The Story of Mr. Swan
by Ellen Kalish
Mr. Swan came to us after an unusual cold snap in February of ’09. He was found caught by his leg fighting to get free from the rope and boards that secured the bubbler in his pond.
A gallant effort was made by a friend who went into the icy water in waders to retrieve this drowning angel.
He was taken to an emergency veterinary clinic, stabilized and released with instructions to see a surgeon to set and stitch the hock. We brought him to our state-of-the-art Hurley Veterinary Hospital where he was examined and scheduled for surgery.
Mr. Swan needed a month of rehabilitation in a warm, dry, clean environment….and because he was a wild animal, he was not able to recuperate at the vet’s office. So we needed to find a place large enough for him to fit comfortably, as well as waterproof, poop proof, and soft enough to support his body weight on his belly. I sent my husband to look for such an object. This blow-up 10’ X 4’ kiddie pool is what he came home with. It was perfect! We promptly set it up in the family room in front of the glass patio doors so he could have a Hudson River view. It worked beautifully!
After one week he had a check-up and the foot was not growing new tissue around the injury, he also was developing an upper respiratory infection in spite of the antibiotics. This was not the progress we had hoped for. By the second check-up his foot was septic and the infection was spreading through his entire body. He couldn’t recover from the massive trauma he had endured. We lost Mr. Swan on February 24, 2009.
His pond master, Barry was devastated as were all of us at Ravensbeard including all the staff at the hospital. Even my husband who has seen hundreds of birds’ come and go was sad because there was something so special about this gentle giant.
I contacted Barry to send him some photos of Mr. Swan and in our communication I learned he had recently purchased a young male swan to live on the pond with Mrs. Swan. We were concerned about her because swans and most waterfowl mate for life.
At first she chased him away and wouldn’t let him in the water at all, Barry was wondering if he had made a mistake in sexing the couple but after some research Barry erected an enclosure to protect him and allow the visual magic to begin. This is slowly working on their genetic energies and by late spring we’re all hoping for a nest of fuzzy grey signets to continue on in the spirit of Mr. Swan.
Harriet the Great Blue Heron
- Who Didn't Fly South
by Ellen Kalish
Bruce and Joanne Cuttler awaiting the release of the Great Blue Heron they rescued on their pond on Feb. 21, 2009. She was so emaciated she couldn't make it over a 4' fence and fell in a heap on the other side. The Heron would have died if they hadn't scooped her up in a blanket and brought her to Ravensbeard.
Harriet's rehabilitation began in a shower stall because temperatures outside were too severe. Most Herons migrate to warmer climates by late November, I believe she stayed because she found an open spring that didn't freeze. After 3 weeks of non-stop feeding, the heron was released at the pond where she was originally found.
She was out of the view finder before I could take the shot.
Harriet the Great Blue Heron's first flight back into the wild!
Free at last!
The story of Orfeo
the American Kestrel ’08
By Ellen Kalish
Orpheus, an American Kestrel arrived on June 30th. He was found by the roadside on a straightaway where cars would drive by at 50-60 mph. He was too young to be on his own. 
There was no nest to be found and no screeching parents to protect him from danger, so Roland Vazquez stopped the car and picked him up. He placed him off the road about 20’ into a nearby field and drove home.
After wondering if he did the right thing, he made some calls to seek advice from someone more knowledgeable. He called Ravensbeard, I asked him to describe the bird in detail so we knew what we were dealing with and therefore more able to understand the behavior and natural history. I said if he was in the same place the next morning we should investigate more closely. Sure enough, Roland called back that morning saying that this was true no parents, the baby couldn’t fly and it was cold.
His daughter came with him to deliver the bird; Isabel was extremely interested in what was going to happen next. She planned to write about Orpheus for her school’s summer project. I could see her taking in all I was saying, making many mental notes.
The Vazquez family came once more in July to see her, by then we needed to change his name from Orpheus to Orfeo, he turned out to be a male and he was quite stunning. It all happens in approximately 4 –6 weeks. They took pictures and she noted his changes for her paper.
Orfeo grew and developed into a beautiful young male and after he was able to hunt and capture live prey consisting of grasshoppers, katydids, crickets, mealworms and mice he was ready to be released.
On September 13, he was released. 
I brought him over to their home, which was a few hundred yards from where he was found. It was a safe place to insure his release was successful. Isabel and her brother Hugo peered into the carrying crate that held the nervous bird. They got their cameras ready as I held the Kestrel readying him for his maiden voyage.
They got their photo shoot once he was in my glove and then I let go. He almost landed on Isabel’s head but chose the ground instead as to perch and orient himself…then he screeched and flew about 100 yards away up into a tree. About a minute later he screeched again as to say “I did it…I’m free”. We couldn’t see him at that point but occasionally he would call out to let us know he was there.
We went inside for a drink of water and to see the video the release that Susan had taken.I was thoroughly entertained by the children and their art projects for quite some time, then it was time to leave.
It all seemed so quiet outside, we thought Orfeo was gone to explore his new world and as I was escorted to my car by the entire family,
we were greeted by KEEeee, KEEeee, KEEeee, KEEeee, he was only about 40 feet from the car.We all looked at each other… and froze, we heard him again. I started to tear up when Susan said, “he heard your voice and wanted to be near you one more time”, with goose bumps on my arms, I must say it wasn’t a surprise…It’s happened time and time again. Just when you think they’re going to fly as fast and far as they can to be free, they circle over or come back to give their closing comments.
This is what I live for, this is what charges me to get through all those who may not make it…..this makes all my efforts just and good. I have the best job in the world!
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