and establish a territory. It's their home. We frequently refer to their release as "going home". Immature raptors will spend anywhere from a year to 4 years(depending on the species) wandering. Immatures can be released most anywhere safely.
Released !!
Mature Red Tail Hawk returning to the wild. It's mate is still in the area.
" Go ahead. She won't be mad because you are 3 weeks late coming home."
" Go ahead. She won't be mad because you are 3 weeks late coming home."
Another release !
This little male Red Tail Hawk survived a collision with a car. He was released west of Thomaston, Ga. about a mile from where he was injured. The release had a rocky start but he figured out the drill and went home.
Back to sea-
This is one of 2 juvenile ospreys we received during the Gulf oil spill. His brother was released a few weeks earlier.
"Look out fish there's a new sheriff in town".
"Look out fish there's a new sheriff in town".
Miss America
We received a 2 year old female Bald Eagle who we named Miss America.
She was 36 inches tall and had a wingspan of 88 inches. She had eaten a toxic substance which caused a temporary paralysis. After 10 days of rehab she was released on Halloween.
She was 36 inches tall and had a wingspan of 88 inches. She had eaten a toxic substance which caused a temporary paralysis. After 10 days of rehab she was released on Halloween.
Eastern Screech Owl
