The Raptor Trust – Bird Rehabilitation and Education Center | Millington, New Jersey

The Trust Helps Injured Birds Of Prey!

This wonderful bird rehabilitation center is located in Millington, New Jersey.

They help injured or sick birds of prey. According to the Bureau of Land Management:

Birds of prey, or raptors, are the main reason the NCA was given special legislative protection. It is the unique combination of soil, climate, geology, and vegetation that has created an ecosystem where nesting birds of prey occur in extraordinary numbers. But what makes raptors so special? All birds, even those as different as a golden eagle and a hummingbird, share some common traits, such as feathers, wings, laying eggs and being warm-blooded. But certain characteristics set the group of birds called raptors apart from other birds. The word raptor comes from the Latin rapere, which mean to seize or plunder — an apt way to describe birds that swoop down on their prey. Idaho has 31 species of raptors: 17 species of diurnal raptors (hawks, eagles, and falcons) and 14 species of nocturnal raptors (owls)

How Did The Trust Get Started?

According to their website:

The Raptor Trust is a result of one man’s long-time interest in nature and, particularly, birds of prey. Len Soucy first became interested in hawks after a visit to Hawk Mountain Sanctuary in Kempton, Pennsylvania, in the fall of 1964. From that time on he had a passionate concern for the well-being of raptors. His concern was well founded, for prior to the passage of the Federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act in 1972, there was no legal protection for hawks and owls. In the ecological “dark ages,” raptors (and most other predators) were viewed as vermin, bad and vicious killers, and they were regularly destroyed with impunity.

The center brings injured birds of prey to rehabilitate them, if possible. If a bird cannot fly anymore, they give it a permanent home.

They receive no state or federal public aid! They are funded by private donations.

They love releasing the birds back into the wild! Look at the Bald Eagle’s amazing wingspan!

We visited The Trust on a gorgeous autumn day in 2022.

Here’s a sign warning people to behave themselves.

My favorite advice:

“Parents and guardians, please keep your children under your wing and watch them like a hawk.”

They take care of sick, injured, and orphaned wild birds. They usually release them into the wild, unless the bird is so badly damaged that it cannot fend for itself. They are given a permanent home at the Trust.

This wonderful video will show you exactly what the dedicated workers at The Trust do to help the birds!

A Bald Eagle.

As you can see, I struggled to take photos of the birds in their homes.

To make up for that, here are some videos you can enjoy of the beautiful birds!

The first video was filmed in April 2020 during the height of the COVID pandemic in New Jersey.

The Infirmary where the injured birds are taken to be evaluated.

Here are some newly released birds enjoying themselves at the feeder!

The Book and Gift Shop

Save The Birds!

If you know a bird of prey and you are close to The Raptor Trust, you can contact them:

What To Do If You Have Found An Injured Or Orphaned Wild Bird

You can help The Raptor Trust by donating or volunteering!

You can check out their Amazon Wishlist!

The Raptor Trust is surrounded by The Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, a spectacular natural resource.

You may also want to check out my post on The Somerset County Environmental Education Center (right down the street from The Raptor Trust!)

Also check out The Historic Red Mill Museum Village 2024 | Clinton, New Jersey.

Thanks for visiting New Jersey Memories!