Wilton Land Trust Champions Wildlife Release And Education

**News Release Submitted by the Wilton Land Trust**

Oct. 24, 2023

Throughout 2023, the Wilton Land Trust (WLT) orchestrated a series of impactful initiatives centered around New England Birds of Prey, in collaboration with esteemed partners Wildlife in Crisis and the Sharon Audubon Center. Commencing with the successful release of three rehabilitated Barred owls in the Spring, the WLT followed up with a compelling live raptor educational program in September, and a heart lifting release of three rehabilitated Red-tailed Hawks in October.

In the spring and fall, the trust also organized three enriching educational and recreational birding hikes on WLT preserves, in partnership with the Woodcock Nature Center and renowned naturalist Joe Bear. These endeavors not only showcased the trust's commitment to wildlife preservation but also fostered a deeper connection between the community and nature.

“The Wilton Land Trust exemplifies its dedication to its mission by tirelessly preserving and restoring local ecosystems, engaging in vital habitat restoration projects, and fostering a profound connection between people and nature,” said David McCarthy, WLT’s Executive Director.

WILTON, CT — On September 16th, 2023, the Wilton Land Trust once again opened the doors to the captivating world of New England's raptors during its eagerly anticipated annual event, Birds of Prey: A Live Raptor Program. In collaboration with the Sharon Audubon Center, this educational initiative offered attendees a rare opportunity to witness these majestic and elusive birds up close, fostering a deeper understanding of their vital role in our ecosystem.

This educational program, now in its second year, was tailored to provide individuals, families, and children with an intimate exposure to the mysterious lives of birds of prey. Held at WLT’s Walter Preserve, a picturesque location within our community, the Live Raptor Program served as a window into the hidden world of hawks, falcons, and other predatory birds that gracefully patrol our skies.

Attendees were invited into a welcoming and informative program where they could observe these magnificent creatures in their natural glory. With expert handlers from the Sharon Audubon Center guiding the experience, participants asked questions, learned about the behavior and habitats of these birds, and gain insights into their impact on our local environment. Thanks to the dedication and expertise of the volunteers from the Sharon Audubon Center, program participants gained valuable knowledge about these magnificent creatures, deepening their connection to the natural world.

Sunday, October 08, 2023 — Despite weather challenges, the Wilton Land Trust, in a testament to perseverance, seized a momentary break in the rain to stage its highly anticipated member's event: the Rehabilitated Red-Tailed Hawk Release. The special event captivated its audience comprising of WLT members and their families, as well as WLT program partners, and Wilton elected officials.

Bathed in the soft glow of the autumn sun, against the backdrop of the scenic landscape at the Nick Parisot Memorial Trailhead on 77 Tito Lane, the WLT, in collaboration with the dedicated team from Wildlife in Crisis, orchestrated a heartwarming spectacle, the release of three rehabilitated Red-tailed hawks back into the wild. This special event, made possible through a seamless partnership between the Wilton Land Trust and Wildlife in Crisis, demonstrated the Trust's dedication to preserving the biodiversity of our local ecosystem, and provided a unique opportunity for attendees to witness firsthand the impact their annual membership support to the Wilton Land Trust has on conservation in Wilton.

Perched upon the welcoming rock at the entrance of the Nick Parisot Memorial Trailhead, WLT’s Executive Director, David McCarthy, extended a heartfelt welcome to the gathering. He introduced the mission of the Wilton Land Trust and its valued partner, Wildlife in Crisis, emphasizing the intricate connection between conservation and community. While the audience was enjoying and indulging in the wonderful autumn spread provided by WLT Trustee, Kaki Hughes, McCarthy passionately articulated how conservation and wildlife preservation are integral threads intricately woven into the fabric of Wilton. He highlighted the profound interdependence between the natural world and the residents of Wilton, painting a vivid picture of how the preservation and maintenance of open space conducted by the WLT directly contributes to the well-being and harmony of wildlife and the Wilton community.

"Conservation is a shared responsibility that enriches our lives and enhances our community," stated McCarthy. "The WLT works to nurture this connection, fostering a deep understanding of our mission to conserve the natural world and enrich the tapestry of Wilton."

“Land preservation is the most important thing we can do for wildlife and we are grateful for the Wilton Land Trust’s important work preserving vital habitat,” said Dara Reid, Director of Wildlife in Crisis. She further explained that, “preserving precious open space is an important quality of life issue which benefits us all.”

With a profound sense of purpose, Dara Reid, Director of Wildlife in Crisis, and her expert team addressed the captivated crowd and began their process of uncaging the birds. The crowd stood fully engaged and mesmerized, eagerly waiting the vaunted hunters. Dara unveiled the birds one at a time, addressing the spellbound crowd with her wealth of expertise. She delved into the intricacies of Red-tailed Hawks’ lives and unraveled their mysteries before the rapt onlookers.

"Releasing the Red-tailed hawks back into their natural environment highlights the importance of our mission to protect open space," remarked Steve White, President of the Wilton Land Trust.

With great enthusiasm, Director Reid patiently answered questions the onlookers had about their habits, fostering a deep understanding of these magnificent birds and their role in the local ecosystem. She made a special note to point out their patented red tail and haunting black eyes, defining characteristics of the raptors. Several WLT members remarked that finally putting a visual to the "boisterous" birds they so often hear gawking in their backyards offered them a whole new appreciation for their beauty.

