This will be a very short newsletter, as staff and interns are busy examining new birds, feeding baby birds and cleaning cages, all never ending jobs!

Admissions at BMW are up by 41%  compared to this time last year, from 252 in 2024 to 356 in 2025. The species admitted are typical. There were 10 raptors: 1 Swainson’s Hawk, 1 Red-tailed Hawk, 3 Cooper’s Hawks, 2 American Kestrels and 3 Barn Owls. Songbirds admitted included a Brewers Blackbird, Barn Swallow, House Finch, American Robin and a small flycatcher. There was also 1 Common Raven. 

Below is a photo of two fledgling American Kestrels. They will be banded and join the 12 Kestrels outside who will soon be released at their hack site. We will continue feeding them until they have become proficient at flying and hunting, and naturally disperse. We are enjoying the nightly Barn Owl show. Most of 70 baby Barn Owls are now flying. They have been released from their hack boxes and are returning each night for food. Within the next two months they will refine their rodent catching skills and disperse.