The sanctuary will continue to grow as needs grow News, sports, work

Cameron Merritt of Birds at Flight Sanctuary in Canfield shows Harris the hawk during a recent fall festival at the facility. Plans include using 2.5 inches of wetland area as well as building more educational buildings, Jewel and Bob Luchijnsky from Poland ask questions about the hawk,

CANFIELD — Due to the increased need to help birds and animals, the Birds in Flight Sanctuary will be expanding next year, adding more land and more buildings,

This month, the public had the opportunity to visit the sanctuary during the fall festival, see everything that has already been done, and find out what lies ahead. The last event of the educational season was the autumn festival.

Cameron Merritt, one of the sanctuary’s owners, said he plans to expand the 2.5-acre area east of the property to create a wetland to attract marsh birds as well as a place to release the birds.

Five educational buildings for birds and mammals have been completed, and there are plans to build another 15. The large buildings are home to foxes, possums and hawks.

After many years of being located in Howland, the sanctuary moved to Canfield three years ago and is located a short distance south of the Canfield fairgrounds.

“It’s my first time here. I always wondered what this object looked like. I work at a veterinary clinic where people have found injured wild animals and I have referred people here,” said Priscilla Sarkies of Boardman. “This place is beautiful. I am very impressed with the facility. I didn’t know what to expect.”

Sarkies said the neighborhood is lucky to have such a facility.

“We have an influx of animals this year, some of them sick and others injured after being hit by vehicles. We will see 3,500 animals, birds and reptiles each year,” Merritt said:

He said the sanctuary serves 50 counties in Ohio and 13 in Pennsylvania.

Merritt said the fall event allows people to get up close and see a variety of wildlife.

During the event, he showed off the Harris’s hawk, which is native to Arizona and New Mexico, and was asked questions like “Where does he come from?”

There are 200-250 birds and mammals undergoing rehabilitation in the sanctuary. Merritt said people will need to make appointments next spring to see the wildlife because no birds or mammals are taken off-site for the show.

Merritt said the attraction is the sanctuary’s seven hawks and eight owls.

Bob and Jewel Pluchinsky from Poland said their daughter, Lori Pluchinsky, lives in Arizona, so they saw Harris’s hawks there.

“She hikes a lot, so she’s seen hawks.” Jewel Pluchinsky said.

Bob Pluchinsky said their daughter actively works at the Arizona Zoo, so she sees a lot of animals.

He said they are also interested in wildlife and often drive by the sanctuary, and he also brought a baby bluebird he found to the facility for care.

Carol Sudzina of Campbell said the squirrel fell from the wire into the driveway and was injured, so she contacted the sanctuary about it.

VOLUNTEERING FOR YEARS

Dante Campana of Champion, a volunteer at the sanctuary, said he’s excited about the wetlands expansion because a big part of it is teaching people about wildlife.

“There’s a whole ecosystem there. The wetlands host a variety of fauna, from frogs and dragonflies. This area will be able to be used as a huge part of our education when we can bring groups of children. The wetlands will be up close and personal.” Said Campana.

He said the sanctuary had a major impact on his life, starting when he was 14 years old.

Heather Merritt, owner of the sanctuary, said she wants to have 15 more educational buildings. She said donations are being sought to help with this effort and can be sent to the sanctuary at 8095 Columbiana-Canfield Road, Canfield, 44406.

She said educational buildings are homes where wild animals can roam,

The non-profit sanctuary was established in 1991 to provide rescue, rehabilitation and medical care to sick, injured and orphaned birds of prey and water. Today, the sanctuary offers all wild animals a place to rest their paws and claws. Through public education, research and compassionate treatment, staff work with wildlife to ensure their future for years to come.

Merritt said they spent 30 years in Howland before coming to the 80-acre site in Canfield.

Merritt said they get all kinds of wildlife calls, including a peacock wandering around Youngstown,

Birds in Flight cares for almost every animal in the sanctuary, including birds like the red-shouldered hawk and others. The shelter has 250 animals, which she said is their busiest time.

The sanctuary includes an area for rescued pet birds, and a rehabilitation building with quarantine rooms and six flight cages has been completed.

Building educational cages and flying cages involves costs.

Each educational cage costs approximately $10,000, and flight cages cost $17,000 each. Merritt says there are cage sponsorship opportunities.

“We are looking for donations that will hopefully grow to what we need,” Merritt said.

She said the wetlands plans would include a 2-mile walkway and would be used for educational purposes.

She said all educational programs were implemented on-site. The sanctuary will reopen in the spring and tours will be available.

Merritt said many rehabilitation centers have had to close due to bird flu and are not accepting birds or mammals.