SHREVEPORT, La. (April 19, 2023) – It’s hard to imagine a bird forgetting how to fly. Or not being able to eat on its own. But for Dr. Emily Warman of Northsong Wild Bird Rehabilitation’s (NWBR) Medical Team, it’s all too familiar.
Dr. Warman and Madison Kennedy, NWBR’s Medical and Outreach Coordinator, consult on injured wild birds in the Ozarks of Arkansas, providing free examination, diagnostics, and treatments (surgeries, medication, etc.) to patients with the goal of returning them to the wilderness. Northsong, established in 2020, provides veterinary care to songbirds, waterfowl, and raptors protected by the US Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
Meet patient 2023-0002, a red shouldered hawk, presumably struck by a vehicle and delivered to their care shortly after New Year’s. The bird will be released on April 22 – Earth Day – at SWEPCO’s Eagle Watch Nature Trail.
For more than a month, the bird was unable to eat on its own and had to be hand fed with forceps, a common response with severe head injuries. And for this patient, it also meant it was unable to fly.
“When we received the hawk in early January, it was quiet, but alert and reactive. However, we noted decreased reflexes in both of its legs and the bird was unable to stand on its own,” said Dr. Warman, a veterinarian with a specific interest in raptor medicine.
For the past several months, NWBR has cared for the hawk and supported its recovery. Click to view the medical chart. The team observed slow, but steady progress and just last month the hawk recovered its flying skills and found its voice once again.
“If this bird was human, it would run a marathon and would be your loud friend. It’s a noisy bird and wants to make itself known,” Dr. Warman laughed as she and her team described the hawk’s recovery with pride.
Throughout 2022, NWBR admitted and consulted on 126 injured avian patients and generated a release rate of 47%. NWBR simultaneously promotes avian conservation and education by hosting public, community events with state parks, local schools, local organizations, senior learning institutions, and youth programs.
“We believe accessible education is incredibly important - conservation without education is impossible, and therefore NWBR prioritizes hosting public releases throughout Northwest Arkansas whenever possible,” Dr. Warman said.
NWBR has held various releases in Fayetteville, Springdale, Gentry, Rogers, Bella Vista, and Huntsville and will continue to expand their reach.
“We are so excited to introduce another bird to the beautifully preserved Flint Creek property,” Dr. Warman said.
This will be the second NWBR bird release at Eagle Watch. An owl was released last year.
“We’re so pleased to partner with NWBR and rehome these wild birds at Eagle Watch at Flint Creek. We believe our protected habitat provides a perfect spot for these birds to thrive,” said Ivaunna Neigler, environmental supervisor at Flint Creek.
During 2022 and 2023, AEP Foundation, at the recommendation of SWEPCO, awarded microgrants to NWBR.
SWEPCO serves more than 551,000 customers in three states, including approximately 126,000 in Arkansas.
About Southwestern Electric Power Co. (SWEPCO)
About American Electric Power (AEP)
American Electric Power, based in Columbus, Ohio, is powering a cleaner, brighter energy future for its customers and communities. AEP’s approximately 17,000 employees operate and maintain the nation’s largest electricity transmission system and more than 224,000 miles of distribution lines to safely deliver reliable and affordable power to 5.5 million regulated customers in 11 states. AEP also is one of the nation’s largest electricity producers with approximately 31,000 megawatts of diverse generating capacity, including more than 6,900 megawatts of renewable energy. The company’s plans include growing its renewable generation portfolio to approximately 50% of total capacity by 2032. AEP is on track to reach an 80% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions from 2005 levels by 2030 and has committed to achieving net zero by 2045. AEP is recognized consistently for its focus on sustainability, community engagement, diversity, equity and inclusion. AEP’s family of companies includes utilities AEP Ohio, AEP Texas, Appalachian Power (in Virginia and West Virginia), AEP Appalachian Power (in Tennessee), Indiana Michigan Power, Kentucky Power, Public Service Company of Oklahoma, and Southwestern Electric Power Company (in Arkansas, Louisiana, east Texas and the Texas Panhandle). AEP also owns AEP Energy, which provides innovative competitive energy solutions nationwide. For more information, visit aep.com.