A Feather in the Wind
A Publication of Last Chance Forever / The Bird of Prey Conservancy Winter 2010
Sarah Montez, Editor
From the Executive Director’s Desk:
Last Chance Forever is an awesome organization
with incredible staff, both paid and volunteer. Utilizing
what resources it receives from dedicated supporters, it
is extremely efficient to a fault. We are very guilty of
appearing very complete and not much in need- however,
if one were to visit our center for any length of time, one
would see that we could always use more support. Our
successes are remarkable, returning quality of life and
giving freedom back to everything from tiny Screech
Owls to magnificent Bald Eagles. I am always amazed
at the dedication of the staff; they are passionate, caring
and are my heroes. They are tireless, and dedicated to
making a proverbial silk purse out of a sows’ ear every day
of the year. They cry when we lose a case, and when we
release a bird back into the wild; they keep a stiff upper
lip and are consummate professionals, always presenting
a professional image. They do this without a huge salary,
few benefits, and yet they stay on course. In a time when
we see so many that only care about what can be done
for them, when ultimately profit is the name of the game,
these kind, gentle hearted souls give it their all day in and
day out and I thank them for embracing the dreamer’s
dream. They believe in and strive for peace for all.
Please be a partner in conservation and continue to
support Last Chance Forever’s’ efforts. After all, as a 501
(c) (3) non-profit organization, it is your organization.
Send a donation today!
Respectfully,
John A. Karger A.H.T.
Executive Director
Last Chance Forever/The Bird of Prey Conservancy - a non profit tax exempt 501 (c) (3) organization
P.O. Box 460993 • San Antonio, Texas 78246 • (210) 499-4080 • www.lastchanceforever.org
Rehabilitation News: The Commitments That We Make
They come into our world small and helpless. White, downy bodies, bellies larger than all their other parts combined, legs with
still forming toes, and wings that in no way resemble the fantastically unique tools they will someday become. They are, without
a doubt, one of the biggest challenges we face.
As of this writing, we’ve received an astonishing 52 juvenile birds of prey in 2010- about one fifth of all cases this year. As
always, they came in every form possible; some with their eyes still closed, some ready to take their first leaps from branch to
branch, right on the pinnacle of flight. Phone calls regarding a potentially orphaned young bird are always hard to take. There’s
always that two seconds of pause- what do we tell them to do? Yes, we tell the rattled citizen on the other end of the line, we
understand there’s a baby bird you found on the ground. Yes, by all means, it’s right to do something about it. Yes, we’ll give
it a proper home until it can fend for itself. It’s a commitment we actually make twice a year- in the spring, when all species
are having their young, and in the fall, when the Barn Owl population has their second yearly brood. It’s a commitment we
make unlike any other, because LCF is, at its core, an organization made to provide effective
rehabilitation of wildlife’s newest members through veterinary science, passion, and the timeless
art of falconry.
I can’t tell you the number of people who call us annually, who are initially taken aback when
we tell them to simply “put the babies back in the tree”. For those who call us, I’m sure it’s the
most frightening concept imaginable, leaving the vulnerable unguarded. But rest assured, often
the parents are close by, even when you can’t see them. Considering some species can see up to
a mile away, they do have a certain advantage. Of course, by all means, if the youngster seems
injured in any way, we want you to bring them to us- if they look lethargic, or a wing isn’t sitting
properly, or however else they appear unwell. We want you to bring them to us, and as quickly
as possible. With little ones in particular, every moment of development is critical. However,
if they’re active and healthy, please, let them be. Please give the parents the opportunity to find
them- which, incredible as it seems, they have to do almost daily once they’re mobile. Their
parents have a job to do, one that’s far more complex than we humans tend to understand.
You see, there’s far more to raising baby raptors than just putting meat in their mouths. At
LCF, in order to ensure their optimal chance of survival, we give them high doses of calcium,
vitamins and minerals their first few days, to compensate for any dietary losses. Each dose,
of course, is specific to the individual. Too little won’t do the job. Too much will kill them.
During these preliminary stages of growth, we feed them nothing but whole bodies- mice, rats
and chicks, every day until all their first year feathers are completely grown, and they’re flying
strong. The purchase of their diets alone is one of our most expensive investments every year.
Without this investment, their quickly growing bodies will be nutritionally deficient. They
may look healthy on the outside, but malnourished bones can fracture easily, often causing the
eventual death of a once-promising, and highly needed, “checks and balances” predator. In
addition, we have to make sure they’re fed in specific ways. We disguise our image by covering
ourselves with sheets when feeding them at critical stages in their development; we make food
“appear” out of thin air; we utilize foster parents for positive imprinting whenever possible. We
don’t want them to rely on humans for food, or form any type of bond with us. We want them to
develop into fine-tuned hunters, which is, after all, their job.
