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Comings and goings…

7/28/2013

10 Comments

 
…in about equal measures this week, actually. The big news is that Igor the crow has been released, so this will almost be the Igor edition, with pix and flix of him in the flight pen and on his own. I don’t think any of the footage of him requires explanation, so…
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The barred owl with the broken wing was also released, and I’m still kicking myself about this one: I had the camcorder trained on him, got some really good footage, and then reached for the still camera…as he flew away deeper into the woods. If I’d kept the camcorder on him another 10 seconds… AAAUUUGGHHH!!! Oh well…live and learn, right?
This cat-attacked house finch was mortally injured, but even if the injuries had been slight, she had “finch eye,” mycoplasmic conjunctivitis. While it is treatable, it also recurs frequently and is highly contagious to other birds, especially other finches. There’s still a lot of debate over treatment versus euthanasia for birds with “finch eye.” My policy is euthanasia, because if it’s treated and the bird is released, when (and it’s usually when, not if) it recurs, who knows how many other birds it will infect before dying itself? “The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few…or the one.” (Spock of Vulcan, Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan)
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Screech owls are incredibly cute at any age. This little guy is young; he’s still got a “fuzzy” head. He was found in the road with a massive concussion. Whatever vehicle whacked him took off feathers above his left eye, which was swollen nearly shut when he came in, and he’s got a nasty bruise in that bald patch, too. He’s looking some better today and is slightly more alert, but he was so out of it when he first came in that I honestly wasn’t sure he’d survive the night. Both pupils respond to light stimuli, so hopefully there’s no damage to his vision.
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And in the “cuteness way out of proportion to size” category, we have this adorable little chipping sparrow fledgling.  She was found near a horse barn, flopping on her back and unable to stand when righted.  An exam revealed nothing broken, although the muscles in her right leg did look a little irritated.  Today, two days later, she’s perching and flitting around her little enclosure, but had she remained where she was found, she would have been easy prey for just about everything. Thank you to the people who drove over 3 hours round-trip to get this little darlin’ to safety. 
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10 Comments
Mike Warren
7/28/2013 10:32:25 am

Live long and prosper. \\///

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Laurens Wildlife Rescue
7/28/2013 01:36:44 pm

Highly logical, Mike!

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Ann Feldman
7/28/2013 12:09:04 pm

Did Igor really leave? Or is he still wanting to come in at night? I think you are going to miss him, yes? Love the Chipping Sparrow. There was a huge flock of them in the park last fall, swirling around from the ground to the trees. The Botanic Garden baby has discovered my address, and is spending time on the roof and the water tower! This morning she called so loudly we thought she was in our bedroom.

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Laurens Wildlife Rescue
7/28/2013 01:40:57 pm

Hey Ann, Igor's hanging around the yard, calling for food and crashing through the trees to get to me for a handout. Oddly enough, he seems terrified of squirrels--if one is anywhere near him in a tree, he relocates posthaste. Kinda funny to watch!

The chipping sparrow is a feisty little sweetheart! I have flocks of hundreds peppering my yard every spring.

Good for you on the BG baby! Is she hunting on her own at all yet, or do you know?

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Sally
7/28/2013 12:25:45 pm

Vonda, so glad for Igor! You are the best. Never knew about "finch eye," but love the Wrath of Khan quote. :)

kh

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Laurens Wildlife Rescue
7/28/2013 01:43:39 pm

Thanks Sally! I'm pretty happy for Igor, too. Couldn't resist the Trek quote--longtime fan who's still a bit disappointed that she doesn't have pointed ears and green blood!

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Mbird
7/28/2013 01:22:52 pm

Wow! great job! I wonder if the young crows clan will recognize him and take him into the group. They are such social animals. Or, I wonder if he will come back to you until he does. Please keep us posted. Thanks for all you do.

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Laurens Wildlife Rescue
7/28/2013 01:48:09 pm

Hey mbird! Crows are indeed social, but they're also--as you indicated--very clannish. Whether he'll be adopted into a local group remains to be seen. Often "non-adopted" crows will follow the main group around as sort of hangers-on for a couple of years before they're accepted...if ever. I have high hopes that Igor'll be accepted; the last crow I released was drawn into the local group the very next day. Right now he's hanging around the yard and coming down to me for handouts 2-3 times a day.

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Pipette
7/28/2013 03:34:20 pm

Glad Igor is on his way in the world - what a character - along with the barred owl. And wishing the screech a good recovery.

But what gladdens my heart - beyond the wonderful work you do - is knowing that there are some people who care enough to have driven 3 hours so that little chipping sparrow fledgling would have a chance at life. That bird is sooooo tiny, yet someone valued its life enough to call you & make the trip & get it into your more-than-capable hands. Plaudits to ALL of you!

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Laurens Wildlife Rescue
7/28/2013 03:51:28 pm

Thanks Pipette! Yeah, Igor is quite a character. And the folks who found the chipping sparrow certainly deserved the shout-out I gave them--not everyone would go to those lengths for any bird, much less one that small. The screech, though, is not looking good tonight...very lethargic...worried about him all over again...

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