Sweetbriar Nature Center

Wildlife rehabilitation may seem like a glamorous job, but there is more to it than meets the eye. While it may be tempting to cuddle with cute, orphaned squirrels or hungry fox kits, our main goal as rehabilitators is to prepare these animals for survival in the wild. This means that we avoid any unnecessary human contact, as animals that become habituated or imprinted to humans are at a greater risk of death in their natural habitat and cannot be released. Diet preparation is not for the faint of heart, especially when it comes to preparing diets for our carnivore patients.
We train our owls with live mice before we release them and we train our opossums to catch live bugs. Hunting for food is a necessary tool if an animal expected to survive once released.

So, while all those adorable photos and videos may be heartwarming, they might not accurately represent the work we do to ensure the well-being and future of these wild creatures. It is all worth it to us though because in the end, if we get to see them be free once again, that is what this work is all about.

Giving medication to our patients is something we do each day at our wildlife hospital. This female cat attacked cardinal has decided that she likes the flavor of the bubblegum antibiotic and is actually taking it willingly! Cat attacks are the most common reason we give antibiotics to our patients. Why give antibiotics, even if the patient has no visible injuries?

Pasteurella bacteria is present in the oral cavity of most cats. When an animal is held in the mouth of a cat this bacteria has lethal consequences and unless that patient is treated with antibiotics, they will die.

So why keep your cat indoors?

While the hunting behavior of cats is instinctive, cats (just like domestic dogs) are not wild animals nor are they a natural part of the ecosystem.
While people adore their cats, it’s important to recognize that allowing them to roam freely outdoors can have a significant negative impact on wildlife. Non-native predators like outdoor cats are responsible for the deaths of billions of birds, small mammals, reptiles, and amphibians annually.
Many cat owners may not be aware of the true extent of their cat’s hunting and killing behavior. A study conducted by the University of Georgia revealed that a shocking 77 percent of wildlife caught by cats is either consumed or left at the site of capture. This means that the number of animals brought home by cats is just a fraction of the total wildlife they are injuring or killing. It’s important to understand the impact that outdoor cats can have on local wildlife populations and take steps to minimize this harm.

Keep in mind that your cat is safer indoors.

Cats that are allowed to roam outdoors are exposed to various dangers such as traffic accidents. Outdoor cats are more prone to injuries, infections, and diseases. They can get into fights with other animals, contract parasites, and be exposed to toxins.
Providing a controlled and safe outdoor environment, such as a catio can be a great compromise.

Ever wonder how owls kiss and show affection?

Although owls may not exhibit the same cuddling behavior as dogs or purring like cats, these birds express their affection in equally adorable ways. For instance, Fig and Newton are engaging in a behavior known as bill-fencing, which is believed to establish dominance or demonstrate strength. This behavior can be observed during courtship or even between siblings as a display of love. Additionally, owls demonstrate their affection through various other actions such as bringing food to their partner, grooming each other, and engaging in mutual vocalizations. Owls truly stand out as one of the more affectionate birds of prey.

Wait for it and volume on-Where’s Newton? Just follow the sound….. ahhhh, it’s that time of year again, Newton has found the perfect nesting bag to start his family!

Owls are not elaborate nest builders, and instead of flying back and forth with lots of twigs to painstakingly assemble a nest, they’ll seek out open cavities in trees or large cactus plants. A cozy nook that provides adequate protection from predators and the elements is all they need.
Being opportunists, owls won’t hesitate to move into abandoned bird nests as well. The perfect cozy outdoor tree nest for an owl is one built by large birds such as crows, hawks and great blue herons. These nests are just the right size to lay eggs and comfortably nurture two or more babies once hatched.
Newton has a few nest boxes to choose from but this bag seems to be his favorite.
me on-Where’s Newton? Just follow the sound….. ahhhh, it’s that time of year again, Newton has found the perfect nesting bag to start his family!

Owls are not elaborate nest builders, and instead of flying back and forth with lots of twigs to painstakingly assemble a nest, they’ll seek out open cavities in trees or large cactus plants. A cozy nook that provides adequate protection from predators and the elements is all they need.
Being opportunists, owls won’t hesitate to move into abandoned bird nests as well. The perfect cozy outdoor tree nest for an owl is one built by large birds such as crows, hawks and great blue herons. These nests are just the right size to lay eggs and comfortably nurture two or more babies once hatched.
Newton has a few nest boxes to choose from but this bag seems to be his favorite.

