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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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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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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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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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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...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!
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