LENOX, Mass. — Come meet Tom Ricardi and some of his patients. 

 

Ricardi, 83, is the owner, operator and principal behind the Birds of Prey Rehabilitation Center. Learn about the care and rehabilitation of birds of prey. at a demonstration to be held at the New Barn at Mass Audubon's Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary on Sept. 11.

 

The Hoffmann Bird Club Monthly Meeting starts at 4:30 pm with a presentation at 5:45 pm.

 

Bring binoculars and a side dish or dessert to share.  Beverages are provided by the Club. Bring your own place setting and utensils to help lighten the impact on the sanctuary.  

 

The New Barn, Mass Audubon's Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary is located at 472 W Mountain Road.

 

According to a press release:

 

Caring for injured birds has always been a labor of love for Tom Ricardi. But lately it seems more laborious than ever.  

 

"It used to be a great, fun thing to do," he said. "But now it's a job.  A 24/7 job."  

 

From his yard on a hilltop deep in the woods of Conway, Ricardi cares for many falcons, owls, eagles and other raptors that have been injured in some way, usually as a direct consequence of encountering humankind.  Since retiring in 2001 after a 38-year career with the Massachusetts Environmental Police, Ricardi has been the Western Massachusetts go-to resource for injured birds of prey.  Several dozen times a year, police departments across the region call to say an officer on patrol has found an injured owl, eagle or red-tailed hawk.  They ask if Ricardi can come by and have a look, and he always does.

 

"I do a lot of work with local animal control and (the Massachusetts Division of) Fisheries and Wildlife," he said.  "I usually rescue between 125 and 150 birds a year.  Birds coming in, birds being released.  There's always birds here."

 

He has about 50 birds in the 28 enclosures on his property at any given time. 

 

The injured birds that recover the ability to fly are tended to and eventually released back into the wild.  Those that are permanently disabled with an injured wing that doesn't heal right or damaged vision, become his resident guests, remaining under his care for the rest of their natural lives.