Raptor expert Jaclyn DeSantis warns about dangers hawks, owls and eagles face—from us! See her recorded presentation
You can help barn owls by installing a nesting box on your property.
On November 19, Jaclyn DeSantis, education program manager at the Ojai Raptor Center presented “Wild Neighbors: Raptors, Rehabilitation, and the Human Connection” as the final talk of 2025 in COSF’s popular Speaker Series.
DeSantis is a licensed wildlife rehabilitator and she has seen at lot of injured birds during her 15 years at the Ojai Raptor Center. She says most of these heart-breaking injuries are from anthropogenic (i.e., human) causes. She notes that most of the damage is done to the victims unintentionally, with the leading causes being car strikes, window collisions, poisoning from a variety of sources including rodenticides, and entanglement with fencing, fishing line and netting. She notes, however, that the Center receives an average of two patients a month who have been shot.
She observes as well that good intentions combined with a lack of understanding about natural bird behaviors can lead to what she terms “birdnapping.” Red-tailed hawks, for example, go through a “hawkward” phase as juveniles when they prefer to sit or walk on the ground, making it appear that they are injured or disoriented. She strongly encourages anyone witnessing what they think is odd raptor behavior to check in with a rehabilitator before whisking the bird away. “What rehab is not,” says DeSantis, “is kissing and snuggling with a bird on social media. That does more harm than good. No wild animal is comforted by the presence of humans.”
As the education program manager at the 25-year-old Center, DeSantis says she hopes that their educational efforts, which reach thousands of children and adults each year, can build a better understanding of raptor behavior, respect for the majestic birds and a desire to protect their environments.
If you find a nestling who may have fallen or an adult with suspected injuries, please call the Ojai Raptor Center before attempting to intervene. You can reach the hospital unit at: 805-649-6884.
To learn more about visiting the Ojai Raptor Center on its twice monthly Saturday community days, or to learn more about raptors, please check the Center’s website.
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