Grille the eastern screech owl that was hit by a car has made a full recovery! He was moved to an outdoor enclosure today to test his flight and he passed with flying colors! Next step-release!!! He needs to claim a territory so he can wooo a lady friend to join him.

Between late December and mid-February, male screech owls make their way back to the same breeding sites they occupied the previous year, braving the harsh snows and winds. These sites can either be holes in trees or specially designed nest boxes. Once they arrive, the owls assert their dominance by reclaiming their territory, emitting frequent calls and finding shelter in both their nest cavity and the surrounding trees.
As the trees start to bloom and the first signs of spring emerge, female screech owls join their male counterparts by mid-March. These females return from their winter hunting grounds to the same breeding sites. Before they start laying eggs, the owls engage in various activities such as frequent calling, mutual preening, and mating to strengthen their bond.
And in case you might be wondering- screech owls do mate for life!

This female northern cardinal was brought in after it was removed from a cat’s mouth. Most of her feathers on her left wing were missing, she also had a leg fracture and was unable to perch- We wrapped her leg and torso and are now patiently waiting for her feathers to grow back. This bird is doing so much better after only 5 days. We are hopeful for a full recovery. I am sure her partner is worried sick about her absence.

One thing that most folks don’t necessarily know about, unless you are a wildlife rehabilitator is the power of a cardinals beak.
Cardinals, sparrows, grosbeaks and finches have short, stout, cone-shaped beaks they use it to crack open seeds and nuts.
The edges of the lower mandible fit into special grooves in the upper mandible.
Using their tongue, they maneuver seeds into the groove. When they close their beak, the sharp lower mandible crushes the seed’s shell so they can eat the seed within

Or in our case, they crush our fingers if we are not careful!😂

It’s happening! Christopher Robin is starting to sing! It’s not very loud, but it’s a start! It seems like when the water is running it stimulates something within her, and she starts to sing quietly. If you noticed, we are now referring to Christopher as a girl. She finally finished moulting her immature feathers and her new feathers make us think she is a girl? How can you tell the difference between a male and female American Robin?

Male robins have more vibrant colors as opposed to female robins. The males have a bright white eye-ring a bright colored beak, a black-colored head and speckles of white around their collars. In contrast, female robins appear less vibrant and dull in comparison, primarily due to their darker and less vibrant feathers. A notable distinction between male and female robins lies in their breast color. Males possess a deeper rusty red breast, while females have a paler hue, leaning towards reddish-orange. This difference in coloration can be attributed to the need for female robins to remain camouflaged to avoid predators during the incubation of their eggs. Consequently, many bird species exhibit less colorful females as a survival strategy.
What do you think? Is Christopher a female? And…. How happy are you that she is finding her voice!!!!!

Tune in today at noon and watch us LIVE as we release the last 3 electrocuted crows back home-

Another SUCCESS story, it took 9 long months but it was so worth it! We finally released the first group of electrocuted crows, back home, back to the life they once lead!

This Giving Tuesday, I am reaching out to you to ask for your support. Your generous donation will go a long way in helping us continue our vital work. This is just one example of what your donation enables us to do!
Thank you in advance for your generosity and support. Together, we can make a positive impact on wildlife conservation and education. Remember, it truly takes a village!

If you are unable to contribute financially at this time, please consider sharing this message with your friends, family, and colleagues who may be interested in supporting this cause.

In case it is confusing to you Sweetbriar ‘s not for profit name is environmental centers setauket smithtown, inc.

How to safely remove a bird or any tiny animal from a glue trap-

Step 1. Cover the sticky parts of the trap that surround the glued animal with paper towels.

Step 2. DO NOT try and remove animal- place trap in a shoe box and cover so animal is in a dark place and feels safe. Then immediately call a wildlife rehabilitator. Animal Help Now is a great app that you can download and it will give you the number of a rehabber near you.

Step 3. If a wildlife rehabilitator is not available you can use a pre-saturated cotton swab (canola or olive oil) and work gently to massage oil around the parts of the animal that are stuck while its head is covered with a rag. Work the cotton swab between the skin and glue and continue to cover the sticky parts of the trap with paper towels as the animal is freed.

Step 4. Gently wipe any remaining oil from the animal if it is safe to do so. ​Do not attempt to bathe.

