Whilst on Vancouver Island last June, stopped @ the North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre, near Errington.
Founded in 1984, it's aim is "to care for the ill, injured & orphaned wildlife and to educate the public on wildlife concerns".
They run a specialist bear rehabilitation programme & try to rehabilitation of all the other wildlife bought there.
At the time of my visit, they had three, one year old, Black Bear cubs in their care. As the youngsters were being groomed for release back into the wild, contact with humans was being kept to a minimum. But, their antics in their isolated den could be watched via a 'live' video camera link. They were so funny playing together.
The Centre had one permanent resident bear, with a huge, well fenced outside territory, but he was no where to be seen - typical.
So, the only bears I got to photograph were in the Museum of Nature...
But, did see many Bald Eagles recovering from a variety of injuries. Those being rehabilitated were held in a restricted viewing flight hanger, whilst oneswhose flying abilities were so poor they couldn't be released were more visible - photo taken through glass...
Also, saw a very greedy toothy chick - LOL...
Swainson's Hawk - Elvis, who was found tethered by a rope on a balcony & is so man imprinted, he can't be released either....
And of course Brian, the Bald Eagle, the Recovery Centre's celebrity.Named after the dentist Dr Brian Andrews from Nanaimo, who gave of his time to help him. Brian's upper beak had been blown away by a gunshot, leaving just the tip attached by a thin piece of cartilage, it had to be rebuilt. Dentist Brian took various moulds & over a period of time constructed a permanent prosthesis tinted yellow to match the rest of eagles beak.
Brian's flight cage was just too floodlight with sunshine & shadow, for me to do him him photo justice, so this image comes from a postcard I bought there...
The Recovery Centre does amazing work.Camera Critters is hosted by Misty Dawn HERE
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Comments Recieved:-
Aileni said...
Great memories, Blue. The Centre does valuable work.
06 July 2008 10:32
Michele (Rocky Mtn.Girl) said...
This is a great post and this Centre does wonderful work!!I hope you are doing well and having a great weekend.
06 July 2008 10:35
i beati said...
enjoyed the post a lot
06 July 2008 11:36
Kerri said...
WOW! What a wonderful service the dentist provided to this Eagle!
06 July 2008 11:53
B. Roan said...
Brian has a mighty handsome beak. Not too sure about that toothy chick. Now that's a funny shot!
06 July 2008 12:06
Reader Wil said...
What a good post. I wholeheartedly agree with you that we should always protect animals. I am a member of WWF and Green Peace.What you do is great!
06 July 2008 13:32
babooshka said...
My kind of post. I abhore cruelty towards animals. Wll done for highlighting such a fantastic place.
06 July 2008 13:44
~TAMY 3 Sides of Crazy~ said...
I love lesson posts - thanks for sharing! Brian is beautiful!
06 July 2008 15:43
Dragonstar said...
I can't begin to imagine what my dentist would say if asked to work on an eagle's beak! That centre obviously does excellent work.
06 July 2008 17:00
Raven said...
Great photos and interesting information. That greedy chick was really cute. If you haven't visited her site, you would probably really enjoy Tracey Huston's wilderness photos.
06 July 2008 17:01
Gretchen said...
Awesome shots!
06 July 2008 20:08
Misty Dawn said...
This is a fantastic post! I'm so thankful you shared this with us!
06 July 2008 22:10
April said...
Great post on the Wildlife Recovery Centre in Errington - I'm glad you were able to see it while you were on vacation. I'm about a 14 hour drive from Vancouver - close to Prince George, B.C. I haven't seen any black bears yet this summer - sometimes we'll see them at the edge of the highway. We've only had two in our yard, close to the house, in the thirty years we've lived here. I don't really want to encounter one on the trail - I'd be petrified! Have a nice week, and thanks for stopping by earlier.
06 July 2008 22:53
Teena in Toronto said...
Looks like a fun place to visit!I played too :)
06 July 2008 23:00
B.T.Bear (esq.) said...
Ahhhhhhhh.......... I like to heer abowt peeps hoo carfter Bears!
07 July 2008 13:04
Lilli & Nevada said...
Wow these are all good but i like the close up of the last photo that is neat. Come see mine
07 July 2008 15:32
