Found badly injured at the LaGuardia Airport in NY, LaGuardia was likely harmed by a blast of hot air from a jet engine. Both of his wings were badly fractured, requiring surgery and care from rehabilitators. VINS became his permanent home, due to his not having strong enough flight for hunting.

LaGuardia still had quite a few dark juvenile feathers when he arrived in 2014, leading us to suspect that he was only a year or two old when he was injured. At first, LaGuardia acted very afraid of people, but he has gradually warmed to our visitors. He often sits directly on the ground, or very close to it, much like wild snowy owls would do while living in the wide expanses of the Arctic tundra.