SHERBURNE — The Chenango Bird Club will hold its monthly meeting at 6:30 p.m., Oct. 14, at the Rogers Environmental Education Center, located at 2721 State Route 80.

Following a brief business meeting, the club will hold its annual photo contest and also honor Charley and Dori Koop with the Friends of Birds Award.

“This club tradition was reinstated last year and was very enjoyable,” said Dan Pfeifer, communications chair for the Chenango Bird Club. “It will be fun again this year with the categories being Humor, Nature at its Best, Compelling Bird(s), Rogers Environmental Center and Youth.”

“The Koops have been rehabilitating animals for more than 20 years at Koop Wildlife Rehabilitation. In addition to birds, they have cared for fawns, squirrels, rabbits, bobcats and other wildlife. They have been known to care for up to 30 animals at a time in a round-the-clock operation, Pfeifer said.

The Koops said they were surprised when they found out they were receiving the award and are very thankful.

“We’ve been rehabbing animals for 21 years and we have our high points and we have our low points,” said Charley. “Getting a surprise like this is very gratifying for both of us.”

Charley will also present a live Harris’s hawk and answer questions from attendees.

He said the hawk, Dusty, is about 13 years old and from his falconry, as Charley is a licensed master falconer. He uses the bird a lot in different programs and said he’s a good sound bird that knows how to behave.

He said falcons can live to about 20 years. Eagles in captivity can live up to 50 years.

One of the things he said they enjoy about rehabilitation is they never know what’s coming in next, adding, “It might be a bob cat today or a bunny tomorrow.”

Charley said one of his most memorable moments took place in one weekend, which he calls his “eagle weekend”.

They had received two calls within hours of each other to pick up two eagles that couldn’t fly. Back to back they picked them up and drove them to Cornell for testing. Once both eagles were dropped off, Charley received another call to personally release an eagle that was rehabbed.

It was his first opportunity to release an eagle as DEC usually releases them.

“Since then, I’ve had the opportunity to release four eagles,” Charley said. “Eagles carry a different weight to them because of all of the restrictions and protections for people to be able to have an eagle in their possession.”

“To be able to release one was phenomenal and now I’ve released four personally, so that’s a huge accomplishment,” he added.

The Koops work closely with the New Berlin Veterinary Clinic and the Janet L. Swanson Wildlife Hospital at Cornell University. They opened their rescue center in 2005.

To report an injured, sick or abandoned animal, call a licensed rehabilitator immediately,

Charley noted that taking pictures of the animal to send to them or another rehabber can also be helpful in determining if an animal needs care.

The Koops can be contacted at 607-847-8567, if there is no answer, leave a message and include a phone number. DEC licensed wildlife rehabilitators can also be found online at dec.ny.gov/nature/wildlife-health/rehabilitators. Animal Help Now can also provide rehabilitator contacts at ahnow.org.

Bird club questions can be emailed to Loretta Brady at lorettajbrady@gmail.com.