This Week at Liberty 09/27/2010

The intake total for the year is now at 2969.

Lots of Liberty activity this week, some at the facility, some at satellite operations. We took in some very cool birds, and even a very late baby! The R&C team went down to Gila Bend for a couple of days and the annual Birdie Fore Birds gold tournament was held last Saturday. As I said, a busy week!

Andrea and Anastasia feed an injured HaHa.

A black throated sparrow was brought in.

And we also got a juvenile version of the same specie.

A pretty little orange-crowned warbler is in our care.

While we still get in our share of raptors with injuries, at various times of the year we also see some very pretty smaller birds. Two black-throated sparrows, one adult and one juvenile, arrived last week, as did an orange-crowned warbler. The smaller birds all receive the same stellar care from the Medical Services staff that their big brothers get. The difference is the amount of vet wrap that is required!

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"Don't even THINK of taking my home!"

The R&C team scopes out the burrow.

Team Liberty in action.

Jan and Stevie use the fiber-optic scope with Michaele's help.

Michaele scopes with Jan's help - "Is that a Chilean miner?"

Mechanized help speeds up the process.

One of the recent projects for the Research & Conservation team (headed by Nina, and including Jan, Stevie, Michaele, and myself) was to help a company that is building the world's largest solar farm on 3000 acres west of Gila Bend. Hundreds of burrowing owls make their homes there, and to ensure none these birds were injured in the process, we had to inspect each burrow or possible burrow to make sure no owls were present. Then, to prevent them from returning prior to the beginning of construction, the burrows had to be rendered unusable by collapsing them. We use some high tech equipment like two fiber optic scopes to inspect the burrows, and some old fashion techniques like digging by hand when we have no power equipment available. The birds will find new homes in the area and after the plant is built, new ecosystems will develop.

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A baby green heron - a bit late!

A badly injured osprey arrives.

Andrea administers some medication.

Believe it or not, we actually got in a baby green heron last week. Maybe it's global climate change, maybe it's the lunar phase, who knows? In any case, he's with us now and his chances are good! And speaking of birds who live on or near water, last Saturday night, rescue volunteer Joey Patrizi brought in an osprey with a badly broken wing. The bird was stabilized and medicated and will probably be sent for X-rays this week.

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A pack of coyotes "playing through."

The check in table manned by eager volunteers.

The birds are all stars.

Anne and her pal, Phoenix. (Photo by Lesley Guenther)

Craig and Jester. (Photo by Lesley Guenther)

"Let's go play golf!"

The annual Liberty golf tournament "Birdie Fore Birds" was held last Saturday. As always, the education birds were the talk of the event. The weather was warm, but everyone had a great time and enjoyed the morning. After the tournament, an awards luncheon was held at the clubhouse.

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Sonora is growing up.

Sonora, our flighted bald eagle, is growing up fast. She is approaching her fourth year now and is fast becoming an adult. The light flecking on her body is diminishing and her head and tail are turning white rapidly. It won't be long before people stop asking if she is really a bald eagle!