The Bird of Prey Health Group (BPHG) is an inter-professional health group dedicated to the health and well-being of birds of prey (raptors). For twenty-five years this organization has concentrated on providing state of the art medical evaluation and therapy for injured birds of prey. Providing the much-needed medical evaluations along with developing advances in rehabilitation techniques, this organization has earned a stellar reputation for comprehensive care of injured wild birds of prey.
Bird of Prey Health Group sponsors:
The Local Program----partnering with local wildlife groups throughout California to provide complete medical care to injured birds of prey. BPHG provides medical diagnostics, treatment regime and rehabilitation strategy for release a well as continuing to receive and treat all eagles and birds of prey requiring special handling and care.
BPHG Free Flight Conditioning Program---Unique to BPHG this program utilizes general and master falconers for evaluation of raptors needing special handling or evaluation which a flight chamber cannot provide. Species of raptors entering this program range from Red-Tailed Hawks, Kestrels, Barn owls, Great Horned Owls, Swainson’s Hawks, Goshawks, Coppers Hawk, Sharp Shinned Hawk, Merlins, Peregrine Falcons, Bald and Golden Eagles. The falconer’s role is to work with the raptor and evaluate the raptor’s free flight and ability to survive in the wild. To date, more than 200 raptors have been evaluated by falconers through this program. If the raptor is deemed non-releasable and the bird's behavior and adjustment to captive life is acceptable, efforts are made to place the bird with a qualified educational facility.
Committee for Eagle Rehabilitation Excellence (CERE) The BPHG's partnership with CERE has created a working document regarding Golden Eagle Rehabilitation. Identifying the differences between the Bald and Golden Eagle, their behaviors, flight style and terrain in which they live, has led to specific training techniques for the fledgling Golden Eagle arriving at the rehabilitation center to ensure their success once released. Trained by master falconers, these eagles are taught to ride the thermals, soar ad hunt game successfully before release. This program includes daily data collection on flight performance during the training process and long-term surveillance upon release.
An inter-professional group transforming health care for birds of prey.
OUR MOST PRESSING NEEDS
- Secure monetary funding so that complete medical evaluations can be provided to injured birds of prey being referred to Bird of Prey Health Group (BPHG)
Raptors arriving at Bird of Prey Health Group are often referred from wildlife rehabilitation centers throughout California. These are the raptors that require extensive medical diagnostics and treatments to give them the chance they deserve. Often, the injuries sustained are due to human interactions such as vehicular trauma, poisonings, electrocutions, shootings, illegal leg hold traps and window strikes to name a few. The diagnostic medical evaluation can exceed $500 dollars for each bird, not including surgeries or fracture repairs. BPHG is committed to ensuring that each raptor is given a full evaluation, so the proper medical decisions can be made.
-Purchasing GPS surveillance telemetry units to monitor the activity of the young golden eagles as they prepare for release.
Rehabilitation of eagles is time consuming and expensive. These magnificent raptors require special housing and handling. BPHG is noted for their ability to achieve success with the eagles, however rehabilitation of young Golden Eagles requires extra time and conditioning. With the help of Master falconers, the young Goldens are taught to fly in the wind, soar and ride thermals in preparation for release. Because Goldens are solitary and not found in large groups like the Bald Eagle, the GPS monitoring system will help BPHG to track conditioning progress as the eagles are prepared for release.
- Increased housing for the eagles
As environmental stressors increase (wildlife fires and loss of habitat, sustainable prey items decreasing in numbers and effects of viral infections) more eagles are arriving to wildlife rehabilitation centers. As a center for eagle referrals, the BPHG is in great need of expanding housing for the eagles, both in flight chambers and individual chambers designed for eagles to recover from their illness or injuries.
Organization name
Bird of Prey Health Group
2000
Tax id (EIN)
68-0216298
Mission Category
Animal Related
Operating Budget
$0-$50,000
Organization Need
Funding: Program
Demographics Served
Animals
Local Counties Served
Placer
Address
3985 FOOTHILLS BLVDPlacer, CA, US
Sacramento, CA, US
Sutter, CA, US
Yolo, CA, US
El Dorado Hills, CA, US
