It’s been an…interesting week. Yeah. Interesting—that’d about sum it up, I think…
The barred owl continues to mend to everyone’s satisfaction, including his own. In fact, he has no clue why he’s still in captivity: he can use that wing; he’s bolted out of his box several times when I’ve gone in to medicate and feed him, proving he can use that wing quite nicely in a confined space—as far as he’s concerned, it’s time to go! What his dim little owl brain can’t quite grasp, though, is that he still has a pin in his wing and that wing hasn’t quite healed to the point that the pin can come out. We’re getting there; all is looking good. But somebody’s feathered butt needs to learn some patience!
The barred owl continues to mend to everyone’s satisfaction, including his own. In fact, he has no clue why he’s still in captivity: he can use that wing; he’s bolted out of his box several times when I’ve gone in to medicate and feed him, proving he can use that wing quite nicely in a confined space—as far as he’s concerned, it’s time to go! What his dim little owl brain can’t quite grasp, though, is that he still has a pin in his wing and that wing hasn’t quite healed to the point that the pin can come out. We’re getting there; all is looking good. But somebody’s feathered butt needs to learn some patience!
This adorable adult tufted titmouse, who’s just finishing up a molt, was spotted in the finder’s back yard rolling and tumbling along the ground. When he arrived at LWR an exam showed that while he could move his head from side to side, he refused to lift it up, and his tail skewed to the side slightly. He refused to perch. His breathing was labored and he was also rather underweight, at just 16.8g, and considerably dehydrated. I immediately started him on meds to see if we could straighten out his neurological issues, and offered all the water and mixed seeds and mealworms he could eat.
I’m happy to report that as of yesterday his weight had increased to 20.6g, a good mid-range weight for titmice, and this morning when I reached in to pick him up for medication, he flew straight past me and around the room! His flight is strong but his landings are still a bit wonky and his perching and balance are still a bit uncertain, so we’ll keep him under observation and on meds for a few more days. I know he’s feeling much better, though, because he attempted to cuss at me this morning—and anyone who knows titmice knows they have the avian equivalent of a sailor’s vocabulary!
And finally, remember our gorgeous blue jay—the shameless little beggar? Well, he’s still hanging around, although I see him only once every day or so at present—and he demands his handout when I do see him. BUT…the adorable fellow is experiencing his juvenal molt, and it’s a sight to behold! Luckily, he still tolerates the camera, so herewith are pix and video of a molting blue jay!
September 22:
September 22:
September 24:
September 25:
September 26:
In this video he was actually just inside the woods near the hay field and had found some delectable treat on the ground. It was apparently large, as he was anchoring it against the branch with his feet and tearing at it. All I had with me was my phone, which I was holding out as far as I could in his direction, hence the unsteadiness of the video. Better an unsteady image than none at all!
In the shots below he was above me in the tree and although it was overcast, there was a glare behind him. I aimed at his silhouette and hoped, and they turned out pretty "tolerable", I think!
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