This is an extremely sad day for raptors. Sigrid Ueblacker, the founder of the Birds of Prey Foundation, passed away suddenly on October 28. This is a devastating loss for all who care about these birds.
From the Denver Post:
Birds of Prey founder Sigrid Ueblacker dies at age 68By Virginia Culver
Sigrid Ueblacker, founder of Birds of Prey, an organization that saves injured and orphaned birds, died of unknown causes on Oct. 28. She was 68.
A public memorial will be held in the spring, said her son, Gernot Ueblacker of Lakewood.
"We have truly lost a hero, mentor and good friend to us and Colorado's wildlife," said Mary McCormac, in a memo.
She is regional volunteer coordinator for the Colorado Division of Wildlife.
Birds of Prey, in Broomfield, treated an estimated 10,000 birds in the years since its founding in 1982, Ueblacker's son said.
The organization concentrates on owls, falcons, eagles and hawks and treats more than 450 birds a year.
Some have been hurt by hitting high tension wires, others have been struck by vehicles and hurt in traps, Gernot Ueblacker said.
He said the foundation has a huge "flight cage" where the treated birds can be put to test their capability to return to the wild.
The "cage" is two stories high, he said, big enough for the birds to fly and catch prey. There's even a "mouse house" where mice are raised that can be used as prey for the recovering birds.
There is an intensive care unit for birds, and Sigrid Ueblacker enlisted veterinarians to help with serious cases.
Sigrid Ueblacker often spoke at elementary schools to tell the students about her work, always taking at least one bird with her. "She worked about 70 to 80 hours a week," and part of that time was spent fundraising for the nonprofit organization, he said.
Over the years "they had a 70 percent release rate," said Gernot Ueblacker. Fond as she was of the birds, Sigrid Ueblacker knew when it was time to give up on a bird, her son said. "She knew when to say when."
Ueblacker was born in Vienna and majored in English, French and history at a college in Salzburg, Austria. She came to Denver in 1963.
She was married to Horst Ueblacker. They later divorced.
In addition to her son, she is survived by two daughters: Elke Rogers of Norman, Okla., and Sabina Ueblacker of Denver; another son, Walter Ueblacker of Denver; three grandchildren; two step grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.Last year, at the Valmont Great Horned Owl nest in Colorado, one of the owlets fledged early, and was found later trapped in a building. Sigrid Ueblacker is the one who nursed the owlet back to health. I remember very well the photos of her caring so gently for this owlet.
In the photo below, she is caring for a Red-tailed Hawk:
More information:
http://www.dailycamera.com/archivesearch/ci_13686976http://birds-of-prey.org/cm/never-to-be-forgotten-sigrid-noll-ueblacker-passes/And a video on the Birds of Prey Foundation:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Birds-of-Prey-Foundation/170284741424
