Maddy Hayden

Carlsbad Current-Argus

CARLSBAD — Desert Willow Wildlife Rehabilitation Center will host a work and enclosure construction day on Saturday at the facility in south Carlsbad.

To kick the day off, a rehabilitated male red-tailed hawk will be released back into the wild.

Belinda Chitwood, head of the wildlife program at the center, said he was brought in from Hobbs with a broken wing and hematoma last October.

A flight pen constructed during a work day in November enabled the center to allow the bird to work on its flight, but Chitwood said Dr. Sammi Uhrig, who owns the center, hopes to have an even larger one constructed this time.

"Right now, he can just fly from one side to the other," Chitwood said of the large raptor. "It's not really enough for him to stretch his wings and get the full flight experience."

The current enclosure is 8 by 26 feet.

Chitwood said they have been employing creance lines (lightweight nylon rope that attaches to the hawk's feet) to allow the hawk to fly outside of the enclosure.

Richard Stephens, who is coordinating the event, said the construction of new flight pens and work on the deer pens are on the to-do list for Saturday.

However, he said clean-up, trenching, landscaping and plumbing work also needs to be done.

"You name it, we've got a place for you," Stephens said.

Several groups are sponsoring the event, including Mosaic Potash, Land of Enchantment Wildlife Foundation and the Carlsbad Community Foundation.

Chitwood said as Carlsbad continues to grow larger, the rehab center is becoming more important.

"As more and more people populate an area, you're taking away areas for wildlife. More and more animals get kicked out of their homes" she said. "By people coming out and helping us, it helps us build more cages and we won't have to transport as many animals to different rehabs."

She said they generally see hawks, songbirds, roadrunners and owls at center, in addition to mammals like rabbits, foxes and squirrels.

The facility is located at 512 E. Fiesta Dr. The day will go from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Those interested should RSVP to Richard Stephens at 575-628-8953.

"It could not happen without all the hands and help," Stephens said.

Maddy Hayden can be reached at 575-628-5512.