Yeah, the raptor train keeps making regular stops at LWR; in fact, apparently we’re on the express route. Of the eight birds that have come in this week, four of them have been raptors—and intake number nine is on the way, a “baby” owl of as-yet undetermined species, making FIVE new raptors this week.
Starting with some good news, the fledgling warbler recovering from the wing fracture that should have precluded any type of flight, whom I finally decided was probably a pine warbler, was flight-tested in the songbird flight—as if that was really necessary, given the frequency of her escapes and flights around the rehab room the week before Easter—and showed not even a hint of wonky flight. She was subsequently released.
Starting with some good news, the fledgling warbler recovering from the wing fracture that should have precluded any type of flight, whom I finally decided was probably a pine warbler, was flight-tested in the songbird flight—as if that was really necessary, given the frequency of her escapes and flights around the rehab room the week before Easter—and showed not even a hint of wonky flight. She was subsequently released.
The red-shouldered hawk recovering from a wing fracture received “flight clearance” from vets Richie Hatcher and Peggy Hobby at Smalley’s Animal Hospital—just look at that x-ray! Talk about gorgeous healing! He is now in the raptor flight, where his flight skills are returning quickly.
Of course, moving him to the raptor flight meant bringing the fledgling barred owl back inside, which neither he nor I was especially unhappy about. He wasn’t eating as well as I wanted in the flight but his appetite picked back up once he was inside again.
The barred trio continue to grow apace and are starting to get antsy in their box, which they trash daily. The photo below shows the results of overnight shenanigans with remnants of breakfast…
And yet another downy barred owl came in yesterday evening, this one with a slightly “off”-feeling left wrist. It doesn’t appear to be broken; it just feels “not right” somehow. He’ll be headed to Smalley’s for x-rays Monday.
The sharpie from last week did in fact have an unfixable wing fracture. The bones were badly displaced, so euthanasia was the kindest option for the poor bird.
And apparently he wasn’t the only sharpie who didn’t get the “you’re a winter visitor only” memo; this female sharpie was delivered by the game warden this morning. Her wing also feels badly broken, so she’s slated for a vet visit Monday, too.
The leg-trap GHO continues to heal—we hope. He’s not due for follow-up x-rays for another couple of weeks.
The GHO trio are eating like little feathered Hoovers, although the two youngest do seem to alternate skipping a meal a day. Probably time to cut them back to two feedings a day…
The osprey worries me; I’m afraid he may be succumbing to lead poisoning, and given the placement of the pellets in his body, surgery to remove them isn’t an option. His appetite remains depressed, although he’s still alert and energetic. Maybe I’m just borrowing trouble. I hope so. I’d like this bird to have a chance at release.
No new pix of the flyers this week; they’re pretty strictly nocturnal now and have just a few weeks before moving to pre-release caging.
When this cat-attacked grackle’s x-rays showed no fractures in a swollen wing, Peggy and I were delighted. Grackles have lousy personalities and even worse songs, but they’re strikingly beautiful birds. He’d been brought in within hours of the attack and started on meds immediately, but within 24 hours he’d died, despite our efforts.
When this cat-attacked grackle’s x-rays showed no fractures in a swollen wing, Peggy and I were delighted. Grackles have lousy personalities and even worse songs, but they’re strikingly beautiful birds. He’d been brought in within hours of the attack and started on meds immediately, but within 24 hours he’d died, despite our efforts.
And this poor Carolina wren hatchling fell two stories to land on a porch. The young man who found the bird brought it to me within an hour of finding it, but there were internal injuries; it didn’t survive the night.
That white "blob" is normal; it's a fecal sac he hasn't pooped yet. The bruising can be seen above that, on his little belly.
A mammal rehabber south of me, Libby Parker-Carey, sent four birds to LWR yesterday. The most concerning is this red-shoulder who appears to’ve been shot—a through-and-through, as there’s a hole in the wing. Libby bandaged the wound before transport, as it was a fresh injury and started bleeding again every time he moved his wing. Honestly, given the photos she texted me and his general condition, neither of us expected him to survive the trip to LWR, much less be alive today. He’s hanging in there and will get x-rays and further treatment from Smalley’s tomorrow.
She also sent an adult barred owl who, in addition to the eye swollen shut, appears to have a luxated lens in the other eye. Another patient for Smalley’s tomorrow—they’re gonna loooove me…
This cat-attacked mourning dove is also from Libby. He has no injuries, just missing feathers. He just needs a little time and should be releasable soon.
LLibby said this fledgling brown-headed nuthatch was found in a ditch. She’s a vocal little rascal, as are all brown-headed nuthatches, in addition to being a big mess-maker—as are all baby songbirds. Take a look at the two videos below, taken just three hours apart, and notice the difference in her new digs. The first video was right after the morning paper change; the second was right before the second paper change of the day.
Yep, the first thing she did this morning was take a bath!
This first-year red-tailed hawk came from a county some distance to the south. As you can see, his lower beak was apparently broken at some point and has healed at an odd angle. And he’s nearly starved to death in the process: he’s rail-thin. He’ll also be visiting Smalley’s Monday to see if there’s anything we can do at this late date to correct that awkward angle.
And let’s not forget the mystery owl on its way—any bets as to species? I’m guessing barred; that seems to be the trend this season!
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