Hoots, Howls, and Hollers 08/23/2010

The energy is palpable…for all creatures concerned. Maybe it is a brightly lit morning. It could be the blessed setting of the brutal late afternoon sun. Perhaps it is the dark-time sliver of a new moon…whichever it is the electrified air supports the return of a wild one to the wilds.

At this time at Liberty Wildlife we are all about releases. This past few days (and for weeks to come), the successful culmination of the rehabilitation process has reached its zenith. Most of the animals currently being released are this year’s orphans. These birds came in as eggs, downies, fledglings, with broken bodies, early scrapes with fungus or protozoa, or just overly enthusiastic falls from the nest. They accomplished successfully all of the milestones. They have done all of the things they needed to do to earn their wings and head out to fulfill their promise.

It brings me such pleasure to see the volunteers grab the bird filled carriers as they leave. These are the volunteers who have spent days and evenings cutting up mice, cleaning cages, changing bandages, giving injections, and moving babes from cage to cage (in the blazing heat) to satisfy each stage of growth and development. And, along with these unsuspecting boxed up wild things, they head out the door together for the last time.

Volunteer and animal, each of them, are making tracks for a most memorable experience. They are going to be connected for a last time in an energetic tandem experience…..the releaser and the releasee. The air is eager to receive its missing part; the volunteer is eager to experience the burst of energy; the bird is eager to sense the freedom in its wings.

One, two, three….a wish for its well being….the swoosh, the soar, the song! Hooooray….live long and prosper!

A reminder/request to all of you photographers: We are currently accepting photographs of wildlife to adorn our centerfold for this year’s WingBeats. We are looking for beautiful, whimsical, or just downright interesting photos that you have taken in the wild or have taken at Liberty Wildlife. It needs to be dense enough or large enough for print. We look forward to your many entries! Lesley Guenther and Anne Peyton will be coordinating this section of WingBeats. The deadline is September 1^st.

This Week at Liberty 08/23/2010

Before the surgery special update, I need to pass along some sad news. A while back, it was suspected, and later confirmed, that Barbosa, our new young RTH educational bird, was losing the sight in his left eye, the only one he had. But he seemed to be adapting well and was totally able to eat on the glove and still did a wonderful job at education programs. Then a few weeks ago, he lost his appetite and though was healthy in all other respects, he was losing weight. A few days later he began to eat again, but last Monday, he appeared very weak and was taken inside. A few hours later, he died peacefully in his brooder. It is believed his early departure was the result of some artifact stemming from his original injury, a serious head trauma that cost him his right eye when he was a fledgling.

Though saddened by his loss, we know he is now flying in the light, free from the darkness that had enveloped him.

We'll miss you, Barbosa...

A short stay with us, but one that touched us all.

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Two injured peregrines in our care were scheduled for surgery last week. Dr. Wyman, assisted by Jan and Lori Reger, did some repair work on a large female with two injured wings, and amputated the end of a wing on a little male bird. This week, we chronicle the operations.

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The little male is ready for anesthesia.

The mask goes on...

...and soon the bird is under.

The mask is removed and the sleeping bird is intubated.

As Dr. Wyman removes some feathers, Jan wraps his feet for safety.

Jan monitors as Dr. Wyman begins.

Skilled hands work quickly.

The damaged wing tip is removed.

Then the end is wrapped.

Fluids provide hydration lost from stress and bleeding.

While he's under, his talons get a trimming.

Lori helps Jan wrap him for warmth as he begins to wake up.

The intubation tube is carefully removed.

Lori provides warmth and support to the groggy bird.

"I'm awake now...mostly."

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The second falcon is a larger female with injury to both wings.

The big girl is next.

Once again, the mask is used.

The feet are wrapped in case the bird should suddenly wake from the anesthesia.

Jan notes the time the operation starts and keeps track of respiration and heart rate.

Teamwork is essential.

Another successful outcome!

This second operation was much less traumatic. The bird has damage to both wrists, but didn't require such an extensive amputation. Although neither will be releasable due to their flight being compromised, they will both survive many years and be great education/display birds when we place them.

Hoots, Howls, and Hollers 08/16/2010

On August 11^th Jan Miller and Chaco, the red tailed hawk and Terry Stevens and Phoenix, the golden eagle went to the Native American Connections meeting with me to introduce our new non-eagle feather repository to local leaders in the Native American community. Co-sponsored by Native American Connections the meeting was designed to help us get the word out to not only southwestern tribes, but as a phone-in capacity was offered to tribes around the country, we had attendance from interested parties out of our direct area. A second goal of the meeting was to get feedback on the formation of an Advisory Council to serve on an ‘as needed basis’ to assist us with Native American concerns and issues that arise as we go through this unique process.

