Laurens Wildlife Rescue
  • Home
  • I found a wild baby - what do I do?
  • How can I help?
  • Contact us
  • FAQ
  • This week in wildlife

Another whirlwind week

5/17/2015

10 Comments

 
Oh Lordy, where to even begin?
The possums have been released and took off without a second glance. Before their release, though, I managed to snag a couple more videos of them doing their hissy-pissy routine and eating.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Another mocker was released; four more came in. One of them didn’t make it but the other three are doing well. And I just realized I didn’t even take any pix of the mockers this week…Oh well…

Another gorgeous little bluebird fledgling came in, male this time. He was never “right”, refusing to attempt flight even though he was clearly old enough and acting “cuddly”, which is just not normal for a healthy wild-raised bluebird. His rescuers said he was snatched up from the ground just before a dog got to him, leading me to wonder if the whole issue from the get-go was that the poor fellow just couldn’t fly, period.

At any rate, I was placing him in the flight during the day to encourage flight and bringing him back in at night, as perching also seemed problematic. His third night on this routine, he just…died. For no apparent reason. These are the deaths rehabbers hate—when the only explanation that can be offered is the generic, all-encompassing “failure to thrive.”
Picture
These Carolina wrens were found in a repossessed car on a salvage lot and have grown by leaps and bounds. They’re nearly ready for the flight, where they can join the Carolina wren who’s already out there; she and the house finch stubbornly refuse to leave; even though the escape hatch has been left open several days now…
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Speaking of house finches, a lady had a nest of three in her fern and was horrified one morning last week to realize she hadn’t seen either parent in several hours. Since she had a picture window, she could observe without disturbing the birds and had been enjoying watching them. Unfortunately, because at least 8 hours elapsed between her initial concern that the parents were gone and getting the birds to me, one of the hatchlings was DOA. The other two, while fairly critical on intake, are doing well now.
Picture
Picture
This poor barred owl was found by a busy street in town; he had been hit by a car and suffered spinal damage. Meds didn’t resolve the issue, which we were hopeful was simply nerve inflammation, and his lower body remained limp and useless, so he was euthanized.
Picture
The flyer was moved into bigger digs, pre-release, and should be releasable pretty soon.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
The killdeer is flying well and should be released soon.
Picture
The great horned owl with eye damage was moved to the flight pen, which he liked very much except that he refused to eat out there, so he’s back in indoor caging now. He wasn’t transferred to Bubba & Friends as initially planned because Steve Hicks is renovating several of his flights and has limited space at the moment.
Picture
Picture
Picture
This belted kingfisher had an old open fracture at the wrist; the bone had already turned black. She was euthanized.
Picture
Picture
Picture
This green heron chick is a recent hatchling who was fed cat food for two days before intake. His system is still recovering, but at least now he doesn’t reek of cat food. He came in yesterday and was so lethargic I didn’t expect him to survive the night. I contacted Connecticut colleague Grace Krick, who specializes in waterfowl, to ensure that my protocols matched hers in this situation, and we agreed I was doing all that was possible; it was now up to Nature and the heron itself. So far, so good, although his poop is still pretty whiffy and I’d be happier if he were more alert and vocal. It’s a feeding at a time with this guy; we’ll keep our fingers crossed.
Picture
Picture
Picture
When the operator of a local low-cost spay-neuter clinic called to say she’d caught a black vulture with an arrow through its body, I was shocked the bird was even still alive. Based on the position of the arrow in the photos I received, I suspect the vulture was at rest when shot.

It was after hours for Smalley’s Animal Hospital, but I knew vet Richie Hatcher was an archer, and vet Shelley Baumann owns Happy Tails Mobile Vet Clinic, so I contacted both. Richie walked me through how to remove the arrow without killing the bird, and Shelley was on standby in case we needed her.  Fortunately, the arrow missed anything vital and nothing even appears to be broken. The vulture is quite aggressive and an amazing escape artist, so since I’ve had to move the great horned back inside, the vulture is now in the flight pen, where he seems much happier.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Because shooting a protected bird is illegal, this poor guy’s injuries had to be reported to both the GA DNR and USFWS. Sadly, because he was found wandering in a field with the arrow lodged in his body, we have no actual idea where he came from, so finding and prosecuting his attacker will be like finding a needle in a haystack—and just as likely. And yes, the entire situation infuriates me.

