The Raptor Trust

The Raptor Trust is a wild bird rehabilitation center located in Millington, New Jersey, United States and surrounded by the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge.

History

Len Soucy became interested in hawks after a visit to the Hawk Mountain Sanctuary in Pennsylvania in 1964. In 1968, he acquired 14 acres in Millington, and with the help of his family started to take care of injured raptors in their backyard. Over time their efforts became known, a bird hospital was added, and by the end of the seventies, hundreds of different birds were annually brought in to be taken care of, supported by the privat efforts of the Soucy family. In 1982, "The Raptor Trust" was founded as a non-profit organization to provide the organizational and financial infrastructure for the mission, namely to provide free care for orphaned and injured birds, to educate people about birds, especially birds of prey, and to set an example of humane conduct. [The Raptor Trust: The Raptor Trust Story. Public brochure, published by the Raptor Trust (1996)]

Today

Currently the organization contains an infirmary, educational facilities, a gift shop, and a large complex of some 70 cages and aviaries for recuperating birds that will be released and for providing refuge to unreleasable birds. [Carney, Leo H. [http://select.nytimes.com/search/restricted/article?res=FB0E15FD345C0C718CDDA90994DB484D81 "ENVIRONEWS"] , "TThe New York Times", October 2, 1983. Accessed January 19, 2008.] About 100 hawks, eagles, and owls are permant residents of the trust. A number of unreleasable birds have bred successfully. Unreleasable birds also can serve as forster parents to younger birds. Visitors can view the many unreleasable birds of prey of the facility at close range.

References

External links

* [http://www.raptortrust.org Official Web Site of The Raptor Trust]