Working with the Feathered Nature Spirits

Earth day. Hail the Earth, and all her Children, and what a day its been for many of her children.

As a Druid I honour the Nature Spirits in rites, and at home. The creatures of this world, trees, plants, rocks, streams. Home has a collection of furred four legged friends, and a little bit of garden and trees, and rocks keeping me in touch with Earth Mother. The Nemeton out at the Land has aided my connection to Earth Mother in many and various ways.

Today I got a chance to actually work with a branch of the nature spirits, specifically Birds.

I got the chance to volunteer time at Tamarack Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Center in Saegertown, PA.

I was greeted by other Volunteers, Staff, and interns of the center, making it a wonderful welcome. I donned surgical gloves, and was put to work (happily by choice).

Currently they have an eagle being rehabilitated, passed to them by the Game Commission (there are pictures on Facebook of Him). I got a chance to see him briefly before his appointment with a clinic for a much needed X-Ray.

It was great to catch a glimpse, but as I explained, I wasn't there just to see the Eagle, I was there to help all of the patients. However, there cannot be very many people that can say "I cleaned up Eagle excrement" (ok, I doubt it'll be a t-shirt at any point, but hey, I was happy).

One Bluejay patient had ideas about checking out early before getting him to his new room, but we managed to safely recapture him.

I helped the group clean and redo water dishes, and feed the "seasoned" mice and rats to the wild red tail hawks and collection of owls. I got the chance to help clean the cages of the Education birds, where I was greeted with a very happy chipping Barred Owl (its not something I've heard before), a Great Horned Owl whom flew around to get a better look at me, hooting in response to one of the interns, and a a beady eye was given from the Cooper Hawk.

I also got the chance to help feed a Merlin Falcon pieces of mice guts (or rat guts.. sorry, not good with the anatomy). He was quite happy with a stranger at that point, but wasn't ready to jump to a glove. I was still honoured to be in the presence of this bird at such close proximity.

A fantastic day, that I hope I get to do again when time allows. Talk about helping out the community, and having fun.

Hail Freyja, lady of feathered cloak.
I saw a glint of you in the eyes of a bird,
An echo of you in a screech, a call
Closer than I ever thought,
and for that I am thankful and blessed.