Sadly these traps are still be sold and marketed to catch crickets. They are indiscriminate and often catch animals that are the unintended victims of the trap. Folks put them in their garages thinking it’s safe to do so. Unfortunately an open garage is like a fast food restaurant for Carolina wrens who love to eat crickets and spiders. This homeowner said his garage was only open for 10 min. This wren was one of the lucky ones, after his test for flight was successful it went back home and was released.

Please educate your family, friends, and neighbors about the dangers of these traps, Share this post! You can help wildlife avoid a sticky situation!

Bird school for Christopher Robin. He is so interested when we play a Robin singing on our phones. Christopher was raised alone by a well meaning human for 4 months. Since he was never exposed to his parents singing their songs not only is he imprinted, but he has been silent. We are hopeful that Christopher might try to imitate the sound, we will keep you posted.

Researchers have identified a special center in the avian brain called the HVC, or high vocal center, which has many neurons coming in and leaving it. Research has shown that during the period of song learning new neurons are formed in the HVC, implying that the song becomes imprinted into the brain, until the birds can produce a beautiful crystallized melody! Melody learning usually happens within the first month of life and as they repeat their song it gets better and better. I hope it’s not too late?

Back in August we received a young turkey that had been hit by a car. This poor bird was thin and could not stand due to a leg fracture. After 2 months of care she was ready to be released. We made the decision to moved her to an outdoor enclosure hoping that a rafter of turkeys might wander thru our preserve and we could safely release her with them. On October 19th that is exactly what happened- this little lady has a new family! A month later, we spotted her in the neighborhood with her new friends, what a great feeling it was. Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I hope you all enjoy your day.

Ever wonder why you see more turkeys on Long Island in the past few years?
They were actually once common around here but over-hunting and development caused turkeys to be virtually extinct on Long Island. From the late 1800s until the late 1900s, there were none to be found. Then New York State and Suffolk County collaborated to reintroduce about 75 of them back in the 1980’s chiefly in Southhaven County Park and Hither Hills State Park.
Today, according to the State DEC, 6,000 of them flourish throughout Suffolk and into pockets of eastern Nassau. Have you ever seen a wild turkey in your backyard?

Volume on- We got a call about a week ago for advice on removing a bat from a car. The problem being, the bat had crawled down her heating vent behind the steering wheel. There was no way we could take apart the interior of her car, there are airbags and all kinds of obstacles that made it impossible. The thought was, leave the car windows open and hopefully the bat would leave on its own. Well, they thought it was gone but…. a week later this poor little brown bat found its way to the inside of her passenger door. Luckily, with our guidance, she was able to put the bat in a box and bring it to our hospital. After a meal, this bat was transferred to a rabies vector wildlife rehabilitation center where he will be fattened up for his winter hibernation.

Now more than ever, we need to recognize the importance of bat conservation.
Here on Long Island, the following species can be found: Little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus), big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus), eastern red bat (Lasiurus borealis), tri colored bat (Pipistrellus subflavus), northern long-eared (Myotis septentrionalis), silver-haired (,Lasionycteris noctivagans), hoary (Lasiurus cinereus).
Why are bats so important?
They are critical in our ecosystem as they pollinate hundreds of species, including many important agricultural crops. Bats eat insects that can be harmful to vegetation and crops, and provide fertilizer in the form of their droppings. Little brown bats can consume up to 1,000 insects in an hour. A bat typically consumes half its body weight in insects every night! We are glad we were able to play a small part in this bats rescue.

Another owl rescued from the grill of a car!
We got a call that a baby “hawk” had flown into a moving car and was stuck in the front end. When we arrived we instead discovered a tiny screech owl hanging from the grill by its head. Unfortunately, these kind folks didn’t notice the owl until the next day owl. Luckily we were able to quickly remove him. He is now resting comfortably in a warm incubator, getting fluids and pain meds. We are hoping he will make a full recovery.

How are owls so silent when they fly?
They have huge wings relative to their body mass, which enables them fly unusually slowly—as slowly as two mph for a larger species of owls—Also, the structure of their feathers serves as a silencer. Comb-like serrations on the leading edge of wing feathers break up the air that typically creates a swooshing sound. Those smaller streams of air are further dampened by a velvety texture unique to owl feathers. These structures together streamline the air flow and absorb the sound produced making them, silent flyers!

