4th Annual Roosevelt Island Film Festival Screenings June 27 To June 30 - Showing Documentary Film "Isle Wilde" Featuring Roosevelt Island Resident And Wildlife Rehabilitator Rossana Ceruzzi

The Fourth Annual Roosevelt Island Film Festival screenings are taking place June 27 - 30 at the Main Street Theatre & Dance Alliance (548 Main Street).

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According to the Roosevelt Island Film Festival:

Roosevelt Island Film Festival is dedicated to the discovery of American and International filmmakers from around the world. The festival seeks to discover, support, and inspire quality independent feature films and short films, showcasing exceptional work to audiences and highlighting the categories of Female Filmmaker, NYC Filmmaker, Comedy, and International Filmmaker.

Among the films being shown at the Roosevelt Island Film Festival is Isle Wilde, a documentary short featuring Roosevelt Island resident and Wildlife Freedom Foundation founder Rossana Ceruzzi. 

The filmmaker Daniel Schloss reports on Instagram:

Excited to premier “Isle Wild,” a short documentary I made with @amootlevin - It follows animal rehabilitator Rossana Ceruzzi, founder of @wfffoundation , as she fights to save one of the last remaining wild areas in NYC.

Here's the Isle Wilde trailer.

According to Ms Ceruzzi:

Isle Wilde is premiering Sunday June 30 at 4:30 pm at Main Street Theatre, closing night of the Film Festival. There will be a closing party at Grannie Annie's Bar & Kitchen at 6:30 PM.

Tickets are available on the RI Film Festival website - Isle Wide is part of Block 13.

Here's more info on the Roosevelt Island Film Festival and Ms Ceruzzi rescuing an injured hawk on Main Street in 2021.

Hawk Chasing Pigeons For Lunch Flies Into Side Of Roosevelt Landings Building And Falls Onto Middle Of Main Street This Afternoon - Roosevelt Island Rushes To Help The Injured Hawk

Roosevelt Island residents and Public Safety Officers standing in the vicinity of Nisi Restaurant at about 3 PM this afternoon were shocked, amazed and surprised to hear a very loud "Plopping" sound and then saw that a Hawk fell from the sky in the middle of Main Street. 

Fortunately, the hawk did not fall on anyone but was stunned and unable to fly away, occasionally shaking one of it's wings.  

Picture From Irina Island Images

A Roosevelt Island Public Safety Officer said that the Hawk was chasing some pigeons for lunch, flew into side of the Roosevelt Landings building and fell to the ground on Main Street. The Roosevelt Island Public Safety Officers did a great job directing Main Street traffic making sure the hawk was not run over by cars and immediately called Wildlife Freedom Foundation President Rossana Ceruzzi to aid the injured hawk. Ms Ceruzzi is a NY State Wildlife Animal Rehabilitator.

As Ms Ceruzzi approached the hawk, it flew away but very low to the ground and hit a store window before flying away again to the top of the Nisi Restaurant storefront.

 

Ms Ceruzzi, with the help of Roosevelt Island Public Safety and Grounds crew, climbed up a ladder trying to aid the injured hawk.

 

After a few more minutes the hawk was able to fly up, up and away without hitting any buildings.

Ms Ceruzzi explains that the hawk received a concussion when colliding with the building but recovered and was able to fly away.
 

Today's Roosevelt Island Historical Society newsletter has a picture of what may be the hawk 

scouting for food from a Rivercross Terrace.

Roosevelt Island Girl Scouts Learn About ASPCA's Field Investigation And Response Team From Stephen Quandt, A Local Resident And Response Team Member - Girl Scouts Working On Animal Helpers Badge Too

Roosevelt Island resident Stephen Quandt works as a member of the ASPCA Field Investigation and Response Team. Last month, Mr Queandt wrote about his work:

... I work as a professional first responder for the ASPCA's Field Investigations and Response Team, a division of their Anti-Cruelty Group. The FIR Team responds nationwide to large-scale criminal cruelty cases like blood sports (dogfighting and cockfighting), hoarding cases and puppy mills often involving many hundreds of animals, sometimes thousands. We also respond to disasters like tornadoes, hurricanes, floods and fires.

