Recent and Upcoming Releases

Recent Releases

Throughout the year Audubon Society of Portland's Wildlife Care Center releases rehabilitated injured or orphaned wildlife back out into the wild. Listed below are some of the recent wildlife releases. Please check back to our website periodically to learn about past and upcoming releases.

September 15th: Release of two Red-tailed Hawks at Rex Hill Winery

A beautiful day, a beautiful site, and two hawks released back to the wild after spending the summer rehabilitating in the Wildlife Care Center – what could be better?  On Monday, Sept. 15th, Care Center staff and volunteers joined the owners, staff and wine club members at Rex Hill Winery, for the successful release of two Red Tail Hawks.

The hawks both came into the Wildlife Care Center in June; both having been hit by a car in the Newburg area. A juvenile born this past spring was the first to arrive.  She was hit just south of Newburg and the person who brought her in noted that another hawk was seen sitting very close by and may have been a parent still helping its youngster learn to hunt.  Three days later, an adult Red Tail came in who had been hit by a car just a mile or two from the winery and was brought to the Wildlife Care Center.  Both birds suffered head injuries and the younger bird also suffered an injury to one wing.  After being treated for their immediate problems in the Care Center’s hospital and taking several weeks to regain their strength and balance, both birds were moved to a 100 foot flight cage.  As we did not know if the younger bird knew how to hunt or had practiced enough to develop some proficiency, we paired her with the older female so that she could learn to hunt by example.  It seemed to work well as both birds were hunting successfully prior to release.

Rex Hill Winery was chosen as a release site because of its proximity to the site where the older bird was found and both birds were released together so that the younger bird could have a coach for its first few days in the wild.  The afternoon stayed clear and relatively cool, the winery offered the setting of a beautiful garden and the backdrop of a large stand of fir trees.  In front of a crowd of approximately 50 people, Wildlife Care Center volunteer, John Edwards, and Rex Hill Winery partner, Deb Hatcher, released the hawks back to the wild.  The juvenile bird flew straight into the nearby stand of trees and perched while the adult took a large loop over the winery crowd before doing the same.

Thanks to Rex Hill Winery for offering such a beautiful site for a great release!

July 22nd: Release of Two Great Horned Owls

The Wildlife Care Center released two Great Horned Owls, a juvenile and an adult, in Lake Oswego at the Bryant Woods Nature Park.  Great-Horned Owls are one of the more common and widely distributed North American owls.  They are found in the Portland Metropolitan area in our larger natural areas.

The juvenile Great Horned Owl was brought to Audubon’s Wildlife Care Center in mid-April, after being found cold, weak and dehydrated at the base of a tree.  It was not able to be reunited with its parents and has been raised by staff and volunteers since that time.  The adult Great Horned Owl was found late at night in mid-May on the side of Childs Rd. in Lake Oswego, and sustained head injuries consistent with being hit by a vehicle.  It was treated for its injuries and spent the a few weeks continuing to recover as well as helping to teach the younger Great Horned Owl how to fly and hunt in a large, 100-foot flight cage.

October 26th: Bald Eagle Released at University of Portland

Audubon Society of Portland released an adult female bald eagle at University of Portland. The injured eagle was originally rescued at University of Portland and may have be part of a pair that has been repeatedly observed on the campus over the past year.

Portland Audubon Wildlife Care Center first received notice of two Bald Eagles down on the ground at University of Portland campus around 9 am on Thursday, October 18^th. Steve Kolmes, director of the Environmental Studies Program at University of Portland reported that the two eagles were in the middle of a campus quad—one bird appeared to be dead and the second bird was standing on top of it unable to fly.

Portland Audubon Care Center staff Bob Sallinger and Karen Munday, along with US Fish and Wildlife Special Agent Jim Stinebaugh responded. The two eagles were likely fighting in a territorial dispute which resulted in them locking talons and crashing to the ground together. One eagle had died with its talons firmly locked into the other eagle’s thigh, preventing it from flying away. The injured eagle was captured and brought to the Wildlife Care Center for assessment and treatment. Dr. Deb Sheaffer, Staff Veterinarian and Care Center Manager, examined the eagle and found multiple punctures on its right leg and a large puncture to its beak. The eagle’s wounds were cleaned and she was treated with antibiotics and supportive care. After a few days the eagle was placed in a flight cage to rebuild her strength and was released on the 26th.