The two year pilot program that allows Liberty Wildlife and Sia, in Oklahoma, to provide feathers to legally identified tribal members was well received. Since 1999 Native people have not been able to obtain non-eagle feathers which are critical to many of their religious, ceremonial and cultural practices. Coming of age, healing, marriage, etc. ceremonies often require the use of feathers in the regalia or ceremonies and in order to obtain them, illegal take sometimes occurred. The concept of a non-eagle repository is a perfect opportunity for both Liberty Wildlife and for the Native American community. We have molted feathers, carcasses from rehab animals that don’t make it, and we have access to other rehabilitators, zoos, wildlife resource agencies across the country to help us fill requests. We are very pleased to be able to offer this service in a badly needed area. If we are able to assist another part of our community and help to save wildlife lives at the same time, we will have served a greater purpose.

And, as interested as the audience was in the workings of the repository, the real interest was in being able to be so close to Jan and Chaco and Terry and Phoenix. After the adults got to view these educational animals the students at the school were brought in to have a mini- educational experience. Cell phones snapped pictures, questions flew around the room, gasps were audibly heard! Suffice it to say, they were all thrilled.

Funny, no matter where we go, if the birds are with us we are always a big hit! Thanks to Jan and Terry and their wildlife ambassadors, for keeping the attention of the audience riveted on the front of the room!

This Week at Liberty 08/16/2010

OK, I left Liberty so late today that I forgot to get the latest intake number. My bad! Next week...!

We'll continue the "small animal" theme in this update with some cool smaller birds and mammals, then toss in a couple of owls and hawks to even things out. Next week we'll have what I'm calling the "Surgery Special" edition.

A little dove gets some medicine.

We're treating a cute ash-throated flycatcher.

A couple of meal worms are delicious!

One of two white-throated swifts.

Tiny feet made for grasping.

Though birds of prey still make up the bulk (in terms of size!) of what we treat each year, lots of little birds also pass through the facility. Right now, the staff is treating a very cute ash-throated flycatcher and two white-throated swifts. The swifts are especially interesting as they must be hand fed while in captivity since in the wild, they only catch their prey on the wing. They also have very intriguing feet, designed to grasp walls and vertical surfaces where they build their nests.

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A little pipistrelle bat wound up in the wrong place at the wrong time.

A big brown bat likes "super worms"!

Mother and child.

As long as we're on the topic of worm-eating animals, let's talk about bats. Our resident bat expert, Rebecca, is unfortunately in the hospital this week, and in her absence, Jan is taking care of the many bats in her care. On top of the little and big brown bats for which Rebecca is caring, Joe brought in a little pipistrelle today. All are doing fine and add a dimension to the scope of what Liberty can provide to the fauna of Arizona.

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How beautiful can an owl be?

Note the symmetrical wing molt.

Jan checks a wing as Sharon holds the owl she rescued.

Everyone gets checked for canker.

Blue ribbon volunteer Sharon Sneva drove down to the far southeast valley last week and rescued this astonishingly beautiful barn owl. Presenting some symptoms of a collision with something, Jan felt a tell-tale "crunchiness" in her wing and leg. Currently under observation and therapy for internal damage, our hope is that she will be released to contribute those gorgeous looks to the gene pool!

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Toba finds an ugly wound on this GHO.

"Thank you for helping..."

Another great horned owl came in with a serious wound that appears may be electrical in nature. The badly damaged wing was cleaned and wrapped and the owl allowed to de-stress before further evaluation.

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Cooper's hawks are always stunning.

Toba inspects a wing for injury.

Another cooper's hawk came in with might turn out to be a gun shot wound. Set to go get X-rays soon, we'll know more when the pictures are taken. There are some people who harbor antipathy for accipiters like cooper's and sharp-shinned hawks because they prey on the songbirds around bird feeders. You have to know that when you feed the birds, you will feed all the birds, including the ones that eat the ones that eat your seeds. That's just how nature works. Accept it and appreciate it.

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Roomies!

I just happen to catch Rosie and Rex, our two education gila monsters, sharing an enclosure in their habitat. If only we could all get along this well with our neighbors...