Cameron Merritt of Birds in Flight Sanctuary in Canfield shows at Harris hawk at q recent fall fest at the facility, Plans are using 2,5 wetland area and also constructing more educational buildings, Jewel and Bob Luchijnsky of Poland of Poland ask questions about the hawk,

CANFIELD — With an increased need for helping birds and animals, the Birds in Flight Sanctuary will be expanding next year with more land and more buildings,

The public had the opportunity this month to visit the sanctuary at a fall fest and see all that has been done and learn about what is ahead. The fall fest was the final event for the educational season.

Cameron Merritt, one of the sanctuary owners, said plans are to expand on a 2.5-acre area east of the property for a wetland to attract marsh birds and also for a place to release birds.

Five educational buildings for birds and mammals have been completed with plans for 15 more. The large buildings house a fox, possum and hawks.

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

“This is my first time here. I have always wondered what this facility was like. I work at a vet clinic where people have found injured wildlife 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 area is fortunate to have such a facility.

“We have an influx of animals this year, some of them sick and others injured by 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 close and see the various wildlife.

He was showing a Harris hawk, which is native to Arizona and New Mexico, at the event and was asked questions such as “Where is it from?”

The sanctuary has 200-250 birds and mammals in rehabilitation. Merritt said people would have to schedule appointments next spring to see wildlife since no birds or mammals are taken off-site for showing.

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

Bob and Jewel Pluchinsky of Poland said their daughter, Lori Pluchinsky, lives in Arizona so they have seen the Harris hawks there.

‘She does a lot of hiking so she has seen the hawks.” Jewel Pluchinsky said.

Bob Pluchinsky said their daughter is active as a member of a zoo in Arizona so she sees a lot of the animals.

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

Carol Sudzina of Campbell said they had a squirrel that fell off a wire onto their driveway and was injured so they contacted the sanctuary about it.

VOLUNTEER FOR YEARS

Dante Campana of Champion, a volunteer at the sanctuary, said he is excited about the expansion into the wetland area since a big part of teaching people about wildlife.

“There is a whole ecosystem there. The wetlands have a variety of wildlife from frogs and dragonflies. That area will be able to be used as a huge part of our education when we are able to bring groups of children. The wetland will be up close and personal.” Campana said.

He said the sanctuary had a big impact on his own life starting at age 14.

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

She said the educational buildings are homes for the wildlife to move around in,

The sanctuary, which is a non-profit, was founded in 1991 to provide rescue, rehabilitation, and medical care for sick, injured, and orphaned birds of prey and waterfowl. Today the sanctuary offers all wildlife a place to rest their paws and claws. Through public education, research and caring 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 deals with almost any animal at the sanctuary, including birds like a red-shouldered hawk and others. The sanctuary has 250 animals in-house which she said is their busiest season.

The sanctuary has an area for rescued domestic birds, and the rehabilitation building, complete with quarantine rooms and six flight cages, was finished.

Building the educational cages and flight cages comes at a cost.

Each educational cage is about $10,000 while the flight cages are $17,000 a piece. Merritt says there are opportunities to sponsor cages.

“We’re looking for donations to hopefully grow to what we need to be,” Merritt said.

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

She said all educational programs have been done on-site. The sanctuary will be open again in the spring and tours can be scheduled.

Merritt said many rehab facilities had to be closed down because of avian influenza and are not taking birds or mammals.