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Howland family, volunteers rehabilitates injured birds
Photo
Cameron, Heather and Anthony Merritt, who have owned and operated Birds in Flight Sanctuary for 22 years.
STORY & PHOTOS By MADELYN P. HASTINGS photo@vindy.com
HOWLAND
Twenty-two years ago, Heather Merritt got a call from a neighbor, asking her to help with an injured Great Horned Owl.
She was about six months pregnant with her first son at the time, and she describes the moment as terrifying. Certain restrictions for veterinarians would not allow them to take in the owl, and no one locally could rehabilitate it.
That is how Heather’s journey with Birds in Flight Sanctuary began. She was able to nurse the owl back to health, and she is now a licensed raptor and waterfowl rehabilitator.
The sanctuary is on the Merritt family property at 8655 Warwick Road SE, Howland. Heather’s two sons, Anthony and Cameron, work there 24 hours a day, and the three of them, and many volunteers, take emergency calls at all hours.
“We’ve dedicated ourselves to this completely. I can’t imagine not taking a phone call and knowing an animal is suffering. It just breaks my heart,” Heather explains.
They bring in up to 1,000 sick, injured and orphaned birds a year to house and rehabilitate them. Once the birds are back to health, they are released.
Every year it is a constant struggle for the Merritt family to stay open. They have to raise at least $35,000 in donations each year to continue rehabilitating the birds.
Their main goal is to open to the public as a wildlife center and educational site.
They are hosting a wine-tasting fundraiser at WineStyles Tasting Station, 8208 E. Market St., Howland, on Dec. 14. For information on how to make donations, go to http://birdsinflightsanctuary.org website or call the sanctuary at 330-652-3381.