Injured Kestrel Bird Healed And Released On Roosevelt Island By Wildlife Rehab Specialist Rossana Ceruzzi, President Of Wildlife Freedom Foundation - Shows How To Protect Migrating Birds From Crashing Into Hi Rise Buildings Too

An injured Kestrel bird was nursed back to health

Image From Rossana Ceruzzi

by Roosevelt Island resident Rossana Ceruzzi, a NY State and Federal licensed wildlife rehabilitator.

Image From Rossana Ceruzzi

Upon the Kestrel regaining its health, Ms Ceruzzi released the bird at Roosevelt Island's Southpoint Park on Tuesday September 29.



Ms Ceruzzi is the founder and President of the Wildlife Freedom Foundation Inc. (WFF), a non profit organization (501(c)(3) formed for the purpose of protecting and conserving wildlife and caring for stray animal populations in NYC.

According to Ms. Ceruzzi:

Among other causes, WFF works to control and reduce the population of stray cats in NYC through the Trap, Neuter, Return (TNR)  program, to get the cats adopted when possible, to provide care for stray cats who are not adopted or adoptable and advocate to prevent and end ALL forms of cruelty toward animals.

The video shows the release into the wild, after 3 days of cage rest, of an American Kestrel. Scientific Name: Falco Sparverius.

The raptor was found in distress and disoriented in the lobby of a residential building on Roosevelt Island. Many thanks to Roosevelt Island Public Safety Department for calling me promptly.

The American Kestrel was once one of the most common raptors in North America. It is in fact, the smallest and most common falcon in North America. These birds feed mainly on insects, mice and snakes, making this bird a very good friend to farmers! :)

See more about American Kestrels.

Reminder - This is Fall migration season!!

Roosevelt Island is part of The Atlantic Flyway, which many migrating birds use to reach warmer climates.

Please put decals on your windows or please draw blinds. Please make your windows visible to birds.

Some (sad) Facts:
Each migration season, twice a year, nearly one third of the bird species found in the United States, from 30 Warblers species to raptors, die by colliding with building. Roosevelt Island is not immune from this problem. Every year on RI, dozens and dozens of birds are either stunned by these collisions, seriously injured or killed.

Read more:

Architects around the world have created fantastic bird friendly structures that incorporate little or no exposed glass i.e. NYTimes building in NYC (by FX Fowle and Renzo Piano). However, designing a new structure to be bird friendly does not need to add much to the cost of construction. There are many different solutions. I am planning to submit some suggestions to both Cornell and Related in order to promote sustainable bird-friendly construction on Roosevelt Island.

An immediate "Quick Fix" for everyone:

• ABC BirdTape to make home windows safer for birds. Decals.
• It is an easy-to-apply tape that lets birds see glass while letting you see out, is easily applied.
• Visit: www.ABCBirdTape.org/

Check out more about the Wildlife Freedom Foundation at its website.