The fund drive to raise money to help cover extraordinary costs incurred by The Raptor Center this winter as it treats injured owls (primarily Great Gray Owls) is going very well. In fact, the Katherine B. Anderson Foundation, the donor providing the original matching grant of $20,000, has been so impressed with the results of this campaign that the grant amount has been doubled. This, then, also doubles the opportunity we birders have to help the birds we have enjoyed so very much this winter. Every dollar you contribute becomes two dollars when it reached The Raptor Center.
A preliminary and quick look at contributions received as of early this week showed 160 gifts, most from Minnesota birders, and including 10 gifts from Wisconsin birders and one each from birders in South Dakota, Colorado, Kansas, Ohio, Florida, Missouri, Arizona, Arkansas, and Maryland. The Raptor Center, located on the St. Paul campus of the University of Minnesota, had, as of Monday, received 100 injured Great Gray Owls. Of those, approximately 60 died after arriving at the center or were so badly injured that they were euthanized. The remaining birds are in various stages of recovery, being prepped for release back into the wild; a few owls already have been released. Two Boreal Owls are being treated; no Northern Hawk-Owls were there. The opportunity for you to contribute continues. If you saw Great Gray Owls this winter, if this species went onto one of your lists or became part of your birding memories, please help. The Raptor Center raises over half of its total operating budget through gifts like these. Its patient intake this winter is running at about 10 times normal, so gifts at this time are very important. Your contribution can be sent to Rob Nordin Development Director College of Veterinary Medicine 1365 Gortner Avenue St. Paul, MN 55108 You also can donate online at donate online at www.raptor.cvm.umn.edu Contributions are tax deductable. Jim Williams Wayzata, Minnesota Feel free to share this note with other birders or other birding lists.
