Edie

This is Edie, the American Kestrel. She's an Education Ambassador at The Wildlife Center of Virginia. Here is her story:

Edie came to the Wildlife Center in May 2005. She was found as an orphan in Roanoke, Virginia after her nest tree was damaged in a storm. She was kept by her rescuers for several days before being taken to a local wildlife rehabilitator. After several weeks of observation at the Wildlife Center, our veterinary staff determined that she was imprinted on humans. Young birds visually imprint on their caregiver and thereafter identify with that species for life; Edie was with her rescuers during this critical imprinting stage of her life. Due to the behavioral changes brought on by her imprinting, Edie cannot be released back into the wild.

I was over there this afternoon for another one of those photography classes that culminated in an opportunity to photograph a bunch of the Education Animals. I did an earlier one last June. Great fun!