If you are unable to view this e-mail, go here. When an event is evaluated at the end of the day, many things have to be considered. Was it a repeat event or the new kid on the block? Was it well attended or slow to catch on? Did it live within its budget or burst at the seams? Were the weather and the venue cooperative? Were the goals achieved? And finally, was it any fun? By every measure, the inaugural Poker Run sponsored by Chester’s Harley-Davidson motorcycles was a huge success. Click here for more details on the event! All that is gold does not glitter; not all those that wander are lost. J. R. R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring, 1954 It is a testament to the skill and dedication of the volunteers of Liberty Wildlife that any eagle found in this state needing help is brought to our facility. So it was in late June of last year when the caretaker of the town of Ruby, Arizona, a gentleman named Sundog, came upon a sick golden eagle near his cabin. The first-year bird was dangerously thin and very weak, unable to fly. Sundog and some friends brought the young eagle to agents of Arizona Game and Fish who called Liberty Wildlife and arranged to meet some volunteers in Casa Grande. The transfer was made and the yearling arrived at Liberty to begin what was to be nine months of treatment and rehabilitation. Click here for more on this story. Preparation is in full swing for Liberty Wildlife’s upcoming Wishes for Wildlife annual benefit. This year guests will be inclined to plan their vacation while at the event. There will be many fun and exciting trip packages auctioned off during the Live and Silent Auction portion of the evening. Click here for more information on this fun event! The Animal Dialogues — Uncommon Encounters in the Wild By Craig Childs The individual essays in this book immerse the reader in wilderness adventures, each featuring a breathtaking encounter with a wild creature. Childs has ranged north and south, hiking deep into western lands that reside for most only in primal memory banks. These are journeys only the fittest backpackers will make, requiring an 80-pound pack and the necessity of finding water sources in the desert. Childs tells of "kissing" water from a stony seepage days into a desert hike and of living in a lodgepole pine tipi through a winter in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado. This close contact with the elements provides Childs the experiences with wild animals that he shares with us. Click here for more information. Nature News: Baby Bird Shorts On March 29, the Girl Scouts from Troop 199 in Tempe came out to the Feathered Friends Festival to teach the public about baby birds. Hannah Dinell, Sarah Dinell and Sarah Drexler set up a booth next to the Liberty Wildlife booth, and did a most professional job of engaging with the public at the event. The booth was busy, with lots of children and adults stopping to learn about baby birds and to share their own stories of wildlife they have encountered. The girls worked to dispel the common myth that a mother bird will not accept babies that have been handled by people. Yes, they can be put back in the nest! Hannah, Sarah and Sarah spent a lot of time working on their displays, and the day at the festival was long, but they can be sure that they did make a difference for wildlife! On Saturday, April 5, over thirty new volunteers came out to the facility to learn the ropes of working in the orphan care center. Moving through a series of stations, the volunteers learned about setting up habitats for the babies, food and feeding techniques, and the paper trail that must be kept for each new animal that comes in. There are already a fair number of orphans residing at the center, so they received lots of care during the training session! We are grateful for the wonderful enthusiasm of these new volunteers who are joining the Liberty Wildlife team and going right to work caring for the orphans. A fantastic and knowledgeable group of experienced orphan care volunteers were also on hand to help with training, and will be continuing to offer support to the newcomers as the season gets underway. Thanks to all of you! Contact Us | Terms of Use  ©2003 - 2008 Liberty Wildlife Rehabilitation Foundation To make sure you continue receiving our newsletters (and that they don't go to your bulk or junk folders), please add naturenews@libertywildlife.org to your e-mail address book. Please remove me from this e-mail list.