Many factors intervened to postpone the normal first-of-the month update, primarily the fact that I was swamped with editing, and editing pays the bills, so…hmm…update the website or pay the bills? I’ll take pay the bills for this month, Alex…
While I have a short sort of half-lull at the moment, though, I’m getting a quick update out there for your reading and viewing pleasure! To keep this overdue update under novel-length, I’ve picked a few of the cuter intakes to focus on; for this update we’ll avoid the less-pleasant situations we’ve had to deal with in the past month, other than to let everyone know that the kingbird who was the subject of a dedicated rant didn’t make it. The persistent diarrhea, combined with the crappy diet she’d been fed during the crucial formative stages of her little life, was just too much for her system to handle. We wormed her; we put her on meds; we tried everything possible. She was frustrated because the flight instinct was there but the ability was not thanks to that improperly healed wing. She was also losing weight rapidly even though she was being fed every 30-45 minutes for 14 hours a day. It became a quality of life issue, and when there’s nothing else I can do for my rehabs, I can give them a peaceful death. And yes, I’m still furious that this was necessary, as had the bird been with a qualified, licensed rehabber from the get-go, she might have had a chance at release.
While I have a short sort of half-lull at the moment, though, I’m getting a quick update out there for your reading and viewing pleasure! To keep this overdue update under novel-length, I’ve picked a few of the cuter intakes to focus on; for this update we’ll avoid the less-pleasant situations we’ve had to deal with in the past month, other than to let everyone know that the kingbird who was the subject of a dedicated rant didn’t make it. The persistent diarrhea, combined with the crappy diet she’d been fed during the crucial formative stages of her little life, was just too much for her system to handle. We wormed her; we put her on meds; we tried everything possible. She was frustrated because the flight instinct was there but the ability was not thanks to that improperly healed wing. She was also losing weight rapidly even though she was being fed every 30-45 minutes for 14 hours a day. It became a quality of life issue, and when there’s nothing else I can do for my rehabs, I can give them a peaceful death. And yes, I’m still furious that this was necessary, as had the bird been with a qualified, licensed rehabber from the get-go, she might have had a chance at release.
The blue jay from the last regular update was released, as were all his flight pen companions. Here’s a shot of him shortly after release. He no longer perches on my finger; that’s a habit that fades a few days after release from the flight pen.
Same fellow, preening near dark. He no longer comes down for supplemental feedings; only one jay still does, in fact.
I have so many recent releases of different species dropping by for handouts, however, that today I gave up trying to make sure I named off all species as I called them down for supplemental feedings. I now just yell for “various and sundry birdie-byes”. It works…trust me; it works. It’s like a scene from Hitchcock’s “The Birds.”
I have so many recent releases of different species dropping by for handouts, however, that today I gave up trying to make sure I named off all species as I called them down for supplemental feedings. I now just yell for “various and sundry birdie-byes”. It works…trust me; it works. It’s like a scene from Hitchcock’s “The Birds.”
This American goldfinch is one of the recent releases. She’s a chatty, greedy young lady who will demand more even while she has food running out her beak! Finches are known for gorging themselves; it’s something we have to monitor closely in rehab.
I think somebody stole my downy little wood duckling while I wasn’t looking and replaced him with this gorgeous growing duck! Look how his tail and wing feathers have changed between the photo at right and the one below, taken a little over two weeks apart. He’s rapidly approaching release size.
This tiny Eastern cottontail came in July 8. See the patches in her fur where she’d been stung by fire ants? As the scabs dropped off, they took fur with them. Even before her eyes opened, she’d lunge blindly toward the front of her carrier for her feedings…
…and two days ago, her little eyes opened, so now she lunges with clear direction and same purpose: FOOD! She’s a very sweet, calm little rabbit, unlike many we see in rehab settings.
Finally, on July 2 we received this adorable little barn swallow. Barn swallows are another of my favorite avian species; they’re just so darn cute and cheerful!
Same baby July 7…
…and both of these shots were taken July 14, just two days ago. Barn swallows are neat little birds; as adults, they eat on the wing. In other words, unlike a jay or a wren, who will snag an insect and sit somewhere to devour it, a swallow snags and eats its insects in flight. They’re also brave little rascals who show very little fear of humans. Barn swallows are chatty, social birds and are found pretty much all over the world with very little variation in color or song. It’s impossible not to smile at the sight and sound of a barn swallow, so I’ve been doing a LOT of smiling lately!
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