Last Chance Forever
The Bird of Prey ConservancyAbout Our Organization
Founded in 1978 by Master Falconer John Karger, Last Chance Forever is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, tax exempt organization dedicated to the rehabilitation of sick, injured, and orphaned birds of prey, scientific investigation and public education of these majestic animals. Based in San Antonio, Texas, Last Chance Forever has provided a national impact through more than 40 years of work across the nation to help everyone understand that these birds share the same earth, same air, and same water as we do, and they are important indicators of the world’s ecological health.
Each year, the project receives between 240-300 birds into our care. Each case, from being blown out of the nest in a storm, to electrical damage, to broken wings is evaluated individually by our staff and veterinary support. For some birds, the injuries are small, and can be repaired and released quickly; for others, such as a Bald Eagle with a badly broken wing, the recovery and rehabilitation may take years. Last Chance Forever is proud of a 65%-80% rate of return to the wild. Birds who are non-releasable and are not suffering are used for humane research, surrogates for orphaned young, and educational ambassadors when possible.
Our staff and volunteers present over 200 presentations a year for schools, libraries, and public festivals to share the beauty of these birds and the message of common sense conservationism. By providing an opportunity to see the birds up close, and ask questions, we can learn how to view the world from the animal’s perspective, as well as our own, and we can learn about the checks and balances they provide. Our goal is to give everyone a chance to sit down together and talk, because as John Karger says, “That’s how world peace starts.”
“For love of life, hawks on the wing, eagles in the sky, and for love of peace… We must always put up a fight.” – John Karger
Birds of Prey
Last Chance Forever focuses exclusively on birds of prey, such as vultures, owls, hawks, falcons and eagles. While all wildlife needs support, by narrowing our focus to raptors, we can bring specialized expertise to the situation and use our limited resources to focus our advocacy and impact. There are no state or federal programs to rehabilitate individual wild birds, so as a separate non-profit we can work in concert with the public and the government to help share the beauty and impact of practical environmentalism.
Falconry as a part of Rehabilitation
The first accounts of Falconry date all the way back to the 3rd millennium BCE. Throughout its use for sustenance and sport, it has always focused on understanding the behaviors of the birds and helping them become better hunters. One of the reasons why we are so successful is that we have blended modern science and veterinary medicine with the ancient art of falconry. Falconry allows us to help the birds of prey in a manner that keeps them safe and exercises them in the same ways they would hunt, all as part of their successful rehabilitation.
San Antonio Center
Our primary care facility in Northeast San Antonio houses between 80-100 birds on any given day. A variety of areas, from weathering yards, to flight chambers, to the treatment area and hospital provide space for everything from new arrivals being evaluated for possible injuries to non-releasable permanent residents that we use as educational ambassadors and surrogate parents for orphaned birds of prey.