Folks, just a reminder: ALL migratory birds (and this includes everything except pigeons, starlings and house sparrows) are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act—even game birds out of season. That makes it a federal crime to injure/kill them, possess their body parts (including feathers), disturb their nests or keep them in captivity. That’s ALL birds: songbirds, waterfowl, raptors—ALL of them. Leave them alone in the wild, leave their nests alone, and if you find a bird needing help, CONTACT A LICENSED REHABBER IMMEDIATELY.

Finally, to end on a more upbeat note, the pileated is still hanging around and demanding handouts periodically throughout the day, making for fun photo ops!
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
10 Comments
Judy Harris
5/17/2015 07:40:56 am

I'm glad to see the vulture is thriving. I saw photos on FB and knew the ones who found him knew what to do. They mentioned you had him. I know it isn't likely but hoping someone in Telfair will tattle!

Reply
Laurens Wildlife Rescue
5/17/2015 08:31:44 am

Thanks Judy. Hopefully he'll continue to mend and be releasable; fingers crossed. I hope someone down that way saw something and reports it, too. There's just no excuse for that kind of cruelty.

Reply
Elizabeth link
5/17/2015 09:27:31 am

Oh, Vonda, how awful about the vulture. I don't know what I would do! You know sometimes people are more stupid than you think, it may get back to authorities, some idiot bragging. Fingers crossed for him, and that someone spills.

Reply
Laurens Wildlife Rescue
5/17/2015 09:54:38 am

Thanks Elizabeth, and hopefully someone saw something and will report it.

Reply
Dusty Gres
5/17/2015 10:03:58 am

We have a family of pileated woodpeckers who live in the hollow tree next door. They taunt me by coming over here and then flying away when I get the camera out! Love these pics.

Reply
Laurens Wildlife Rescue
5/17/2015 11:10:58 am

Thanks Dusty! Yeah, despite their loud calls, pileateds are actually fairly shy birds. I've had 'em circle around tree trunks to avoid me seeing them!

Reply
Pam
5/18/2015 06:47:07 am

One might imagine bow hunters are more compassionate than your average shotgun toting redneck. But this vulture was just target practice for some lout. Tragic. Still - one lucky bird to have been brought to you!

Reply
Laurens Wildlife Rescue
5/18/2015 07:17:30 am

Oh, lout is about the kindest thing the shooter's been called, Pam! At least the vulture's doing well, so he was lucky that nothing vital was hit. State and feds are on it; both have notified me today. Odds are against actually finding the shooter, but we can hope...

Reply
Ann Feldman
5/18/2015 03:06:27 pm

I just read this in The Bedside Book of Birds (Graeme Gibson), which quoted it from the Peterborough Bestiary (from the early 14th century). It said that the word "vulture" comes from "a volatu tardo" signifying slow flying.

Reply
Laurens Wildlife Rescue
5/18/2015 04:00:09 pm

Neat, Ann--thanks for the info! (And now I have to visit Amazon to get a copy of that book...)

Makes sense--vultures are very slow to take off; it's one reason they puke so easily, so they can lighten the load in order to take off in a "hurry" (as defined by a vulture). That and as a means of defense, of course...

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010
    February 2010
    January 2010
    December 2009
    November 2009
    October 2009
    September 2009
    August 2009
    July 2009
    June 2009
    May 2009
    April 2009
    March 2009
    February 2009
    January 2009
    December 2008
    November 2008
    October 2008
    September 2008
    August 2008
    July 2008
    June 2008
    May 2008
    April 2008

    Categories

    All
    Baby Birds
    Baby Deer
    Baby Opossums
    Baby Possums
    Baby Rabbits
    Bluegray Gnatcatchers
    Carolina Wren
    Common Loons
    Epd
    Fawns
    House Finch
    Mbta
    Migratory Bird Treaty Act
    Mockers
    Mockingbirds
    Orphaned Birds
    Orphaned Deer
    Orphaned Fawns
    Orphaned Opossums
    Orphaned Possums
    Orphaned Rabbits
    Orphaned Wildlife
    Squirrels
    Wildlife
    Wood Ducks

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.