Kestrel flees from Sharon Audubon Center

SHARON — An American kestrel escaped from the Sharon Audubon Center around noon on Monday, March 21, and had not been found at presstime. At 7 to 8 inches long, the bird is the smallest falcon species in North America. The bird escaped when the door to his cage blew open while a volunteer was feeding the birds and cleaning the cages. The Audubon Center is now conducting a search of the entire area. Flyers have been posted around Sharon, and local businesses have been notified of the escaped bird. Audubon has even taken out radio and newspaper advertisements notifying the public of the fugitive. The missing bird has lived at the Sharon Audubon Center since 2003, when he was transferred from another wildlife rehabilitation center in New York. He is an imprinted bird, which means that he has been raised by humans for his entire life and does not know how to cope with life in the wild. He does seem to recognize his own species, though, according to Audubon Rehab and Outreach Coordinator Erin O’Connell. For the past three spring seasons, the kestrel has been visited by a wild female kestrel, who “hangs out” outside of his cage. The kestrel’s wild girlfriend recently visited the Sharon Audubon, making her first appearance on Friday, March 18. Any sightings of the kestrel can be reported to the Sharon Audubon by calling 860-364-0520.

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