Hoots, Howls, and Hollers 06/29/2009

While this time of year can be amazingly busy, frustrating and exhausting, it is also a time of exhilaration. Just when we think things are slowing down, something (not totally understood) happens and the heavens rain more creatures on us…..so we are very busy once again. That of course brings with it more frustrations and the exhaustion. It’s our job, and we deal with it. But, it also lays the groundwork for one of the most rewarding parts of the job of rehabilitation—the releases. Although we do releases throughout the year, during this season we see the greatest return to the wild, and after all, isn’t that what it’s all about?

The release process is complicated. First the animal has to be judged ready to go free. That means it is healthy, fledgling age, has as good an idea of self feeding as we can provide, and in the case of avian patients, flies with strength supportable of the wild. A proper location for release has to be chosen. We always feel release as close to the area it came from is the best choice. Sometimes this is possible and sometimes it isn’t. In the latter situation a more suitable habitat is selected.

Each of us who oversees releases can take the opportunity to make this another educational experience if any wildlife enthusiasts happen to be around, which is often the case. Why was the animal in our care, what kind of animal is it, why is it being released here, how did we come by it, what was done for it and many other questions are fielded and answered. It is great to grab any chance to advocate for wildlife, and we do!

There are so many great stories to tell of animals that looked hopeless for release but by some sheer will and determination (probably just hard wired in them) they manage to pass all of the tests. There are those who defy captivity for the entire process. There are those that circle over head more times than seem reasonable, and it is so easy to imagine a “thank you” in there somewhere. And there are those who just bolt out of the box, fly fiercely out of sight without a sign of appreciation, but rather a “I am getting the heck out of here while I can and what took so long to get me back home?!”

I have done many releases. I understand the process. I love setting them free back into the wild to do their animal thing …. And so, I am embarrassed to say, and I will just admit this up front, but in that nano-second of time when the animal and I are both just a little bit airborne in the process, I have that ever fleeting moment of thought that maybe I could just fly on off with them…..aaaah the ability to escape the bonds of gravity if just for a little while…..but, alas, every time I find myself thumping heavy footed to the ground as they soar off without me to what I nevertheless hope is a long life, and many babies, free forever from the need of human interaction.

This Week at Liberty 06/29/2009

The variety of the work done by the volunteers/staff at Liberty Wildlife each week is truly amazing. New and different species show up all the time, new volunteers have to be trained, and sometimes new techniques and procedures are developed and added. The one thing that NEVER changes is the constant, relentless need for what is accomplished without question or hesitation: efficient, professional, and loving care for the animals that need a second chance...

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A great blue heron nest in an unfortunate spot.

TWO great blue heron nests...in unfortunate spots.

The WAPA crew makes the ascent.

One of the major activities of the liberty Research and Conservation team is working with utility companies to solve wildlife issues. We have standing contracts with SRP and APS, but the federal company, WAPA (Western Area Power Administration), recently suffered an incident where two great blue heron nests were compromising safety on a transmission tower northwest of Wickenburg. After they obtained their permits, two observers from our R&C team were dispatched as monitors to oversee the removal of the two offending nests and to salvage any inhabitants. After great safety precautions were taken (the wires transmitted over 500KVA!), the nests inspected and we determined they were already vacant. It had taken so long for the government wheels to turn that the birds had flown the coop, so to speak!

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Denise examines as Danielle holds and Cara observes.

Jan examines a scuffed up slider.

His little toenails are completely ground off.

A possibly rare turtle arrives.

A few of the more "aquatic" animals in Arizona come in last week. Two of our new volunteers got to help examine and treat a great egret that showed up needing some help. (Note the proper safety gear being used in the photo!) Then, we got in two turtles. One, a non-native red-eared slider who got caught in the turbines of a canal pump and was slowly being worn away! He lost the edges of his shell and all of his little toenails. The other one might be a bona-fide endangered specie - a coahuilan box turtle. Both were triaged and transferred to the Phoenix Herpetological Society for ultimate disposition.

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Toba examines a young road runner.

We have an eye problem here.

A cool saline flush should help.

A young road runner arrived with an eye issue. A technical bird of prey but not a true raptor, he none-the-less needs his eyesight for survival. We do have the resource of an eye specialist who donates service to Liberty, and in the meantime, he got a soothing flush from Toba and will remain under close observation.

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One of three fledgling hawks from the same nest.

A young raccoon also has eye problems.

A very late baby kestrel doing what all babies do best: sleep!

Amber feeds an orphan baby hummingbird.

And we're still getting lots of babies - of all species! One nest in Ahwatukee provided three baby cooper's hawks over ten days. The nest was directly on Chandler Blvd. and was not an appropriate place for young accipiters to fledge! A young raccoon passed through on his way to SW Wildlife. This little guy had some sort of eye problem and got separated from his mom. We even got in a hatchling kestrel this week. This new baby is probably the product of a second clutch from some over-active(!) parents! And, well, hummingbirds are also quite prolific!

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A cracked lower beak presents a challenge.

A state-of-the-art technique is tried.

An external gusset is glued on one side...

...and symmetrically applied to the opposite side.

Our Managing Director, Megan Mosby, brought in a little thrasher last week who presented a cracked lower beak. It was determined the beak would eventually heal, but keeping it in place while it grew together was a challenge. Jan and Joanie used some high-tech cyanoacrylate glue to apply a wooden splint to both sides of the beak, holding it still and in position while the healing takes place. He'll be watched closely to see if this technique is successful!