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Fauna RIP
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Eastern Shore Sanctuary
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May 26, 2006 21:02 PDT
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Fauna RIP
by pattrice jones
Special Extra Edition of BraveBirds Times Online
Online newsletter of the Eastern Shore Sanctuary & Education Center
26 May 2006
Today I am sad to report the passing of a valued member of the Eastern
Shore Sanctuary family: The loyal and loving rooster known to us as
Fauna.
Fauna was one of a motley assortment of 24 roosters who came to us from
Green Acres sanctuary, which had been operated by the late Carol
Morton. Carol was a retired humane officer who had kept confiscated
roosters at her own home rather than euthanizing them. Some had been
seized in cockfighting busts, some from abusive or neglectful homes,
and a few from what she could only describe as "a 4-H project gone
horribly wrong." They had all lived together on a big patch of rented
land, sleeping in the trees but going into an open barn in inclement
weather. Now the owners wanted the land but didn't want the birds.
Carol called everywhere but nobody would take these birds. Then United
Poultry Concerns President Karen Davis directed her to us. Although a
very new sanctuary, we had already learned from experience that the
rumors about roosters are not true. When Carol told me that the
roosters would have to be euthanized if we said we said "no" too, I
said "yes."
The more sensible of the two of us, sanctuary cofounder Miriam Jones
worked out the logistics of my rash decision. We'd need a new coop and
foraging yard to keep the vulnerable 'broiler' hens separate from the
randy roosters. We got busy building, clearing brush, and erecting
fences.
The refugee roosters arrived in Carol's rattletrap pickup truck on
Memorial Day of 2001. Looking at the colorful crowing birds crammed
into an assortment of cages and carriers, my confidence ebbed. What if
we'd made a mistake? What if they fought each other or attacked the
'broiler' roosters? They were used to more land, to sleeping in trees.
What if they flew away or disappeared into the woods?
None of those fears came to fruition. The new roosters settled in with
remarkably little fuss, some choosing to camp out in the coop and
others choosing to take to the trees. We had never seen such a thing.
Most people haven't. In all the years since, the one thing about our
sanctuary that has most consistently enchanted visitors to our property
and our website is the sight of chickens roosting in trees.
Also enchanted were the hens, most of whom never had seen any roosters
other than the lumbering big white birds from the local poultry
industry. Suddenly, here were 24 sleek, multicolored roosters, each
more extravagantly feathered than the next. I'll never forget the sight
of a string of former egg factory inmates lined up along the fence,
some of their beaks actually gaping open with amazement as they gawked
at the kaleidoscopic newcomers.
Less colorful and more sedate than many of his fellows, the rooster we
came to call Fauna soon took up with a former egg factory inmate called
Flora. Flora was wild and high-flying while Fauna was gentle and
steady. They were a devoted couple until poor Flora's body, depleted
from the years of stress and deprivation she had endured at the egg
factory, wore out. By then almost 10 years old, Fauna withdrew into
himself, spending more and more time indoors and less and less time
doing the things he and Flora used to love to do. We were very worried
about him but didn't know what to do. Relief arrived in the form of
another older rooster called Chili, who had been living with a homeless
man in a city park. Like two elderly widowers, Fauna and Chili found
solace in friendship. Fauna started spending all day outside and
sometimes sleeping in the trees again.
That was back in 2004. In recent weeks, Fauna had been steadily slowing
down, this time due to age rather than depression. He was at least 11
and maybe older.
Today was the first truly hot afternoon of the year here on the lower
eastern shore of Maryland. "We're probably going to lose somebody
today," I told Miriam, who is away, because the first hot day often
breaks the overburdened heart of a heavy 'broiler' rooster or hen.
Indeed, it was on a suddenly hot day just like today that the bird who
founded the sanctuary -- a 'broiler' rooster we called Viktor --
succumbed to heatstroke.
When an early evening thunderstorm broke the heat, I rushed outside to
aid any chicken who needed help getting inside. I was shocked to find
Fauna dead under a tree, his true friend Chili standing guard over his
body. He was on his back, having had a heart attack. Climbing wild
roses framed them, making the tableau seem like a grotto. I carried
Fauna away and buried him as the rain streamed down my face.
Fauna had a longer and happier life than most chickens in this
dangerous world. Still, we are sad at his passing. Of course, we love
all the birds here. But, because of his true and steady heart, Fauna
had a special place in our hearts. We will miss him.
Although Fauna is dead, he will not be gone. It was our experiences
with him and his peers that led us to say "yes" when first asked to
take in former fighting cocks and to develop a rehabilitation program
to teach them to live peacefully with other birds. Right now, we are in
the process of rehabilitating ten new former fighting cocks, three of
whom -- Pace, Pacifico, and Autumn -- already are able to mingle freely
with the other birds all day long.
***
You can read more about Fauna and some of his friends in a 2004 Satya
Magazine article:
http://www.satyamag.com/nov04/jones.html
You can see a picture of Fauna at:
http://www.bravebirds.org/pix6.html
You can learn about rooster rehabilitation at:
http://www.bravebirds.org/rehab.html
Donations made to the Eastern Shore Sanctuary in Fauna's name will be
applied to the rescue and rehabilitation of roosters and their
reputations.
