Thank you!

2011 year-end highlights

Thank you to all our donors, education bird sponsors, those who requested a program, our supporters on various social media pages, board members, and our volunteers! Each and every one of you plays a role in SOAR's continued success.

I wish I could say that every patient was a success story and that every day was happy and positive. But we both know that wildlife rehabilitation is not easy, not for the faint of heart, and not always successful. I hope that every person, including you, can take away something positive from a SOAR education program with a live raptor, meet-and-greet at a public event, or from reading the website. This year I have learned the power of our online supporters.

Your contributions of time, talent, supplies, and money in 2011 have helped support...

• The care and feeding of over 140* raptor patients - 17 different species,
• The ongoing care and feeding of 14 different species of education raptors, and
• Educational programming that reached over 10,000 people.

2011 Successes

• Over 150 people turned out at Phelps Park in Decorah, Iowa on 22 October to watch the release of the "Decorah Juvenile" bald eagle (picture at right), a 16 September patient.
• 6th year of the osprey reintroduction project at nearby Whiterock Conservancy, five young hacked in 2011, with a total of 30 osprey hacked since 2006.
• SOAR received a Resource Enhancement and Protection - Conservation Education Program grant to develop a "Hunting Lead-Free" handout, used at hunter education classes, public events, and has been shared with many wildlife professionals and conservation organizations across the country.
• A March bald eagle patient recovered from lead poisoning, but had limited vision, and could not be released to the wild. Welcome Thora, our newest education eagle. This eagle has become our messenger in our efforts to remove lead from ammunition.
• Overwhelming support on Facebook helped SOAR stay in the top 100 vote-getters in the Chase Community Giving event held in November. This $25,000 grant will be received in 2012. We're still in a bit of shock over this!

2011 Patient Highlights

• Over 130 raptors admitted 1 January through 23 December 2011*,
• 12 other birds admitted - four of these plus one holdover from 2010 were released,
• 62 raptors rehabilitated and released in 2011*, and
• 13 non-releasable raptors placed / pending placement with other USFWS education permit holders.

2011 Program Highlights

• SOAR volunteer, Christina Roelfs, at the 2011 Clive Festival. Photo by CE Hansen

  SOAR conducted over 55 days of educational programs and events - reaching over 10,000 people, including students and their classroom teachers.
• SOAR was at the 2011 National Izaak Walton League meeting in Des Moines talking about the impacts of lead on raptors. Thora and a peregrine falcon were the "spokesbirds" that evening. The Ikes went on to pass a resolution encouraging the use of non-lead ammunition and fishing tackle.
• Presented summary results of the effectiveness of the Hunting Lead-Free handout in explaining the impacts of lead-based ammunition on wildlife and human health at the 2011 Midwest Fish and Wildlife Association conference.

A special thanks needs to go to other folks that help SOAR's efforts to rehabilitate injured birds. Those include other wildlife rehabilitators in the state; other non-profit education groups like Raptor Resource Project and Whiterock Conservancy; county conservation board and Iowa DNR staff for helping the injured birds get to SOAR; and especially to our veterinarians, Dr. Struve and Dr. Riordan at Manning Veterinary Associates, and Dr. Dirks from Dickinson County Small Animal Clinic. If you have a chance, please thank these folks.

Plans for 2012 include...

• Purchase and install a walk-in freezer for improved food storage capability,
• Expand educational programming availability, and
• Update technological capabilities at educational events and for monitoring of patient rehabilitation and veterinary care.

2011 was truly a remarkable year. It was a year in which the reach and awareness of SOAR suddenly expanded dramatically thanks to one bird. But it really wasn't one bird. It was one bird bringing attention to the work at SOAR that has always gone on. This has been a humbling and gratifying experience. And as I noted, the Chase grant will allow the work to expand and grow. But most of all, this wouldn't be possible without all of you. Your support, your interest and our shared desire to see these amazing creatures remain a part of our world are what make this all possible. And I hope your support and interest will continue in 2012 and beyond!

With my heartfelt thanks,

Kay Neumann
Executive Director

*Disclaimer: the required 2011 U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service rehabilitation and education reports are not yet complete, so the numbers reported are not year-end totals.

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