September 9th: Three Barn Owls Released at CREST in Wilsonville

The Wildlife Care Center released three young barn owls back into the wild. These three barn owls were each brought into the Wildlife Care Center as youngsters and were not able to be returned to their nest either because of injury or because of the circumstances of their capture.  One of the owls was rescued from the 99W bridge over the Tualatin River.  The young owl had become entangled in fishing line and was found its nest on the underside of the bridge. The owl suffered injuries from fishing line on its legs and feet.  The second young owl was found in a nest inside of a bale of hay that was delivered to a hay processing plant.  By the time the owl was discovered there was no way to track the original origin of the bale of hay and return the young to its nest.  The third owl was found orphaned in a Milwaukie industrial area and was extremely weak and thin. These three owls were raised at our Wildlife Care Center and have learned to hunt and fly in a 100 x 30 foot flight cage.

 August 16, 2007: Four Barn Owls Released at Sauvie Island

Audubon Society of Portland will released four young barn owls back into the wild. These four barn owls where brought to Wildlife Care Center after they had been discovered in a bale of hay. The hay bale with the four baby Barn Owls was trucked from a farm in Prineville, OR to Canby, OR where the owls were discovered. With no way to return the young owls to their parents they were raised at the Wildlife Care Center. They were released on Sauvie Island at Kruger’s Farm Market. 

August 5, 2007: Bald Eagle Released after being Rescued from Sludge

Audubon Society of Portland released an adult male bald eagle at Elk Cove Vineyards near Gaston, Oregon on Sunday, August 5^th. The eagle spent two weeks recovering at the Portland Audubon Wildlife Care Center after being rescued from a muddy demise.

Early on the morning of July 26^th, Stimson Lumber employee, Ryan Grant discovered an adult bald eagle immersed up to its neck in liquid mud in the middle of Stimson’s wood processing waste treatment pond at its facility in Forest Grove. The Pond had recently been drained of water leaving behind 4-6 feet of non-toxic sludge with the consistency of cold chocolate pudding. The eagle apparently misjudged the solidity of the landscape and became entrapped.

By mid morning it was apparent that the eagle was completely immobilized and unable to escape and Stimson employees contacted Audubon Society of Portland. Audubon staffers, Karen Munday and Bob Sallinger immediately headed out to the site. After some deliberation as to how to reach the eagle, which was located approximately 100 feet from the bank, a rowboat was settled on as the most likely vehicle. Audubon staffer, Bob Sallinger and Stimson Lumber employee, Tim Davis, used a 12-foot metal pole to slowly inch the boat through the viscous sludge. The eagle was hauled on board bringing with it more than its own body weight (9 pounds) in sticky, brown goop.

The eagle was immediately transferred to the Portland Audubon Wildlife Care Center where it was first treated for shock and later received two washings. The eagle spent a few days in our 100-foot flight cage rebuilding his strength and getting ready to go back into the wild. 

January 1, 2007: Red-taile Hawk Released at Luscher Farms in Lake Oswego

This Red-tailed Hawk was rescued from the Muck of Lake Oswego.  In early December the Wildlife Care Center received a call from a concerned citizen in Lake Oswego. The lake had been drained to allow for maintenance work and a beautiful red-tailed hawk appeared to be trapped in the foot-deep mud in the middle of the lake bed. That evening, Audubon staff veterinarian, Deb Sheaffer attempted to rescue the hawk, but arrived too late in the day to find the bird in the falling darkness. The following morning Audubon Staff Wildlife Specialist, Karen Munday and longtime volunteer, Lynn Sweeney tried again, and this time they were successful. They waded through the rocks and mud to the middle of the lake bed and found the adult, female hawk still struggling. She was most likely attempting to catch prey when she became mired in the muck.  (Photo Rebecca Richardson)

