Educate RehabilitateConserve

Volunteers Should...•Conduct themselves in a professional manner and be respectful of others

•Follow the proper chain of command when reporting issues

•Abide by all SRC policies, for example, the dress code & photo policies, as well as any other instruction given by SRC staff members

•Complete their assigned tasks and not assign those tasks to anyone else (with the exception of shift leaders)

•Maintain a professional decorum in inter-actions with other volunteers, the public, SRC staff members, and guests

•Obtain permission from a supervisor before bringing guests to the SRC•In case of emergency, call Eva Mathews at (334) 321-7589 or Liz Crandell at (334) 321-7760

Volunteer Benefits•You play a key role in rehabilitating birds of prey back to health•You get to participate in releases

•You can receive letters of recommendation for your service•You receive a rewarding experience working with birds of prey•You learn

SRC GoalsRehabilitationThe SRC rehabilitates between 250 and 300 injured, ill, or orphaned raptors annually.

EducationThe SRC holds public releases and events focusing on how humans impact local raptor populations.

ConservationThe SRC aims to protect natural resources, including animal and plant species. SRC event attendees are taught about human impact reduction to aid in future habitat protection.

Handling•You are working with WILD birds of prey; proper restraining techniques are important for your own safety as well as the birds’ safety. •When handling a bird, be sure to have a partner present and be re-spectful of the animal’s well-being. •If the bird seems stressed or aggres-sive, do not handle it without permis-sion. •ALWAYS wear gloves when feeding. Smaller birds may call for gardening or rubber gloves.•Always read the cards by the cages and follow any restrictions on them!•Proper raptor restraint calls for fac-ing your palm toward the bird. This allows for complete control over the bird’s talons to decrease risk of injury.

•Be sure to support the bird’s neck and bring in their wings once they are restrained. •With your palm facing down, place your index finger between the bird’s leg using your thumb and third finger to secure around the outside. •Take your other hand and reach behind the bird’s head to securely support the bird’s head and wings.

Orphan CareOrphan birds (either newly hatched or juveniles) should be handled with care to avoid imprinting and stress. When handling please follow the necessary precautions.

Feeding: Depending on the species, orphans will need to be fed anywhere from every ten minutes to every two to three hours. On your shifts, check with the staff to see when feeding is neces-sary. Always wear provided camo-gear when hand-feeding orphans.

Handling: Do not pick up the orphans unless instructed. Do not take pictures or talk in areas where orphans are present.

SafetyVolunteers should abide by the following guidelines:

•Wear appropriate gloves when handling raptors. Only use designated gloves to avoid cross-contamination•Wash hands frequently and decontaminate feet with disinfectant solution when directed•Do not enter the educational building or participate in same-day educational programs if you have been to rehabilitation•Wear closed-toed shoes, jeans, and refrain from wearing excessive and/or dangling jewelry

*See handling panel for safe raptor handling techniques

Since its founding in 1971, the Southeastern

Raptor Center has treated and released

thousands of birds of prey back into the wild.

Southeastern Raptor CenterVolunteer Information

1. B

lack

Vul

ture

: BLV

U (C

orag

yps a

tratu

s) O

ne o

f the

larg

est r

apto

rs y

ou w

ill se

e at

the

cent

er, a

nd p

ossib

ly th

e m

ost m

isund

erst

ood.

Th

eir d

efini

ng tr

aits

are

thei

r bla

ck co

lor a

nd b

are-

blac

k he

ad.

2. A

mer

ican

Kes

trel

: AM

KE

(Fal

co sp

arve

rius)

The

smal

lest

falc

on a

nd o

ne o

f the

smal

lest

rapt

ors a

t cen

ter.

Thei

r defi

ning

trai

ts a

re

smal

l siz

e, bl

ack

vert

ical

line

s on

the

sides

of t

he fa

ce, a

nd ru

sty-

brow

n to

p co

lor.