I work in the Medical Dept. which involves doing everything from assisting on forensic exams (the collection of medical evidence on living animals) providing administrative support and giving treatments and medications to sick or injured animals. What I learned late in life and is so hard to explain is the profound experience of relieving suffering in others. For reasons I don't understand this deeply moving experience is not taught or given to our youth but is mysteriously saved for professional programs like medicine, ministry, counseling and the like....

Roosevelt Island Girl Scout Troop 3001 Leader Aiesha Eleusizov read Mr. Quandt's story. She asked him to speak to her Girl Scout Troop who are working on their Animal Helpers Badger.  Mr. Quandt was happy to speak with the Girl Scouts.

Ms Eleusizov reports:

Roosevelt Island resident Stephen Quandt from the ASPCA Field Investigation and Response Team visited Girl Scout Troop 3001 on November 5

to talk about the important work he does to rescue large numbers of animals around the country.

The girls learned a lot about the work of the ASPCA and the importance of caring for animals (and worked on their Animal Helpers badge!). They were inspired by his touching stories of animals he has rescued and the work of the ASPCA to help them to find new, loving homes.

We were really sad to find out how many animals have been mistreated and victims of dog fighting, cat hoarding and abuse and heartened by the huge adoption events with hundreds of animals all finding new homes in a single day. The girls were excited to learn that so many people adopt animals from shelters in NYC, that NYC is now a no-kill shelter city.

Stephen's team sent a group photo

and a shout out to our troop from his last mission.

Roosevelt Island Girl Scout Troop 3001 receive shout out from @ASPCA Field Investigation and Response Team https://t.co/Ykbrj1EAjj pic.twitter.com/BjYiXJNCiG

— Roosevelt Islander (@Rooseveltisland) November 28, 2018

The girls had fun sending a thank you shout out back to them!

Mr Quandt adds:

I had a GREAT time, it was totally uplifting and the best part of my day - a day that actually wasn't all that easy. Earlier in the day I had to take a friend's cat, a cat that I cared for very much to the vet to be euthanized - the owner being too infirm to make the trip. So to end my day with a bunch of delightfully high energy kids who were caring and kind was lovely.

You can earn more about the ASPCA's Field Investigations & Response Team at their web site and from this video.

Roosevelt Island Resident Stephen Quandt Is A First Responder For ASPCA's Anti Cruelty Group Field Investigations & Response Team - He Describes Acts Of Kindness And Shared Humanity In Small Wisconsin Town, Homemade Cupcakes Too

Roosevelt Island resident Stephen Quandt has a difficult job and sees much pain and cruelty. But he also sees and recognizes acts of kindness. Mr Quandt reports:

How is Roosevelt Island like northern Wisconsin? Perhaps it sounds like an odd comparison unless like me you have spent time in both places.

I work as a professional first responder for the ASPCA's Field Investigations and Response Team, a division of their Anti-Cruelty Group. The FIR Team responds nationwide to large-scale criminal cruelty cases like blood sports (dogfighting and cockfighting), hoarding cases and puppy mills often involving many hundreds of animals, sometimes thousands. We also respond to disasters like tornadoes, hurricanes, floods and fires.

I work in the Medical Dept. which involves doing everything from assisting on forensic exams (the collection of medical evidence on living animals) providing administrative support and giving treatments and medications to sick or injured animals. What I learned late in life and is so hard to explain is the profound experience of relieving suffering in others. For reasons I don't understand this deeply moving experience is not taught or given to our youth but is mysteriously saved for professional programs like medicine, ministry, counseling and the like.

During my first case in Wisconsin three years ago, I was on a crime scene for the first of several cockfighting cases there. We were on “a farm” of sorts for days collecting evidence, triaging and treating chickens. At one point I was in the woods under a pop-up tent in a thunderstorm helping to examine chickens. Our first chicken escaped through a hole in his coop and ran across the road never to be seen again. It was challenging work. One day perhaps to lighten our mood Sergeant Brent of the county Sheriff’s dept. brought us all cupcakes. Homemade cupcakes. Homemade by him he made a point of telling us, and not by a mix, and not by his wife. The cupcakes were all arranged on a tray, and on the icing was spelled THANKS ASPCA!

