While the end of baby season signals a welcome slowing of the frenetic pace of the past five months, a less pleasant reality is that it also signals the beginning of what I’ve started calling carnage season. This is when all the first year raptors begin coming in, starving and/or mortally injured, and migrating songbirds show up with life-ending injuries. It’s probably the most emotionally draining part of the year because so few can be salvaged, and this week was a good example of that.
Beginning on a happier note, though, the adult great crested flycatcher that I thought had a coracoid fracture apparently was just bruised and sore from the cat attack. Mid-week, she was bouncing off the walls and escaping from her cage every chance she got, so she was released and was quite happy to bid LWR farewell. Not the greatest release video in the world, but she was ready to GO!
Beginning on a happier note, though, the adult great crested flycatcher that I thought had a coracoid fracture apparently was just bruised and sore from the cat attack. Mid-week, she was bouncing off the walls and escaping from her cage every chance she got, so she was released and was quite happy to bid LWR farewell. Not the greatest release video in the world, but she was ready to GO!
Sadly, the young male red-tail didn’t make it. While he continued to eat well and remained alert, he never stood up or perched again and died lying in the supportive doughnut. Was the frounce simply too advanced? Was it capillaria? Was there some other undiagnosed issue? We’ll never know. Necropsies are expensive and UGA doesn’t provide them gratis or even discounted for rehabbers, which is a constant source of frustration.
Adding to the carnage, this gorgeous first-year female red-tail came in Monday night with a wing fracture. It didn’t look good, and an open wound at the elbow looked a bit suspicious, so she went to Smalley’s Animal Hospital for x-rays the next morning. Vet Jim Hobby and I were relieved that the wound wasn’t shooting-related but unhappy that the x-rays showed a shattered bone at the elbow and fractures of the radius and ulna. This large, aggressive, majestic lady was humanely and very regretfully euthanized.
Adding to the carnage, this gorgeous first-year female red-tail came in Monday night with a wing fracture. It didn’t look good, and an open wound at the elbow looked a bit suspicious, so she went to Smalley’s Animal Hospital for x-rays the next morning. Vet Jim Hobby and I were relieved that the wound wasn’t shooting-related but unhappy that the x-rays showed a shattered bone at the elbow and fractures of the radius and ulna. This large, aggressive, majestic lady was humanely and very regretfully euthanized.
And then a barred owl came in with a left lower leg totally stripped of flesh and the left wing headed in that direction from a severe maggot infestation. It was impossible to even tell where the original wound had been on the wing, although nothing actually appeared broken, as it was nearly stripped bare of flesh, as well. There were no muscles, tendons or nerves left on the leg and the foot was already turning black, a sign that it was necrotic, or dead. Given the severity of the injuries, the most humane course of action was ending the bird’s suffering. The photos below were taken after euthanasia.
That very night, a caller reported another barred owl with an apparent broken wing, desperate enough for food to be eating moths and roaches under a street light. The next day she was brought to LWR, where an exam revealed a nasty right shoulder fracture. While the fracture wasn’t open, the wing rotated almost a full 360 degrees. While I was positive this was not a fixable fracture, I planned to get x-rays Monday to confirm, but the owl had other plans and died overnight.
And the finder/transporter asked a couple of questions I hear a lot, so let me address them here, as well. Could the owl be placed as an educational bird? Short answer, no. Longer answer: barred owls, like red-tailed hawks, are quite common and most nature/wildlife centers have a full complement of both species.
Second question: if the owl couldn’t be “fixed”, could the finder come back to get it and keep it as a pet? This question—and you’d be surprised how often I hear it—always makes me wanna blurt out, “WHY?” Instead, I point out that it would be against state and federal laws, but really, legal issues aside, WHY would someone want to keep a wild bird--a bird of prey, at that—in captivity in their house or yard? For bragging rights? For neighborhood show and tell? Are you prepared to spend hundreds of dollars a year on the proper diet for that bird? Do you understand that chicken breasts, liver, beef hearts and so forth are NOT appropriate foods for birds of prey and will adversely affect their digestive process and possibly lead to overgrown beaks due to lack of bones to keep the beak worn down in some of those foods? Are you prepared to clean its cage daily? Do you understand that while this bird’s wings might not function properly, its beak and talons are in excellent working order and are dangerous—that it CAN and WILL bite and foot you, because it is WILD and sees you as a threat? Do you understand that those dangerous feet need a variety of perches to prevent bumblefoot? Do you understand that this is NOT a cuddly toy; it’s a living being and will need enrichment activities to prevent it from becoming bored and more aggressive?
