THUNDER BAY — The Friends of Chippewa Park will support the efforts of Thunderbird Wildlife Rescue to utilize parts of the former animal exhibit to rehabilitate birds of prey.
Thunderbird's Jenn Salo is in discussions with the City of Thunder Bay about the possibility of relocating her raptor rescue to the wildlife exhibit which the city decided to close in 2017.
"I've been working toward getting to use the existing structures, like the two flight pens that are just sitting there vacant, that have been overgrown for the last few years," Salo says.
"They would have aided me greatly in the rehabilitation of eagles, especially. I've had 30 eagles in the last three years through my tiny little backyard in Westfort. That space would have saved me so much money, and stress on these birds."
Salo explained that because eagles require 100-foot flight pens, she's had to send them to wildlife rescues in southern Ontario for the last stages of rehabilitation.
The birds are then transported by air back to Thunder Bay for release in the area.
"To be able to expand there has always been my dream. I am almost there," Salo said in an interview Wednesday.
Friends of Chippewa spokesperson Iain Angus said the group provided background information to Salo about the wildlife facility at the park, "and she went away to work on her plans."
"We think it would be a good use of that facility, because the enclosures for the birds are really well-designed, and meet the needs that she has. We think it would work well."
Chippewa will host a fund-raising yard sale in support of Thunderbird Wildlife Rescue
As a demonstration of their support for Salo, the Friends of Chippewa will host a yard sale at the park on Sat. Oct. 30.
Proceeds will be shared equally between Friends of Chippewa and Thunderbird Wildlife Rescue.
Friends of Chippewa vice-president Cathy Sawicki said the proceeds will help Salo provide food, medicine and other materials to injured birds.
"Thunderbird Wildlife Rescue is a logical continuation of the function of the wildlife exhibit that only housed animals and birds that could no longer survive in the world," Sawicki said.
Donations for the yard sale are still being accepted, with both groups looking for gently-used items.
Salo would also welcome donations of blankets, sheets, fresh or frozen fish, geese and/or moose scraps, lead-free large game scraps, and wild game such as rabbits, squirrels and partridge.
Individuals interested in donating goods for the yard sale should contact Sawicki at 628-7064.
Donations for the Thunderbird Wildlife Rescue should be brought to Chippewa Park on Saturday.
The yard sale takes place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
