Dear Friend of Aark,November, 2011
What an amazing year this has been! I am constantly humbled by the resilience of wild animals. No matter what their circumstances, they always find a way. They do not seek out humans. Yet there are times when it is a gift for both the animal and the human when they find us. Sometimes their only hope at survival is to accept the caring hands of people. We had the honor of helping thousands of animals this year. Whether they came from backyards, highways or even City Hall, thanks to you, many found their way back to freedom, back to the wild.
A pileated woodpecker is a rare and wonderful sighting. They are large black and white birds with a huge, red, triangular crest upon their heads. Their call, much like a laugh, can stop you in your tracks it is so loud and distinct. When they take flight the undersides of the wings shine white, almost silver. They are a shy, secretive species that strip the bark off trees, leaving piles below, often the only evidence they were ever there. On July 1st, she arrived at the Aark. She was a broken, limp thing with a severe shoulder injury and no use of her right leg as a result of being hit by a car and then dragged by a dog. She was wary and afraid and very much in pain. Although her examination revealed no fractures, she was still in sorry shape. Here she began her long recovery. At first, she was quiet and unsure of her situation. After all, she went from a wild fledgling under the tutelage of her mother to a prisoner being hand fed and tended by scary, large beings. In July, the clinic is a bustle of activity, but she needed to be under constant supervision. Her injuries were severe, but only support care and time were going to heal them. While the sun sweltered outside, she took long leisurely baths on the table in the clinic. She ate hundreds of insects each day. She destroyed huge, cavernous logs that were erected for her to enjoy. Soon she began to erupt into deafening “laughter” whenever the phone rang. In a few weeks she began making small flights onto shoulders as volunteers walked by. One day, she flew clear across the office and nearly escaped out the door when a patient arrived. It was August… time to go outside. We arranged a flight pen with ladders and perches and platforms for feeding. We screened in the entire 24x12 enclosure for safety and transferred our darling pileated woodpecker to the great outdoors. Two weeks went by and she was flying well and nearly ready to be released when we noticed she was again not using one of her legs. This time it was the left. Since she was always destroying wood, it can only be assumed that she caught her leg in a bark strip that didn’t fall away from the branch when torn. Back to the clinic she went. She was quiet at first and seemed a little depressed. We gave her more things to do and play with. We gave her more time. Suddenly, she was finished with us and let it be known that she was ready. Video camera in hand, we took her to the field near the woods and she took flight, yelling her thanks into the afternoon. Click the picture below and you can see the video of her entire journey from admission to release.
Aark Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Center
1531 Upper Stump Road
Chalfont, PA 18914
215-249-1938
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Winter Hours
11-3
7 days a week
Caring for these rare and sometimes endangered species is an honor we would not have unless people like you become involved. Whether it be time, money or helping these amazing animals find their way to the Aark, you are as important to our mission as the work itself. Your donation is greatly appreciated by the Aark and thousands of animals like our little pileated who find their way to freedom because of you. Please take a moment to give. Please be sure to include your e-mail address with your remittance. Thank you for caring.
Sincerely, Leah Stallings
Join us for an ‘Enchanting Evening’ at The Aark
February 25th, 2012
7-9PM
