As a juvenile, Grafton was taken to a rehabilitator in Lyme, NH, after suffering from a collision in Grafton, NH. In addition to a fractured wing and toe, Grafton also had a fractured and misaligned beak. This made it impossible for her to tear food, which is necessary for any wild raptor, so she was declared non-releasable and came to VINS to live as an exhibit bird in 2007.

For years, our rehabilitation staff would carefully cut Grafton’s food into bite-sized pieces. After seven years in our care, Grafton’s misaligned beak finally healed, and she was able to eat normally. Grafton remained non-releasable, due to her many years at VINS habituating her to humans, and our rehabilitators who continued to carefully monitor her beak during the biannual health checkups. Grafton was very vocal and often “shared” her dining experience with visitors at the front fence!

Grafton passed away in December 2020. She has touched countless lives, and will be missed.  Adopt in Grafton's memory to support all the birds at VINS.