Rufous
Eastern screech owl (Megascops asio)
Rufous was admitted into rehabilitation in 2014 as an adult bird with a left wing injury after being hit by a car. The wing had already healed improperly and was unable to be repaired, leaving him unable to fly. Since he was non-releasable, we obtained permission from USFW to have Rufous permitted as an education ambassador.
Vinny
Black vulture (Coragyps atratus)
Vinny became an avian ambassador for MWR in June 2018. A young boy found a vulture's nest and thought it would be fun to steal an egg and sneak it into his mother's chicken incubator. Vinny hatched with the rest of the chickens! The family raised him for six weeks and over time realized they could not get him to leave! Vinny is a human imprint because he had no contact with other black vultures during his first few weeks. He will depend on humans to provide food and companionship for the rest of his life, making him unreleasable. Vinny adores the attention he receives from his handlers and has a forever home with MWR.
Marshmallow
Barred owl (Strix varia)
Marshmallow was admitted to MWR as a nestling in 2022. She and her sibling had fallen from a nest where she sustained an eye injury, causing her to lose sight in one eye. Due to this injury, she was non-releasable and joined us as an Education Ambassador. Her sibling was successfully rehabilitated and released.
Rufous
Eastern screech owl (Megascops asio)
Rufous was admitted into rehabilitation in 2014 as an adult bird with a left wing injury after being hit by a car. The wing had already healed improperly and was unable to be repaired, leaving him unable to fly. Since he was non-releasable, we obtained permission from USFW to have Rufous permitted as an education ambassador.
Vinny
Black vulture (Coragyps atratus)
Vinny became an avian ambassador for MWR in June 2018. A young boy found a vulture's nest and thought it would be fun to steal an egg and sneak it into his mother's chicken incubator. Vinny hatched with the rest of the chickens! The family raised him for six weeks and over time realized they could not get him to leave! Vinny is a human imprint because he had no contact with other black vultures during his first few weeks. He will depend on humans to provide food and companionship for the rest of his life, making him unreleasable. Vinny adores the attention he receives from his handlers and has a forever home with MWR.
Marshmallow
Barred owl (Strix varia)
Marshmallow was admitted to MWR as a nestling in 2022. She and her sibling had fallen from a nest where she sustained an eye injury, causing her to lose sight in one eye. Due to this injury, she was non-releasable and joined us as an Education Ambassador. Her sibling was successfully rehabilitated and released.