Mal

es h

ave

slate

-blu

e w

ings

whi

le fe

mal

es h

ave

red-

dish

-bro

wn

win

gs.

3. R

ed-S

houl

dere

d H

awk:

RSH

A (B

uteo

line

atus

) A m

ediu

m-s

ized

haw

k. Th

eir d

efini

ng tr

aits

are

a re

ddish

bre

ast w

ith d

ark

brow

n-an

d-w

hite

chec

kere

d w

ings

.4.

Red

-Tai

led

Haw

k: R

THA

(But

eo ja

mai

cens

is) O

ne o

f the

larg

est h

awks

at th

e ce

nter

. Thei

r defi

ning

trai

t is a

cinn

amon

-red

tail.

Im-

mat

ure

haw

ks h

ave

brow

n-ba

nded

tails

unt

il th

ey re

ach

two

year

s of a

ge.

5. B

road

-Win

ged

Haw

k: B

WH

A (B

uteo

pla

typt

erus

) One

of t

he sm

alle

st h

awks

at th

e ce

nter

. Thei

r defi

ning

trai

ts a

re a

shor

t, st

ocky

sh

ape

with

a b

lack

-and

-whi

te b

ande

d ta

il. Im

mat

ure

haw

ks a

re li

ghte

r in

colo

r. 6.

Am

eric

an B

ald

Eagl

e: B

AEA

(Hal

iaee

tus l

euco

ceph

alus

) The

larg

est s

peci

es o

f rap

tor y

ou w

ill se

e at

the

cent

er. Th

eir d

efini

ng tr

ait i

s a

whi

te cr

est a

nd ta

il. Im

mat

ure

bald

eag

les h

ave

dark

hea

ds a

nd ta

ils, w

hich

turn

whi

te w

hen

they

reac

h fiv

e ye

ars o

f age

. 7.

Gre

at H

orne

d O

wl:

GH

OW

(Bub

o vi

rgia

nus)

The

larg

est s

peci

es o

f ow

l you

will

see

at th

e ce

nter

. Thei

r defi

ning

trai

ts a

re lo

ng, e

ar-

like

tufts

on

the

tops

of t

heir

head

s and

brig

ht, y

ello

w e

yes.

8. B

arre

d O

wl:

BDO

W (S

trix

var

ia) A

med

ium

-siz

ed o

wl.

Thei

r defi

ning

trai

ts a

re li

ght-

brow

n-an

d-w

hite

spec

kled

colo

r, st

ocky

fram

e, an

d ro

unde

d ta

il. Th

eir c

all i

s kno

wn

to so

und

like,

“Who

cook

s for

you

?”9.

Bar

n O

wl:

BNO

W (T

yto

alba

) A m

ediu

m-s

ized

ow

l. Th

eir d

efini

ng tr

aits

are

a w

hite

hea

rt-s

hape

d fa

ce, p

ale

colo

r, an

d da

rk e

yes.

10. E

aste

rn S

cree

ch O

wl:

EASO

(Otu

s asio

) The

smal

lest

spec

ies o

f ow

l you

will

see

at th

e ce

nter

. Thei

r defi

ning

trai

ts a

re a

shor

t, st

ocky

fram

e, la

rge

head

, and

smal

l ear

-like

tufts

. Thei

r col

ors r

ange

from

a g

ray

to a

dee

p ci

nnam

on re

d.11

.Tur

key

Vultu

re: T

UV

U (C

atha

rtes

aur

a) S

imila

r to

BLV

U, t

his i

s one

of t

he la

rges

t rap

tors

you

will

see

at th

e ce

nter

. Thei

r defi

ning

tr

aits

are

a la

rge

win

g sp

an a

nd b

are

red

head

. *S

ee P

DF

for m

ore

spec

ies a

nd in

-dep

th d

escr

iptio

ns.

4 3 2 1

5 6

7 8 9 10 11

Falco

ner’s

Kno

t