“It’s no exaggeration when I say that seeing those three majestic and magnificent birds, up-close and at eye-level, was an experience unlike any other I’ve ever had. Their beauty was equaled by their prowess, as each in turn took to the freedom of the skies. From now on, I will never see one soaring above without remembering that afternoon when I was privileged to witness something so sacred.” Linda Rubinstein, WLT Annual Member

In a narrative both poignant and inspiring, Reid detailed the arduous journeys these birds had undertaken to reach this moment. Each hawk, she explained, had faced varying degrees of trauma, from broken wings to traumatic head injuries from being struck by cars. The third hawk was a victim of rodenticide poisoning. Rodenticides are ubiquitous and the nonprofit sees the effects they have on wildlife every day. Birds of prey, fox, coyotes, bobcats, bears, weasels, raccoons, and rodents are all victims of these poisons, Dara explained. The way it works is, second generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARS) keep blood from clotting and cause animals to bleed internally. Anticoagulant rodenticides have managed to become an endemic in fox and coyote populations, Reid explained.

“Hawks and other predators are nature’s rodent control. Please do not use rodenticides,” Dara exclaimed.

Despite these debilitating setbacks, Reid highlighted the unwavering determination of these creatures and the extraordinary efforts undertaken during months of meticulous rehabilitation.

After offering the crowd a final moment to soak in the significance of the situation, a hefty toss from Director Dara Reid freed the birds from their brief stay in captivity and elevated them back into the open air. In a dramatic and fleeting moment, with an uncertain flap of their wings, the birds once again took to the skies.

“It was a heartwarming sight to see these beautiful birds take flight after their wounds were healed by Wildlife in crisis. The Wilton Land Trust partnership with this wonderful organization shows how important it is to protect our open spaces so our animal kingdom can continue to thrive,” said Toni Boucher.

The first two Hawks found their wings seemingly instantly, catching the low breeze and powering themselves high into a position atop trees overlooking the trailhead. It was a touching moment to see the months of hard work of the Wildlife in Crisis team rewarded with such a grandeur exposition of flying talent.

Following its own toss into the sky, the third and final bird was a bit more unsteady at first. It swooped low for a moment before finding a perch in a nearby pine tree, where it remained flapping its wings for a period of time. While concerned members inquired if it would in fact be OK, the steady reassurance that all was well from the Wildlife in Crisis team was vindicated when the final hawk generated enough energy to lift itself through the tree-line and up into the clear, blue horizon, off to reclaim its position as apex predator of the New England skies.

"The work Wilton Land Trust executes in town is monumental in maintaining Wilton's beautiful open space, vibe, and feel. Under the leadership of David, not only has the Wilton Land Trust preserved land and open space, they have also created community. They bring people together, work on removing invasives, and educate people on why that matters. They restore parcels of land with native pollinators and bring in high school interns, all while fulfilling the community need to bond over a shared experience of enjoying the great outdoors. Their Books & a Blanket kids’ program is a classic example of this vision.” Farah Masani, WLT Annual Member.

Wilton Land Trust members and local leaders marveled at the grace and resilience of these magnificent creatures as they took flight, experiencing first-hand the trust's mission to restore and preserve the biodiversity of our local ecosystem.

“Seeing these amazing birds fly back to their habitat shows how delicate our environment is and how important it is to have groups like the Wilton Land Trust and Wildlife in Crisis to protect our world today and in the future,” said Ross Tartell, Wilton Board of Selectmen.

Red-tailed hawks are a populous bird of prey, patrolling the skies from as far north as Alaska all the way down to Panama on the southern end of its range. They tend to take up residence in woodland edges (where woodlands meet open land) and open woodland, though they have been noted in habitats such as deserts and grasslands. Of course, as pointed out by several WLT members, their elongated screech is quite distinctive and (at times) repetitive. While opportunistic eaters in general, their favorite snacks are small mammals, particularly rodents. As pointed out by Dara Reid, their preferred diet and habitat tend to get them in trouble in residential areas.

The Wilton Land Trust expressed its deep appreciation to its members, supporters, the Sharon Audubon Center, and the Wildlife in Crisis team for their unwavering dedication to support wildlife and conservation. The trust said it was pleased to play a role in the hawks' journey, while Wildlife in Crisis said it was great for the trust's work to preserve vital habitat for wildlife. For more information about the nonprofit Wilton Land Trust and its activities, visit www.wiltonlandtrust.org/.

To learn more about Wildlife in Crisis, visit wildlifeincrisis.org.

To learn more about The Sharon Audubon Center, visit https://sharon.audubon.org/

How can we help our feathered friends? You can help hawks and fellow wildlife survive by leaving mature trees standing and by preserving open space. Leave outdoor lights off at night, or install motion detector lights. Allow much of your lawn to revert to meadow. Install nest boxes on your property. Rid your yard of netting and other potential hazards, and provide water sources for wildlife.

Wildlife in Crisis understands the need for rodent control, but these issues can be addressed without decimating entire ecosystems. Wildlife in Crisis stated that, live traps and repellent work well, and that Vitamin D3 (Cholecalciferol) is a direct alternative to SGARs. Integrative Pest Management (IPM) is crucial in any rodent control model,” said Reid. We have found multi catch live rodent traps to be very effective to catch any mice that manage to come inside. Single catch traps work well for rats. Peppermint and cinnamon oil are effective deterrents and they smell great too! The most important thing you can do is figure out how rodents are getting into your home and block those entryways with foam, steel wool and permanent repairs.

The Wilton Land Trust takes pride in its role as guardians of the natural world, ensuring that our magnificent birds of prey have ample habitats to thrive. With 840 acres of conserved open space, 440 acres owned outright, the WLT stands as a stalwart protector, preserving vital ecosystems that serve as sanctuaries for these awe-inspiring raptors.

The Sharon Audubon Center champions bird protection in a multitude of ways, namely through stewardship, education, and advocacy.

Wildlife in Crisis is a volunteer-run, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to wildlife preservation and land conservation.