Photo by Stephen Quandt

This was my first time in Wisconsin and I was thinking “Where am I?”

Very recently I was back in Wisconsin for another cockfighting and dogfighting case involving 1700 chickens and twenty or so dogs. This would be my third trip to Wisconsin in as many years. When I got to the hotel in the small town I was staying in, I asked the hotel manager on duty if I could Uber or Lyft to the nearest grocery store for supplies. He chuckled and said that he was sorry but there was no Uber or Lyft in this town. There wasn't even a taxi company. I was completely mystified. But then he really rocked my world by saying, "If you like, you can borrow my car while I go swimming in the hotel pool after work." I stammered, "Ahhhh how long will you be swimming?" and he replied, "For about an hour." So, while my mind did somersaults I accepted his offer and again thought to myself, “Where am I?"

What I saw in Wisconsin was one farm rolling into another. Corn and soybeans being grown to within one or two feet of the edge of the properties, farmers demanding every possible ounce of produce from the soil. Our nation is fed by states like this. At first I didn't understand why the grocery stores didn't seem to have a lot of produce. Then someone explained to me that everyone grows food. That helped explain the signs by the road that said, "Free tomatoes, take as many as you want." Kindness helped explain it too. And on this trip I happily saw (now) Lieutenant Brent again.

Stephen Quandt (left) and Lieutenant Brent Standaert (right) of the St. Croix County, Wisconsin Sheriff’s department.

His school district's PTA would bring us treats!

What we share on Roosevelt Island with Wisconsin isn’t in the nightly news. It’s in our shared humanity. It’s in our ever-present opportunity to be kind.

After three trips to Wisconsin I was still asking myself the question, "Where am I?" when I finally figured out the answer.

I was in America.

Learn more about the ASPCA's Field Investigations & Response Team at their web site and from this video.



Mr Quandt has previously reported on similarities in Island life between Roosevelt Island and Little Cranberry Maine.

Help Return A Blue Jay Baby Bird To Mother In Blackwell Park Asks Roosevelt Island Wildlife Specialist

Image From Rossana Ceruzzi

Roosevelt Island resident Rossana Ceruzzi is a wildlife specialist with the Wildlife Freedom Foundation and is seeking your help today for a baby Blue Jay bird missing from Blackwell Park. Ms Ceruzzi reports:

A baby Blue Jay has been picked up by someone next to the playground at Blackwell Park. The bird must be returned asap or will succumb.

Image From Rossana Ceruzzi

His mother is looking for him!!!

Image From Rossana Ceruzzi

The baby Blue Jay should be returned to Blackwell Park. I have been monitoring the bird for 3 days since the nest fell from the tree. A second Blue Jay is in rehabilitation and this one was just fine as his mother Blue Jay was taking care of him until he went missing.

Can you help?

Red Tailed Hawk Rescued Inside Big Allis Ravenswood Power Plant Across East River From Roosevelt Island - Chases Pigeon Down Smokestack And Got Stuck

Roosevelt Island has had its share of Red Tail Hawks sightings, but so far none have required rescuing like this Hawk

Image From JPhillipOBrien2006 The Origin Of Species Blog

that got trapped inside the Big Allis TransCanada Ranvenswood Power Plant across the East River from Roosevelt Island.

Image Of Big Allis Ravenswood Power Plant Seen From Roosevelt Island

Watch A Red-Tailed Hawk Get Rescued From Inside of A Queens Power Plant http://t.co/keIZoy5hXs
— ANIMALNewYork (@ANIMALNewYork) March 31, 2015

Animal New York reports today:

... bird blogger Yojimbot recently rescued a red-tailed hawk that got trapped inside of the Ravenswood Generating Station, also known as Big Allis, on Vernon Boulevard in Long Island City. It’s a power plant capable of generating 2,480 megawatts of electricity, and no place for a hawk.

The adult male red-tail chased a pigeon down a smokestack and became trapped in a small room near the exhaust turbine...