And what happens when the novelty wears off or the bird foots or bites someone? You have a nonreleasable bird on your hands. You can’t just dump it at your local animal shelter; no nature/wildlife center will take it—see above. So what do you do now? Toss it in the woods and hope it wanders off before dying of starvation?
Let me explain something here: it is unutterably cruel to keep a bird accustomed to free flight cramped in a dog crate or bird cage for the rest of its life because you claim to “love” that species. If you truly “love” that species, you’ll want what’s best for the bird, whether that be rehab for eventual release or humane euthanasia. Count yourself lucky that you got to see your favorite species up close and personal and be proud that you got the bird to a licensed rehabber who could assess its condition and determine the most humane course of action for that bird. And take comfort in knowing that if euthanasia is necessary, you played a part in giving that bird the only release left for it—a humane and dignified death.
Rant over…for now…
On a more upbeat note, the mockers were released this past week, as was the mallard. No release shots of the mockers, as I just left the “escape hatch” on the songbird flight open and they were outside in the trees less than an hour later. The mallard, however, was a bit more cooperative, so we have video and photos of his release.
And the finder/transporter asked a couple of questions I hear a lot, so let me address them here, as well. Could the owl be placed as an educational bird? Short answer, no. Longer answer: barred owls, like red-tailed hawks, are quite common and most nature/wildlife centers have a full complement of both species.
Second question: if the owl couldn’t be “fixed”, could the finder come back to get it and keep it as a pet? This question—and you’d be surprised how often I hear it—always makes me wanna blurt out, “WHY?” Instead, I point out that it would be against state and federal laws, but really, legal issues aside, WHY would someone want to keep a wild bird--a bird of prey, at that—in captivity in their house or yard? For bragging rights? For neighborhood show and tell? Are you prepared to spend hundreds of dollars a year on the proper diet for that bird? Do you understand that chicken breasts, liver, beef hearts and so forth are NOT appropriate foods for birds of prey and will adversely affect their digestive process and possibly lead to overgrown beaks due to lack of bones to keep the beak worn down in some of those foods? Are you prepared to clean its cage daily? Do you understand that while this bird’s wings might not function properly, its beak and talons are in excellent working order and are dangerous—that it CAN and WILL bite and foot you, because it is WILD and sees you as a threat? Do you understand that those dangerous feet need a variety of perches to prevent bumblefoot? Do you understand that this is NOT a cuddly toy; it’s a living being and will need enrichment activities to prevent it from becoming bored and more aggressive?
And what happens when the novelty wears off or the bird foots or bites someone? You have a nonreleasable bird on your hands. You can’t just dump it at your local animal shelter; no nature/wildlife center will take it—see above. So what do you do now? Toss it in the woods and hope it wanders off before dying of starvation?
Let me explain something here: it is unutterably cruel to keep a bird accustomed to free flight cramped in a dog crate or bird cage for the rest of its life because you claim to “love” that species. If you truly “love” that species, you’ll want what’s best for the bird, whether that be rehab for eventual release or humane euthanasia. Count yourself lucky that you got to see your favorite species up close and personal and be proud that you got the bird to a licensed rehabber who could assess its condition and determine the most humane course of action for that bird. And take comfort in knowing that if euthanasia is necessary, you played a part in giving that bird the only release left for it—a humane and dignified death.
Rant over…for now…
On a more upbeat note, the mockers were released this past week, as was the mallard. No release shots of the mockers, as I just left the “escape hatch” on the songbird flight open and they were outside in the trees less than an hour later. The mallard, however, was a bit more cooperative, so we have video and photos of his release.
The bluebirds and brown thrasher are seeing really noticeable feather growth on their wings now, and they’re beginning to flit a bit rather than scurry around on the ground. However, they’re also quite skittish, so these aren’t the clearest, best shots of their progress. Better’n nothing, though, right?
I also attempted numerous shots of the remaining house finch, who thus far refuses to leave. He’s worse than the molting trio; this is all I managed. (You think the birds being rehabbed just sit nicely and pose for the camera? HAH! For every decent shot, there are dozens of these types of shots!)
The mourning doves are attempting to self-feed a bit, so they should be in the songbird flight fairly quickly.
The screech is almost done with his molt and since he’s already passed the live prey test, he’s good to go as soon as his head feathers come back in a bit more. Yeah, I know, I didn’t really need to keep him through the molt, but it’s damn hard for a rehabber to release a bird that looks scalped, no matter how healthy he really is!
And as a bonus, when I released the mallard, my two-year nemesis (in terms of halfway decent photos or video), the Louisiana waterthrush, made a surprise appearance, and I managed a couple of video clips—one is a bit longish—and a few not-too-horrible photos of this elusive little bird. I absolutely adore that little tail-pumping action characteristic of the species!
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