Our imprinted friend, Christopher Robin is adjusting very nicely to his new environment. He has molted many of his feathers and has decided that he loves berries and earth worms but he especially loves hunting for meal worms! Do you see him tilting his head from side to side? What do you think he is doing?
When I was a kid, we were told Robins did this because they were listening for worms. The problem, is that worms don’t make a lot of noise, and the bird’s eyes are also on the sides of its head.

What robins are actually doing is getting a very good look with one eye, and then it often turns its head and switches over to the other eye. They’re mostly visual predators, so they’re trying to see things.

We know now that robins use their eyes individually as they tilt their head from side to side. It's known as monocular vision, and is how they, and many other birds, by using their eyes, locate their food, primarily worms and grubs.

Join us live Saturday November 18th at 10:30am on instagram live and Facebook live for the Gender reveal of this beautiful 5 month old spectacled owl! We will find out his or her name as well!

Do you remember the baby pigeons that were admitted on October 15th? Here are a few videos showing you how quickly they grow up. In less than 1 month they became adults!

Pigeons are one of the most misunderstood birds, but it’s kind of our fault.

Although it is difficult to determine exactly when pigeons were domesticated, they are first mentioned in Mesopotamian tablets which date back over 5,000 years. Some believe it is likely they were domesticated long before then.

According to author Rosemary Mosco, pigeon hate is a relatively recent phenomenon. “It has to do with the fact that all of the reasons we domesticated them are no longer valid,” she explains.
In Rosemary’s words, the birds were “created and shaped” over thousands of years to be useful to us. Farmers used pigeon p**p as fertilizer, but commercial fertilizer replaced it. People used to eat pigeons, but factory-farmed chickens are easier to raise. Pigeons even carried important messages, saving lives in WWI, WWII, and other wars, but the telegraph replaced the pigeonternet. Then, officials in NYC unfairly blamed pigeons for diseases. People started to see these birds as dirty, mean, useless, and gross. But they're gentle and pretty clean, and they mate for life.

Today, most pigeons are “wild” and are met with skepticism. It is worth remembering their rich history and contributions and to treat and control them humanely. The most effective way to control the pigeon population in your area is to stop feeding them and to reduce food waste.

Jim, one of our staff members has a secret he would like to share with all of our followers, supporters and volunteers. The DNA test finally came back on his spectacled owl! We will be having a live gender reveal party this Saturday on instagram live at 10:30am. If you are coming for the Superhero’s of the Sky, just get here a little early and you will see it live and in person!
Although Jim’s owls don’t live here at sweetbriar, he brings them to most of our events. We are all so excited to find out Jim’s secret!

Spectacled owls don’t live here in the United States- if you want to find them in your backyard you would have to live in southern Mexico, Trinidad, Central America, Brazil, Paraguay or in northwestern Argentina. Spectacled owls are the largest tropical owl species. In Brazil, Spectacled owls are known locally as "knocking owls" because the males produce a loud, rhythmic call that sounds like the tapping of a woodpecker or hammering.

Maybe some of you might remember this tiny owl? It was transferred to us from the back in February. This poor owl had all of his feathers on 1 wing cut by an electric tree trimmer and was therefore unable to fly. Now look at him! All his feathers have molted and they have been replaced with beautiful new feathers, check out how they glow in the dark under a black light. Stay tuned for the release-

Most owl species have fluorescent wings, a quirk that was also discovered accidentally, by a rat researcher named Bruce Colvin in the early 1980s. Colvin—who had fed rats a fluorescent material as part of an unrelated experiment—was shining a blacklight on owl pellets looking for glowing rodent bones when he noticed that the owls glowed, too.
“He quickly figured out that the fluorescence in the wing feathers correlates with the age of the feathers,” says Weidensaul (who, with Colvin and a few others, published projectowlnet.org New feathers glow brightly, while older ones have lost some of their pigments, and so appear darker or duller under the blacklight.

Meet a few of our ambassadors that work very hard trying to give folks an appreciation of raptors! -Stitch, Cleo, Diego, Turnip, Chance.

A “raptor” is a type of bird which captures and eats live prey. Vultures are often considered raptors as well, though they eat carrion and are more closely related to storks. The word “raptor” means “to seize or grasp” in Latin. Raptors use their powerful, sharp talons to capture their prey and to defend themselves. Several bird species are considered raptors. Eagles, hawks, kites, falcons, and owls are all considered raptors.

Who do you like best?