Above all else, we rely on our wonderful foster parents to finish raising them. They’re the
only ones who can teach them how to be what they are. They’re the ones who teach them the
social skills of being a Barred Owl, or a Great Horned Owl, or a Black Vulture. It’s something,
coupled with keen hunting skills, that we could never be as good at teaching them. We simply
can’t speak their language- it’s one bridge we can never truly gap.
Rehabilitation is an incredibly tricky business. There are fine lines we tread every day,
decisions we have to make, that the general public
doesn’t even realize, and can’t truly comprehend.
Caring for these youngsters is one of the longest
term types of commitments we have. But when they
fly free, our hearts go with them, our supporters’
dedication is fulfilled, and, as conservation partners,
we know we’ve done the best we can to ensure they
have at least a fighting chance out in the wild- out on
the wind, out on their own.
Sarah A. Montez, Raptor Technician
SOAR FREE!!
SOAR FREE!!
Every success, every flight, every hope on the wing
would not be possible without your support.
We cannot thank you enough!
The Muleshole Farm and Ranch Trust
One part of Last Chance Forever’s mission is the preservation of land. Our first important donation was the property that
houses our main facility, made possible by the graciousness of Barbara Bowman and Kingdoms Unlimited. Later, we received
land from Mr. David Bamberger and Mr. Pat Maloney on Old Babcock Road, which we use as a nature education facility. In
Galveston, there are also two lots held in our endowment. Recently, Last Chance Forever received another significant donation.
It is a historical ranch holding in a sensitive area of Texas, the Texas Hill country. This land further increases LCF’s potential for
maintaining its role as a significant location for scientific research, long-term rehabilitation, release of recovered raptors in wide
open spaces, and for public education regarding Birds of Prey and their importance in our eco-system.
Mrs. Betty Karger Barth gifted Last Chance Forever her family ranch, and helped form the Muleshoe Farm and Ranch Trust.
The Barth and Karger family’s property has been an active farm and ranch for 124 years, and both families are founding members
of Comfort, and Grapetown, Texas. The original Adolph Karger homestead is located on the grounds, plus two other historically
significant homes built by German stonemasons, and several lovely barns, sheds and other structures reflecting a century’s worth
of ranching life. There will never be enough words to make Mrs. Barth understand just how important this is to us. Having such
an uninterrupted space will allow us to build flight facilities as large as our imaginations. We can have demonstrations for the
public on a regular basis; we can hold classes for students on the identification and conservation of wildlife and native plants; we
can involve research groups in using the property as a living classroom. There is an unlimited potential for what we may achieve
with such a space in the future. Of course, the use of this space will not be limited to LCF alone. Nestled near the Hill Country
towns of Comfort, Kerrville and Fredericksburg, and just 45 minutes from San Antonio, there will be great opportunities for
groups from all over to make use of the land for education, inspiration, and public events.
Our first event of many to come was held in June on Father’s Day, when we produced a “Country Day Celebration”. This
all day festival was a great celebration of history and community. People came from all over to listen, watch and participate in
activities throughout the day, thanks to a wide variety of organizations from all over South Texas. Everyone, participants and
guests alike, had a wonderful time- confirming our belief that the community has an interest in, and will support, an educational
facility celebrating agriculture, family heritage and wildlife conservation.
Our goal is to allow visitations and similar celebrations, and we are on track for our next event to be held in March 2011.
Please be sure to check our website, as we will post any information as soon as possible. We would love to have all of you as
patrons, participants and volunteers!
Won’t you please help us protect and preserve our precious wildlife heritage? Donate Today!
Make a difference- Support Last Chance Forever as part of your family’s wildlife heritage!
Freedom Flight Cruises
Anyone who’s ever been on a Vanishing Texas River Cruise can tell you what
a great way it is to spend an afternoon. Departing on a large comfortable boat
from V.T.R.C. headquarters onto Lake Buchanan, visitors are taken along the
winding Colorado River into the Canyon of the Eagles. Winter is a particularly
fun time, as migrating Bald Eagles make their way into the Texas Hill Country.
LCF has been blessed with quite a unique partnership in our work with owners
Shawn and Michelle DeVaney, and the V.T.R.C. crew. Together, we have
developed a special event called the “Freedom Flight” cruise. On these cruises,
the LCF staff brings several of our educational ambassadors, allowing visitors
to see the beautiful raptors closer than is normally possible in public demonstrations. In addition, the boat transports
us to several remote spots, giving us the opportunity to release a variety of species throughout the year from its bow.
