Blue Ridge Wildlife Center Patient of the Week: American Kestrel

Loki? Kevin? You pick!

This American Kestrel was brought to us last summer as a juvenile after tourists found him in Brooklyn, NY, and drove with him down here to Virginia, where they were slated to fly out of the country. Some time along their journey, they realized that they could not take this bird home with them on the plane, so they stopped at a local police station and dropped the bird off with the officers.

Photos / Blue Ridge Wildlife Center

Officers from the station quickly brought this kestrel to us for evaluation. Unfortunately, by the time he got to us, he was already quite habituated. With young birds, just a few days of inappropriate human care can be the difference between a life in the wild and a life in permanent captivity or euthanasia.

Though we are devastated that he cannot be released, we are glad that he will educate the public about his species and live out the rest of his life with us as a Wildlife Ambassador—we just need a name!

Our staff and volunteers have narrowed the names down to Loki and Kevin. Help us decide by donating to the Loki Fundraiser or the Kevin Fundraiser. 

These Facebook fundraisers will be open all week, and we will announce the chosen name next Tuesday!

If you do not have a preference on the name, but would like to support this falcon and our other ambassadors, please donate here!