We’ve had a spate of bad weather in the Middle Georgia area, and that always means more intakes…and boy howdy, was last week busy!
On Monday alone, six birds came in; the total for the week was 16—that’s in addition to the Lord-knows-how-many already in care. I honestly haven’t stopped to count.
The highlight of the week, though—for me, anyway—was this precious loggerhead shrike fledgling. He’d been taken away from a dog and acted really neurological when he came in, which lowered my hopes considerably. I’ve only had one other shrike, a juvie with a ruptured lung, some 10-12 years ago. I remember this because I think shrikes are just plain cool birds that I never get to see in rehab. They’re like dwarf raptors with a unique twist: they impale their prey, usually insects but also small mice, on large thorns or barbed-wire fences.
On Monday alone, six birds came in; the total for the week was 16—that’s in addition to the Lord-knows-how-many already in care. I honestly haven’t stopped to count.
The highlight of the week, though—for me, anyway—was this precious loggerhead shrike fledgling. He’d been taken away from a dog and acted really neurological when he came in, which lowered my hopes considerably. I’ve only had one other shrike, a juvie with a ruptured lung, some 10-12 years ago. I remember this because I think shrikes are just plain cool birds that I never get to see in rehab. They’re like dwarf raptors with a unique twist: they impale their prey, usually insects but also small mice, on large thorns or barbed-wire fences.
To my delight, however, the sweet bird’s neuro issues began to lessen and within four days he was perching and acting almost normal. His tail still skews a bit and if he gets nervous, his head will jerk slightly, so he’s not in the songbird flight yet, but if he continues to improve he will be soon!
This first-year red tail wasn’t as lucky; he came in acting really stunned and out of it and unable to stand. X-rays revealed a badly fractured femur. He required euthanasia.
UGA never sent the x-rays on the GHO, and quite honestly, I prefer for my vets to see the birds anyway; I know their skill and knowledge levels and I’m more comfortable hearing their prognosis. Since I had to take the red tail in for x-rays anyway, I asked if we could also check out the GHO. Vet Peggy Hobby at Smalley’s agrees the coracoid fracture should heal fine. The eye is iffy; we’ll see what transpires as we wait on the coracoid fracture to heal.
The juvie Coop was released before he could break his own fool neck; he didn’t waste any time getting away from human taint. No video, and I barely managed a photo; he was at the limit of my camera’s zoom!
The juvie red shoulder is in the raptor flight now, and there are no photos; he’s not impressing me with his flight ability. He has no altitude and doesn’t seem to recognize food out in the open. He’s been in the flight for almost a week now; he has another few days before we call it.
The near-fledgling mocker that I forgot to get a photo of last week is now gone after several days in the songbird flight. He was bouncing off the walls, literally, so it seemed wise to offer him his freedom before he did something stupid.
The robin, however, shows no signs of wanting to give up free meals and has been joined by three blue jays who were about one day from fledging when the tree their nest was in fell during a storm. While the parents were around, according to the finder, so were several stray cats, so she was scared to attempt a makeshift nest.
The near-fledgling mocker that I forgot to get a photo of last week is now gone after several days in the songbird flight. He was bouncing off the walls, literally, so it seemed wise to offer him his freedom before he did something stupid.
The robin, however, shows no signs of wanting to give up free meals and has been joined by three blue jays who were about one day from fledging when the tree their nest was in fell during a storm. While the parents were around, according to the finder, so were several stray cats, so she was scared to attempt a makeshift nest.
There really are three jays; one refuses to hang out with anybody else. Even when they came in, he was in one corner of the box the finder had them in and his sibs were in the other. He watches me interact with the others like a hawk but he will not to save his life join the crowd!
Songbirds who didn’t make it included two nestling mockers, both of last week’s Carolina wrens, a pre-fledgling red-bellied woodpecker and a sweet little kingbird nestling, slightly older than the recently released one was when it came in. I have no clue why any of these birds died. We don’t know their full back stories when they come in; the finders only know what they saw when they picked the birds up. It can be incredibly frustrating at times.
Another juvie grackle came in; this one had been kept for two weeks before the finder “miraculously” discovered LWR. Surprisingly, despite a crap diet he was in fairly good shape except for some screwy tail feathers. Since he was self-feeding, he spent a few days in the songbird flight and opted for release when the mocker left.
The MIKIs are maturing beautifully; the adult swallow-tail enjoys trying my patience. The screech has totally mastered the art of stink-eye. And the juvie GHO is awaiting his turn in the raptor flight. By rights he should’ve gone first, before the hawks, but with the adult GHO coming in, I decided it might be best to wait and place them out there together so the adult can teach “Junior” the ropes.
Songbirds who didn’t make it included two nestling mockers, both of last week’s Carolina wrens, a pre-fledgling red-bellied woodpecker and a sweet little kingbird nestling, slightly older than the recently released one was when it came in. I have no clue why any of these birds died. We don’t know their full back stories when they come in; the finders only know what they saw when they picked the birds up. It can be incredibly frustrating at times.
Another juvie grackle came in; this one had been kept for two weeks before the finder “miraculously” discovered LWR. Surprisingly, despite a crap diet he was in fairly good shape except for some screwy tail feathers. Since he was self-feeding, he spent a few days in the songbird flight and opted for release when the mocker left.
The MIKIs are maturing beautifully; the adult swallow-tail enjoys trying my patience. The screech has totally mastered the art of stink-eye. And the juvie GHO is awaiting his turn in the raptor flight. By rights he should’ve gone first, before the hawks, but with the adult GHO coming in, I decided it might be best to wait and place them out there together so the adult can teach “Junior” the ropes.
This tree swallow also looks to possibly have a coracoid fracture. It’s easier to see on x-rays with a larger bird; sometimes you can’t see it at all on smaller birds. We’re giving him time and cage rest to see what happens.
A young hummer was found caught in a spider web in a lady’s garage; she managed to get the web off the wings and body but was scared to mess with his tiny feet. She brought him to LWR, where the webs were removed from his feet, he was given a spot of food, and after a thorough checkup, was released.
This adult male isn’t as lucky; he has a broken wing and, based on his rough appearance, I’d say something else is going on, as well. His chances aren’t good.
Another red tail, this one a second-year bird, came in via DNR. The game warden who brought him was hopeful he was only mildly concussed, and that appears to be the case. He’s alert, active and aggressive and will be released early in the week.
This rail-thin young red shoulder, weighing just 245g on intake, was so weak he allowed his finders to pick him up and handle him bare-handed, as did I when assessing him on intake. (That's NOT assessment in the video; it's just showing you how docile he was.) He had small frequent meals Saturday and spent the time between meals with his head tucked. To be honest, I cringed when I peered in his box this morning, expecting the worst, but he was alert and looking for food. After he eagerly ate a breakfast of chopped-up mice, I tried him a few hours later on a small whole mouse, which he inhaled. Later he devoured two small mice back to back. He’s more alert; his eyes look brighter—I think he was found just in time.
And tonight, a couple brought a nestling brown thrasher they found in the middle of the road. His right leg looks dislocated, although the swelling might be hiding a fracture. We’ll know after getting x-rays. He has some grip with that foot and can move the leg slightly, so I’m cautiously optimistic.
Finally, colleague Kathryn Dudeck of Chattahoochee Nature Center reports that the last of the five barnies I transferred to her when Daddy went on hospice has been released. Good news, and thanks again, Kathryn!
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