With large stretches of uninhabited land, it gives them a wonderful launching pad to start their lives all over again.
Attendees are inspired as they are allowed to stand close to the raptors as they leave in a roar of cheers, applause and
perhaps a tear or two. If you’d like more information on future Freedom Flight dates, please visit www.vtrc.com.
Also, if you’d like to read more from some of this year’s cruises, please visit the following sites:
http://dchristian.net/main/2010/10/23/vanishing-texas-river-cruise/
www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/travel/texas/features/7088413.html
www.mysanantonio.com/life/travel/article/Rehabbed-raptors-return-to-the-wild-during-cruises-784062.php
Memorial Fund:
In our memory and never forgotten:
Jay Bell, Betsy Damon, Colonel Darling, Ronnie Ersch, Linda Hahn, Nancy Holmes, Hagbard D. Hansen,
Signa M. Karger, Walter H. Karger, Walter Karger, Amy Freeman Lee, Kevin O’Malley, Bob Nash,
William Jeffery Pylant, Pat Quick, Diane Roche, Joseph Simonich, William White, Edgar Watkins
LCF’s Supply Wish List Individual or family contributions
Cleaning Office Name
13 gal. Trash Bags 3” x 3” Sticky Notes Address
55 gal. Trash Bags 9” x 12” Envelopes
Clorox Bleach #10 Business size Envelopes
Gallon Freezer Bags 8.5” x 11” White Copy Paper Phone
Green Scrub Sponges Postage Stamps
Paper Towels Manila File Folders Email (optional)
Hand & Dish Soap Dry-Erase/Permanent Markers I am enclosing my contribution of:
Simple Green Cleaner Highlighters __$25 __$50 __$100 __$200 __Other___________
Hardware Outdoor If you wish to send a gift in honor of an individual or
Masking Tape Heavy Duty Garden Hose family, please list their information below. They will be
Black Zip Ties (Any Size) Plastic Wading Pools sent a notification that a gift was sent on their behalf:
Daisy Grass Mats (Wal-Mart) Name
Medical
Vet Wrap Electronics/Computer Address
Q-Tips Duracell Batteries (Any Size)
Triple Antibiotic Ointment CD-R & DVD Blank Disks Please state it is from:
Tongue Depressors Flash Drives Please Send Your Tax-Deductible Contribution to:
Gauze Pads Surge Protectors Last Chance Forever/The Bird of Prey Conservancy
Hydrogen Peroxide Extension cords P.O. Box 460993, San Antonio, Texas 78246
Please contact us at (210) 499-4080 *We at L.C.F. respect our supporters, and wish to ensure you that we
to schedule any donation delivery times. will not sell your mailing or email information to any outside sources.
Last Chance Forever would like to thank the following foundations,
organizations, and individuals for their support:
Corporations & Businesses Foundations & Trusts individuals
Ace Bolt & Screw Co. Catto Charitable Foundation Gary & Linda Abrahamson
Alamo Exhibition Bird Club Don Henley/Iris Foundation Diane Alshouse
American Biophysics Corp. Dudley T. Dougherty Foundation Dr. Charles H. Bonney
Animal Eye Hospital Hixon Family Foundation Barbara Bowman
Mike Thompson & Patagonia Holloman Price Foundation S. Kaye Bowman
Bamberger Ranch Kronkosky Foundation Debbie & Van Clegg
Boerne Parks & Recreation M.T. Walthall Trust Ernst family
Heydenrich family San Antonio Area Foundation Sai Golden
Kirby Animal Hospital San Antonio Audubon Society Sherry Hagen
Lower Colorado River Authority Sharon L. Gelperin Trust Don Henley
L & L Electronics SK Foundation Mike Hinkle
Michael Luig Steve and Martha Hixon L.C.F. Volunteers
Land, Sky, & Water Susan and Peter Roehl Family Kamile & John McKeever
Minnesota D.N.R. Winona Community Fund Virgil E. Milke
San Antonio Parks & Recreation Peggy Mitchell
Sourdough Corporation Arvella & Bill Oliver family
Texas Parks & Wildlife Dept. Jeff & Randi Quick
The Eagles Marika & Johnathan Schoolar
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Jane and Michael Scott
Vanishing Texas River Cruise Jenny Steel
James Thomason
Van Tine family
Dennis & Linda Weidemann
THankS TO all Of YOu THaT MakE iT HaPPEn !
(210) 499-4080 • www.lastchanceforever.org
San Antonio, Texas 78246
P.O. Box 460993
Last Chance Forever / The Bird of Prey Conservancy