Ken English receives Lifetime Achievement Award

BONNERS FERRY — Ken English has received a lifetime achievement award from the Idaho Department of Fish & Game for his work caring for and rehabilitating birds of prey in the region.

English is 79, but age hasn’t slowed his passion and work in the community; many know English for his work as Fire Chief of Moyie Springs.

At the age of 14, in North Dakota, English explored what would turn into a lifelong hobby of being a falconer.

“We had a national assemblies program in school, and the guy that came was a falconer,” English said. “He did some demonstrations with his bird, and I decided I was going to do the same.”

In March of 1957, English moved to Northern Idaho and has worked with birds of prey ever since.

When there is heavy snow in the region, many first-year birds new to the winter will be dehydrated, malnourished and potentially injured due to extreme weather conditions.

English steps in to help rehabilitate and nourish birds of prey abandoned by the parents as they need that extra help during the winter. He will also help birds that have been hit by vehicles or suffering an injury.

“The adults have all left and it’s survival on your own, and if you don’t make it, you don’t make it, and the parents don’t stick with them [year-old birds],” English said.

It varies, but English expects anywhere from five to 20 birds to take care of during the winter. The significant factor is how harsh the winter is for the birds.

When asked about the relationship between English and the birds he rescues, he sympathetically said, “I become close to all of them, but they don’t always become close to me.”

According to English, birds of prey can ignore feeding their yearling birds if they are hungry enough because they tend to be survivalists.

The passion for caring for birds of prey isn’t always easy; English has suffered many injuries in the care of these majestic birds.

Talons puncture English’s arm, and there's a scar on his face where an eagle took a chunk of meat out and talons scratching at him.

“If you don’t want to get hurt, don’t work with birds,” English said.

According to English, an eagle’s talons are similar to zip ties; the harder you struggle, the claws click into their prey, and it can be excruciating. English uses gloves as his primary protection to prevent bleeding but has made it clear that you will bleed.

There is no significant reimbursement or financial support for English to care for the birds, and neither does he seek or ask for financial assistance. English takes care of the birds of prey as his hobby and passion, not for any rewards.

On average, English can expect a cost of $2500 to take care of the birds; a high cost is the purchasing of mice and quail to feed the birds.

Fish & Game helps English by bringing the birds in and with regular checkups of the progress he has made. The Boundary County Sheriff's Office also helps by reporting fresh roadkill that can be fed to the birds English is rehabilitating.

The work English is doing is vital because it helps keep a balanced ecosystem, but the accolades aren’t crucial to English; that’s not why he does the important work.

“If I didn’t love it, I wouldn’t do it,” English said, “I do love it, so that’s what keeps me going.”

The Idaho Fish & Game awarded a plaque to English for his lifetime work of helping these birds because no one is as experienced as English in his work for rehabilitating birds of prey.

“Ken has proven to be a tremendous asset to the birds of prey of North Idaho," said Brian Johnson, Idaho Fish & Game senior conservation officer. "He has worked tirelessly for many decades, working mostly on his own nickel, all with very little fanfare. I can think of no one more deserving than Ken English. I wish we could do more for the man.”

When asked what is the most rewarding part of all the hard work in rehabilitating the birds, Ken responded, “letting them loose.”

Johnson, with a team of businesses, came together to contribute to the Lifetime Achievement Award and also provided gift cards for English.

The businesses involved include Three Mile Corner Café, Store Larson’s Department Store, The Moyie Store, Kootenai River Brewing Company, Pizza Factory, Boundary Tractor, The Gathering Place, JB Tire — Les Schwab, Far North Outfitters and Bonners Books.