This Week at Liberty 01/26/2009

A memorable week with the arrival of a seriously ill RTH, two surgeries performed at the facility, and, sadly, the death of the golden eagle. But not all the news is sad or serious...

Remember the "Dart Duck"? He was released this week at his old lake by Rescue and Transport Volunteer Alan Spencer, who took this picture.

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Lance gets the spa treatment.

All of our resident birds get periodic maintenance in order to keep them healthy. Beaks that grow a bit too long, as well as talons that become overly sharp are trimmed and shaped. Here, Jan cuts Lance's talons while Toba holds the willing bird.

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPdaZtQ-WgQ

A new recruit for the Education Team: Digger!

We have applied to have a new burrowing owl on our Ed team.  "Digger", as she is called, was brought inside to acclimate her to daily activity. If she can get used to seeing lots of humans, she will do well in the education environment.

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Scott and Amanda treat a very dark red-tailed hawk.

A stunning recovery for a "chocolate" RTH.

Last week, a very beautiful, very dark colored red-tailed hawk arrived.  He was not in good condition, quite "down" as the med services people say, with a dim outlook. Then, through careful treatment and medication from the MS team, he improved drastically, almost overnight. Hopes are high he'll be released in good time.

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The ferruginous gets general anesthesia.

Jan watches as Rebecca assists Dr.Driggers perform surgery.

The steel pin is removed!

Soon afterward, the patient recovers.

Then the peregrine goes under...

Jan helps Dr.Driggers with the foot surgery.

The bumblefoot in the second foot is addressed.

While he's under, Dr.Driggers trims a talon.

The foot is then wrapped for recovery.

Dr. Todd Driggers, one of the outstanding veterinarians who volunteer their services at Liberty, brought his mobile surgical team to the facility last week and performed two operations. In the first, he removed the steel pin from the wing of the ferruginous hawk that he had inserted a few weeks ago. Then, he operated on both feet of the little male peregrine we have that had such a serious case of bumblefoot.  The whole procedure (both of them!) took less than an hour. Thank you, Dr.Driggers, and your M.A.S.H. (Mobile Avian Surgical Hospital) unit! 

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Phoenix and Sonora keep making progress in their flight training.  They now are brought out to the front yard at Liberty to fly on a creance from perch to perch. Here's Phoenix demonstrating

his considerable skill and intelligence as he performs for Joe.