At 11:30 AM 7/22/96 -0700, Tom wrote:
>

>
> I like this aspect a lot..and as I raised the point in other
> posts, I still pose the question whether full time activity
> of this sort for the people involved in rehabbing, wouldn't be more
> helpful in the long run than the rehabbing effort itself? As I said
> earlier, I'm still trying to get a handle on this one..
>

Ah ha! Now I understand some of what you're getting at (sorry - really
lousy weekend - put me on the offensive). Yes, I agree, I think educating
the public is definitely a better solution. However, in the meantime I
still believe rehab is a good thing. I guess, in a sense, you're right
about it making the rehabber feel good. But for us it goes a bit farther.
Having tried to save redwoods, scenic rivers, etc. and failed, we now rehab
because we believe it's one small part of the ecology we CAN influence.

As a matter of fact, I'm involved in the grant writing for Willamette
Wildlife and I was amazed to find how many foundations do offer grants for
the purpose of setting up full-time educational programs. I know Monterey
Bay Aquarium has one and it is full-time and ongoing. We are looking into
that as well, but finding people willing to volunteer to do that kind of
work in Eugene is like pulling teeth.

>> The problem is that there are alot of old wives tales out there. The
>> biggest being that if you handle a baby bird the parents will "smell" your
>> scent and abandon it. This, of course, isn't true (unless you happen to
>> find a vulture). But most people believe it to be gospel. These are the
>> kinds of things we try to correct.
>>
> I have heard that one, but in reference to baby seals on the beach.
>

There are loads of them. People think otter pups are abandoned because the
mother has left them floating on the seaweed. They pick them up and bring
them in. Unfortunately, we could put them back but no one remembers where
they found them!

Amazingly, people bring fawns into shelters because they were "abandoned" by
their mother. Fortunately, in most cases these folks remember where they
found them - but not always.

We get calls from people who are convinced they have a bald eagle. It turns
out to be a chicken.

We've got a L--O--N--G way to go.


t...the education in this area seems low
> profile and every time I've been to MacLeary, everyone there is
> burned out and busy...

Burned out pretty much summarizes this time of year!



>
> What if I ignored the bird, sent $10 to Black Hills
> Audubon or Mike Waller for Zoo outreach to schools,
> and picked up trash on the highway for an hour? :)
>
Nope, won't let you off that easy!!!!(grin)

peggi



Peggi Rodgers
Oregon Research Institute
Eugene, OR
peggir at ori.org
prodgers at efn.org
"A bird does not sing because it has an
answer, It sings because it has a song"