The hawk arrived at the Care Center with thick mud covering over almost her entire body.  Once the hawk was stabilized it was given a series of three baths. The hawk was released at Luscher Farm in Lake Oswego by Ron Spencer, Portland Audubon Board Member. (Photo Mandy Sims)

October 29th, 2006: Release of Peregrine Falcon at Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge

This peregrine was found injured in Northeast Portland on September 29th possibly from a collision with a car or power line. The “hatch year” female was probably on her very first migration and may very well have been on here way to one of our local wetlands such as Oaks Bottom or Smith and Bybee Lakes to pass the winter. She spend approximately one month at Audubon recovering from injuries to her eyes, her wing and small wounds on her body.

September 24th, 2006: Release of Female Bald Eagle and Frenchman's Bar Park in Vancouver, WA

The Wildlife Care Center released a five-year old, female bald eagle at Frenchman’s Bar in Vancouver, Washington. The eagle had spent nearly six months at the Wildlife Care Center recovering from a badly fractured wing.  

She was originally observed on April 13, 2006, unable to fly and dragging a wing on a small island located in wetlands owned by the Port of Vancouver. The injured eagle was reported to Audubon Society of Portland and Audubon Urban Conservation Director, Bob Sallinger responded, wading out to the island and capturing the eagle. The cause of injury remains unknown.

Repairing the eagle’s badly broken wing was a joint effort between the Audubon Society of Portland and Rock Creek Veterinary Hospital. Dr. David Barno at Rock Creek performed several exams and surgeries on the injured bird over the course of the ensuing months. Audubon staff and volunteers provided day-to-day care and treatment. In early summer, metal stabilizing devices were removed from the eagle’s wing and she was transferred to a 100-foot long flight cage to allow her to exercise and build strength. Initially unable to fly from months of being held in a small cage to allow the wing to heal, she gradually regained flight ability over the course of July and August. By mid September she was tearing holes in the roof of the flight cage with powerful flights towards the sky.

Bald eagles are still listed as “Threatened” under the Federal Endangered Species Act. There are currently more than two-dozen pairs nesting in the Portland-Vancouver Region (including Sauvie Island and Ridgefield Wildlife Refuges.) Bald eagle populations in Oregon peak in late February and early March as nesting pairs return to their territories and migrants pass through the state. Many of these birds utilize our local wetlands and wildlife areas. Vancouver Lake Lowlands, Oaks Bottom, Smith and Bybee Lakes and Sauvie Island provide valuable habitat for wintering, migrating and nesting bald eagles. (Photos by Rebecca Richardson)

September 3rd, 2006: Two Red-tailed Hawks Released at Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve

The Wildlife Care Center released two young Red-tailed Hawks back into the wild.  Both Red-tailed Hawks were brought to the care center earlier this year as young and were not able to be returned to their parents.  The first was found with a fractured wing and required medical treatment.  The second was found on the ground dehydrated and underweight in Pier Park in North Portland.  

August 10th, 2006: Two Great Horned Owls Released at Smith and Bybee Wetlands Natural Area

Both these Great Horned Owls were brought to the care center earlier this year as young and were not able to be returned to their parents.  The first was found as a small nestling after the nest was disturbed.  It was dehydrated, cold and weak when it was found off the side of a trail.  The second owl was mistakenly rescued during its normal fledging process after being found on the ground.  They were raised in the Wildlife Care Center and released back into the wild after learning to hunt and fly in captivity. (Photos by Rebecca Richardson)

May 4, 2006: Osprey Release at Metro's Oxbow Regional Park

This Osprey was found by an angler at Oxbow park with a fish hook embedded in its leg and fishing line wrapped around its wing.  The Osprey was captured and taken to the Wildlfie Care Center where it was treated for several weeks until it was was ready for release.  A crowed of 50 second grade students were able to watch the release. (Photos: Monty Woods)

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