Eastern Shore Sanctuary & Education Center
13981 Reading Ferry
Princess Anne, MD 21853 USA
410-651-4934
http://www.bravebirds.org
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<center>Fauna RIP
by pattrice jones
Special <bold>Extra</bold> Edition of <bold>BraveBirds Times Online</bold>
<italic>Online newsletter of the Eastern Shore Sanctuary & Education
Center</italic>
26 May 2006
</center>
Today I am sad to report the passing of a valued member of the Eastern
Shore Sanctuary family: The loyal and loving rooster known to us as
Fauna.
Fauna was one of a motley assortment of 24 roosters who came to us
from Green Acres sanctuary, which had been operated by the late Carol
Morton. Carol was a retired humane officer who had kept confiscated
roosters at her own home rather than euthanizing them. Some had been
seized in cockfighting busts, some from abusive or neglectful homes,
and a few from what she could only describe as "a 4-H project gone
horribly wrong." They had all lived together on a big patch of rented
land, sleeping in the trees but going into an open barn in inclement
weather. Now the owners wanted the land but didn't want the birds.
Carol called everywhere but nobody would take these birds. Then United
Poultry Concerns President Karen Davis directed her to us. Although a
very new sanctuary, we had already learned from experience that the
rumors about roosters are not true. When Carol told me that the
roosters would have to be euthanized if we said we said "no" too, I
said "yes."
The more sensible of the two of us, sanctuary cofounder Miriam Jones
worked out the logistics of my rash decision. We'd need a new coop and
foraging yard to keep the vulnerable 'broiler' hens separate from the
randy roosters. We got busy building, clearing brush, and erecting
fences.
The refugee roosters arrived in Carol's rattletrap pickup truck on
Memorial Day of 2001. Looking at the colorful crowing birds crammed
into an assortment of cages and carriers, my confidence ebbed. What if
we'd made a mistake? What if they fought each other or attacked the
'broiler' roosters? They were used to more land, to sleeping in trees.
What if they flew away or disappeared into the woods?
None of those fears came to fruition. The new roosters settled in with
remarkably little fuss, some choosing to camp out in the coop and
others choosing to take to the trees. We had never seen such a thing.
Most people haven't. In all the years since, the one thing about our
sanctuary that has most consistently enchanted visitors to our
property and our website is the sight of chickens roosting in trees.
Also enchanted were the hens, most of whom never had seen any roosters
other than the lumbering big white birds from the local poultry
industry. Suddenly, here were 24 sleek, multicolored roosters, each
more extravagantly feathered than the next. I'll never forget the
sight of a string of former egg factory inmates lined up along the
fence, some of their beaks actually gaping open with amazement as they
gawked at the kaleidoscopic newcomers.
Less colorful and more sedate than many of his fellows, the rooster we
came to call Fauna soon took up with a former egg factory inmate
called Flora. Flora was wild and high-flying while Fauna was gentle
and steady. They were a devoted couple until poor Flora's body,
depleted from the years of stress and deprivation she had endured at
the egg factory, wore out. By then almost 10 years old, Fauna withdrew
into himself, spending more and more time indoors and less and less
time doing the things he and Flora used to love to do. We were very
worried about him but didn't know what to do. Relief arrived in the
form of another older rooster called Chili, who had been living with a
homeless man in a city park. Like two elderly widowers, Fauna and
Chili found solace in friendship. Fauna started spending all day
outside and sometimes sleeping in the trees again.
That was back in 2004. In recent weeks, Fauna had been steadily
slowing down, this time due to age rather than depression. He was at
least 11 and maybe older.
Today was the first truly hot afternoon of the year here on the lower
eastern shore of Maryland. "We're probably going to lose somebody
today," I told Miriam, who is away, because the first hot day often
breaks the overburdened heart of a heavy 'broiler' rooster or hen.
Indeed, it was on a suddenly hot day just like today that the bird who
founded the sanctuary -- a 'broiler' rooster we called Viktor --
succumbed to heatstroke.
When an early evening thunderstorm broke the heat, I rushed outside to
aid any chicken who needed help getting inside. I was shocked to find
Fauna dead under a tree, his true friend Chili standing guard over his
body. He was on his back, having had a heart attack. Climbing wild
roses framed them, making the tableau seem like a grotto. I carried
Fauna away and buried him as the rain streamed down my face.
Fauna had a longer and happier life than most chickens in this
dangerous world. Still, we are sad at his passing. Of course, we love
all the birds here. But, because of his true and steady heart, Fauna
had a special place in our hearts. We will miss him.
Although Fauna is dead, he will not be gone. It was our experiences
with him and his peers that led us to say "yes" when first asked to
take in former fighting cocks and to develop a rehabilitation program
to teach them to live peacefully with other birds. Right now, we are
in the process of rehabilitating ten new former fighting cocks, three
of whom -- Pace, Pacifico, and Autumn -- already are able to mingle
freely with the other birds all day long.
<center>***
</center>
You can read more about Fauna and some of his friends in a 2004 Satya
Magazine article:
http://www.satyamag.com/nov04/jones.html
You can see a picture of Fauna at:
http://www.bravebirds.org/pix6.html
You can learn about rooster rehabilitation at:
http://www.bravebirds.org/rehab.html
Donations made to the Eastern Shore Sanctuary in Fauna's name will be
applied to the rescue and rehabilitation of roosters and their
reputations.<italic>
</italic>
<center><bold>Eastern Shore Sanctuary & Education Center
</bold>13981 Reading Ferry
Princess Anne, MD 21853 USA
410-651-4934
http://www.bravebirds.org
</center>
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