According to Yojimbot's March 27 The Origin of Species blog report:

... As we scale up and approach the bird, it was extremely agitated. Instead of trying to chase the bird around the small enclosure, I just waited for it to flop in front of me and threw a towel over it. This worked but the sly bird squirmed between the planks and down into the enclosure beneath us. Damn! After composing myself, we looked for a way into that area but there was none, so I squeezed in between the same gap and got down to where the now furious bird was. Again I got the towel and threw it at the bird, which was now on its back. It tried to foot the towel but missed and instead grabbed its own wing. I then quickly corralled the bird but it wouldnt release its own body. Not wanting to risk further injury I climbed back up and put the hawk in the box we had. Whew...now to get down without injuring ourselves or the bird. We took our time and all 4 of us worked together to safely get back outside....

Click here to read the full Big Allis Hawk Rescue account from Yojimbot.

Here's video of the Hawk's rescue and release.

Wild Animal Found Roaming Roosevelt Island - Secured By Public Safety Without Struggle, No Injuries

According to this Roosevelt Island Public Safety Incident (PSD) incident report.

3/2/14 - 24:00 - 560 Main Street - Wild Animal - PSD responded - ASPCA Notified.

What was this wild animal found on Roosevelt Island - a lion, tiger or bear?

Image From Huffington Post

No. PSD Director Jack McManus advises that a chicken

 Roosevelt Island Chicken Roaming Behind 560 Main Street

was found roaming behind Roosevelt Landings at 560 Main Street.

Fortunately, the chicken was secured without struggle by Public Safety Officers and then fed by the Officers before being turned over to Wildlife rehab specialists.

UPDATE 3/4 - The Public Safety Department asked NY State Wildlife Rehabilitator Rossana Ceruzzi for assistance with rescue of the Roosevelt Island chicken. Ms. Ceruzzi shares these pictures

 Image From Rossana Ceruzzi

of the Roosevelt Island

Image From Rossana Ceruzzi

Chicken.

According to the NY State Department Of Environmental Conservation:

Wildlife rehabilitators aid in the care and recuperation of injured or sick wild animals. All wildlife rehabilitators are licensed by the DEC. If you find a wild animal in need of assistance, a contact list of licensed wildlife rehabilitators is offered here for your convenience.

Keep in mind:

• Rehabilitators volunteer their time to provide services to wildlife.
• Not all rehabilitators may be able to accept every injured or orphaned animal.
• No state funding is available for animal caging, veterinary care, medicine or food...

Roosevelt Island Parakeet Found Near PS/IS 217 This Afternoon- Is It Yours?

 Image of Parakeet From How Stuff Works For Illustrative Purposes Only (Not the one Found)

If you are missing a parakeet, go to the Roosevelt Island Public Safety Department and they will let you know how to get your pet returned to you.

Baby Squirrel Rescued By Roosevelt Island Wildlife Rehabilitator

Image From Frank Farance

Roosevelt Island resident Frank Farance reports on a baby squirrel tended to recently. From Mr. Farance:

Rossana Ceruzzi, Island House resident and wildlife specialist, helped rescue a baby squirrel who fell from a nest in the trees behind the church.  I don't remember the name of the man who helped her, but the two of them climbed the tree and put the squirrel back home while the baby's mother watched from a distance.  They said the family was reunited afterward.

Ms. Ceruzzi adds:

Alex is the name of the man who helped me returning the baby to the nest.

In a nutshell...this is the story.

In addition to warmth, the most important first treatment the baby squirrel needed was rehydration. The baby was about 4 weeks old.

I re-hydrated him with electrolyte fluids. Electrolyte fluids are administered to repair damage from dehydration, refill reserves, and re-establish body chemistry.

Any baby has encountered trauma by being separated from Mama: the separation may have been just a few hours but even the healthiest looking baby should first be rehydrated.

As a general advise to the readers:
When a wild baby loses its mother it is in desperate trouble. Its best chance for survival will be for a rescuer to find a wildlife rehabilitator as soon as possible.

Wildlife rehabilitators are community volunteers, licensed by State Government Wildlife Agencies.

I am very happy to be one of them!

More information on NY State Wildlife Rehabilitators available here.