10/13/2026
This is an extremely hard post to make. We unexpectedly lost Amelia aka Mille last evening. Millie, an American Kestrel, was one of everyone's favorite Educational Ambassadors. She was six years old, still young for a Kestrel. She was our very first ambassador and upon arrival here, she claimed my husband as her person. They had an incredible bond. She will be so missed, both as an educator, as a family member, and a friend to our volunteers.
Millie came to us 6 years ago, as not quiet a fledgling. She had been kept by a veterinarian after she was taken in for help. Poor Millie was taken from the wild by humans who desired her as a pet. It is illegal and morally, so very wrong to keep a wild animal as a pet. The people who had her knew nothing about raising a raptor. Her diet with them was hot dogs and bologna. Millie got extremely sick from this diet (duh) and was on the verge of death, thus the trip to the vet. After the vet refused to return the bird to them, we were called. We gladly accepted this tiny girl, knowing she may not make it.
Fast forward TWO years later, that's how long it took to get her completely healthy again, she was a beautiful, feisty, Queen! She was already imprinted when we received her, so the natural choice was to train her to be our first educational partner ! She loved doing the presentations, and she loved the adventure. She was always the first one out of her travelling crate because she was nosey and wanted to see all that was happening. I'm not sure how her tiny body held all of the personality she had. She was a performer thru and thru. People would praise her beauty and her poise, and I swear she knew it.
For over five years Millie taught people the remarkable qualities of raptors. She gave children and adults the opportunity to learn in the perfect sized ambassador! She was perfect in connecting people with raptors. She interacted with literally thousands of people.
She did exactly what we hoped she would, she never let us down.
We don't know exactly what caused her to pass. She and I had our morning conversation as usual, and she gave no indication of having any sickness or distress. I was gone all day and later that evening I got a frantic call from my husband who found her laying on the floor of her cage. She was still alive but was already passing.
I suspect, (I don't know for sure and never will) that she had damage done to organs as a tiny fledgling, from malnutrition, and preservatives and it caught up with her. She had the best life with us for six years and we did with her as well. We are grateful to have known her and we will miss her deeply.
I hope you had the opportunity to meet Millie.
** Imprinting is when a baby bonds with a moving object and believes that is their parent. When wild birds do this it is Illegal to release them because they have no bird behaviors such as communication or hunting skills.
