Liberty Wildlife

Central Phoenix is lucky to have a state-of-the-art facility dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of the area's injured wildlife.  Specializing in wild birds, reptiles, amphibians and small mammals, Liberty Wildlife's doors are always open to receive these distressed animals.  And several days a week they're also open for visitors to get uniquely close and personal with several of their avian residents.

The day I visited, handlers displayed a variety of birds in an open and airy ramada that also acted as an amphitheater for formal presentations.  You could get within inches of a couple American kestrels, a great-horned owl, a western screech owl and a red-tailed hawk.  Meanwhile these volunteers offered both expert and personal details on the individual birds.  For the most part, these animals can't be returned to the wild due to the nature of their injuries or handicaps.   As a result, they act as ambassadors at both the center and at off-site events.   Lucky for me they were exciting and willing photographic subjects.  The facility also had some reptiles like snakes and turtles in an indoor display.  However, it seems that birds are the star attraction on any visit here.

In addition to the display area, the grounds have a zoo-like setting with numerous outdoor cages housing additional avian guests.  All are easily reached via well-marked paths.   And in the main building,  windows are especially wide so you can peer in and see where medical care and special attention are given to  animals.

There is a nominal charge to attend these regularly scheduled open houses.  The six dollars I payed were well worth the hour I got to spend with some beautiful and needy subjects.

Male American kestrel, with handler. He's quite a small bird-of-prey, about the size of a mourning dove.

Kestrel close-up.  The grey wings indicates he's a male.

Male kestrel.

Female American kestrel, with handler.

Female kestrel close-up.

Great horned owl.

Great horned owl.

Great horned owl, as close as you can be.

Western screech owl.  You can describe him as tiny.

Western screech owl.

Western screech owl.

Red-tailed hawk.  He's the most common bird-of-prey or raptor you're apt to see in local deserts.

Red-tailed hawk close-up.

The red-tailed hawk's tail feather's are the source of his name.  Birders often call this color rufous, another word for reddish-brown.

Golden eagle in cage.

Golden eagle close-up.

Bald eagle behind bars.

Barn owl in his cage.

A Bullock's oriole through the window of the indoor medical facility.  Nearby him was a cage with hummingbirds.

A free and wild red-tailed hawk sours above Liberty Wildlife, hunting along the nearby Salt River riverbed - may all the facility's visitors be so lucky.   A special thanks to this organization for their dedicated work and education.