This little groundhog has a big personality.
She was spotted in a homeowners back yard with what looked like a cord wrapped around her neck.
was finally able to humanely trap this poor groundhog and brought her immediately to our wildlife hospital for care. What we saw was extremely disturbing. This poor animal had stumbled onto a hunting snare, someone cut it off leaving the wire wrapped around her neck. We think that she must have been young when this occurred, as she continued to grow the wire just became more embedded.
The good news is- we were able to cut the wire off, treat her wounds and now she will stay here for the winter. Although she is not a fan of humans, this girl is really enjoys her delicious meals made daily by our many wonderful volunteers.
Groundhogs certainly do have big appetites. Well, if you're going to sleep the winter away, you're going to need to make up for it by packing it in during the rest of the year. To that end, groundhogs have been known to eat 1 pound or more of vegetation at a time, the wildlife federation reports. One pound of food may not seem like much, but it's the equivalent of a 150-pound person eating 15 pounds of food in one sitting.

This great horned owl had the good fortune of surviving a collision with a vehicle, which left him impaled inside the cars grill. This happened on the meadowbrook parkway late in the evening. The driver believed the bird was dead but when they arrived home they saw that he was very much alive! Luckily Frankie answered the call and immediately showed up to help remove the owl. He was able to free the bird and immediately rushed him over to our rehabilitation directors private home. Our director was able to administer pain medication and also wrapped his wing back in place. The owl was placed in the guest room and everyone hoped he would survive the night.
Miracles do happen! To our delight the owl was standing and clicking his beak the next morning which is a sign that he was feeling much better.
Off to the veterinarian for X-rays!
We were so happy when Dr. Perone from animal general called and told us
that she was able to pin his humerus which was fractured in 2 places! Yeah! It truly does take a village! Thank you and for your help with this great horned owl, he going to need long term care and rehabilitation that we are happy to provide. 🤞that this owl will be releasable!

This is a very active time for great horned owls they are either protecting their established territories or dispersing to find new ones and this happens as soon as the sun goes down. Juvenile owls are the most active, leaving their parent’s territories and trying to find their own. They maintain their areas by hooting, so it’s a great time of the year to go outside at night and listen!

This yellow bellied sapsucker is telling us that he is ready to go! He was admitted into our hospital after flying into a window and was unable to stand. We are so thrilled he made a full recovery and will now be able to continue his migrational journey. Of the 22 species of woodpeckers in the United States and Canada, nearly one third of them migrate from at least a portion of their range. Yellow bellied sapsuckers show the most extreme woodpecker migration.

It’s thought that while most woodpeckers can get by on insects and other invertebrates throughout the winter up north, the sapsuckers are so dependent on sap that when the trees freeze up and sap becomes inaccessible, the sapsuckers have to leave. They will then fly all the way to the Caribbean and Central America for the winter season.

If you love something set it free is how the poem begins and you probably remember the rest….Lucy, Gary’s partner has been mourning the loss of her mate. Lucy came to Sweetbriar 7 years ago after being hit by a car, although releasable, Lucy fell in love with Gary. He eventually was won over by her persistence and they became partners for life. Poor Lucy has been calling out, hoping that Gary will somehow appear. We decided that perhaps Lucy should be released so she could begin a new life, after all she has nothing wrong with her except a slight limp. It was a beautiful day so we took her to the nearby lake and released her. Lucy didn’t go far, took a quick bath and then waddled her way out of the water and started following us back to the car. We scooped her up and headed back to Sweetbriar. Now, we are on the hunt for a non releasable mallard friend for Lucy.

Unlike geese and swans, mallard ducks do not generally form long-term pair bonds that last beyond a single breeding season. Pairs will form ahead of breeding (in October November) and will display a strong connection towards each other, but the following season, the likelihood is that they will breed with an entirely different mate. This is known as seasonal monogamy.

So why did Gary snd Lucy seem to mate for life? They say when ducks are kept in enclosures together they can behave differently than their wild counterparts…….. perhaps they were just a perfect match! Lucy, you will always have a home with us here at sweetbriar.

Nibblet enjoying tasty treat before settling down for a long winters nap. Groundhogs are among the few mammals that enter into true hibernation. Hibernation varies with latitude, but generally begins near the end of October or early November and continues until late February and March. For example, Maine groundhogs hibernate for approximately 175 days whereas those in South Carolina may only hibernate for 67 days.
Any idea as to what we put atop her cone?