A provided image of an American kestrel at the Bird Alliance of Oregon. Someone broke into the Portland nonprofit's wildlife care center Thursday, July 31, and released several birds, including kestrels.
Courtesy of Bird Alliance of Oregon
Police are looking for the individual who broke into the Bird Alliance of Oregon’s wildlife care center after midnight early Thursday and released several sick animals.
Authorities have video of a person forcing their way into two outdoor enclosures holding nine sick birds: a crow, three northern flickers and five kestrels.
Nonprofit director Travis Koons said they don’t know why the birds were prematurely released.
“You know they’re not just birds, they’re patients,” Koons said. “This is a deeply disturbing and serious incident.”
There is concern that at least one kestrel was killed, probably by a predator. A pile of feathers was found at the base of a nearby tree.
“Think of a human hospital where you come in for critical care. Two of these flickers had neurological trauma from glass strikes. Another animal had had an interaction with a cat.”
Koons said that, while inside, the intruder vandalized equipment, throwing around gloves, masks and kennels. The birds had been recuperating for 18 to 58 days.
Kestrel feathers gathered by investigators into a Thursday break-in at the Bird Alliance of Oregon’s wildlife care center Thursday.
Courtesy of Bird Alliance of Oregon
“Someone unlawfully entered our rehabilitation facility and interfered with the medical care of protected wild animals — actions that may constitute violations of both state and federal wildlife laws, including the Migratory Bird Treaty Act,” Koons said in a statement.
One crow had fallen out of a nest after a storm. A flicker had spinal trauma from flying into a window. And one of the baby kestrels had lost its parents.
“These birds were in our care recovering from injuries, and their unauthorized release is not only a tragic disruption of their treatment but likely harmful to the individuals who had not been deemed ready to return to the wild,” Koons said.
Vandalized equipment at the Bird Alliance of Oregon’s wildlife care center.
Courtesy of Bird Alliance of Oregon
The center is the busiest wildlife rehabilitation hospital in the region, treating between 4,000 and 5,000 animals each year. The spring and summer are its busiest seasons.
“We are cooperating fully with law enforcement and wildlife authorities and are taking every step to ensure this does not happen again,” Koons said.
Rehabilitation services are free. The nonprofit relies on donations.
