Current intake number: 303
After the big cleanup day and the holiday week, we are easing back to a normal routine. This week, as we approach our annual Wishes for Wildlife fundraiser, TW@L will catch up on some odds and ends, with some general operation shots before Baby Bird Season opens fully and the whole tempo gets cranked up a notch - or two!
A few of Liberty's supporters, including Mr. Bob Berger and Dr. Ed Portnoy came by last week. They got a look at the condor and a chance to watch some eagles being fed. Anne Peyton took the time to explain what is involved in the program while displaying Phoenix and Libby.
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Now that Dr. Orr is available on a more regular basis, we are taking advantage of her years of experience and expertise in wildlife medicine. It's been reassuring to be able to call on her for advice and input in some of the center's operations.
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The little scaup got a chance to enjoy himself in one of the sinks last week. Not being terribly adept at maneuvering on the ground, he seemed quite at home in the water.
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The Greek Orthodox Church near Liberty called last week with a small problem - three of them to be exact. It seems that soma killdeer had set up a nest in the vacant field next to their church building. Even though there was no water nor even a blade of grass anywhere near the scrape nest, it was not a problem at first. But as time progressed and Easter week approached, the field was to be used for an overflow parking lot with hundreds of cars and people coming and going. By the time Liberty was called, the eggs had hatched and three tiny babies were being brooded by their parents. The babies would certainly have been crushed by the traffic so they were taken to the facility and placed in a brooder where they will be among the first non-raptorial orphans of the year.
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One of a couple of GHO's came in last week presenting a wing injury. An unusually beautiful bird, the little guy was examined by both Jan and Dr. Wyman before getting a wing wrap and being scheduled for X-rays. This time of year, all adults who come in are examined for brood patches (areas on their abdomens that are devoid of feathers) that would indicate they are incubating eggs. When this happens, the rescue team must look for the nest and any eggs therein.
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Several months ago, this little HaHa arrived with devastating burns from an electrical fire. Nearly every feather on his body was damaged severely and a large hold had been burned in his wing. Never giving up, he was cared for lovingly by the Med Services team and soon he began to improve. The hole in his wing has almost completely healed, although there will always be a gap in the patagium, and his feathers are coming in nicely. His future is now secure as an educational bird, especially for the R&C Team as they teach the power companies what damage can be caused by accidental contact with equipment.
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Not all birds who come in have injured wings. Legs are also susceptible to injury and this week, a raven and and a red tailed hawk arrived with remarkable leg and/or foot damage. For birds that use their legs as much as raptors and ravens, this is a real problem. Fortunately, our Med Services team are adept at wrapping and splinting various leg and foot breaks and dislocations.
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Since Liberty has added certain bunnies to the list of animals that we will rehab, we might be seeing more lagomorph pictures in TW@L in the future. This little guy is almost ready to go out into the world.
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The little orphan baby thrasher that came in a couple of weeks ago with one wing missing (most likely from a cat attack) is almost completely healed. He will either be placed or will join our Education Team in the near future. He seems to have a real feel for the people at Liberty who saved his life.
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Another shot of Sedona and her foster baby.
Sedona is doing a great job as a foster mom. She and Igor are fiercely protective of their tiny charge and getting a good photo requires the help of one of the medical team to keep them from trying to kill me as I take the shots! Good job, mamma!
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Late arrival: A hummingbird nest?
Usually when we get in hummingbirds, they arrive in a shoebox or something smaller, wrapped in paper towels or kleenex tissue. This intact nest showed up recently and I thought it was worthwhile showing how intricately the birds construct their homes in the wild.
2 comments:
Very interesting pix, thank you for sharing.
Ron&Patty Meridian, Id.
Oh my, look at the hair in the nest! Grandfather always had me "let my hair free" during nest building season, and now I see why... Keep up the good work - From Roseville CA
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