Never has there been a week where “it takes a village” was truer! All told, over a dozen people were involved in one way or another in two rescues this week; details below:
When LWR initially received word that a “big bird” was in an area fast food parking lot, several counties away, I explained to several callers what needed to be done to get the bird to me. It took a DNR biologist and two LWR volunteers working together to actually get the bird to LWR, however, with the biologist fearing it had a wing fracture.
And what was the bird that caused all the ruckus? A migrating sandhill crane!
When LWR initially received word that a “big bird” was in an area fast food parking lot, several counties away, I explained to several callers what needed to be done to get the bird to me. It took a DNR biologist and two LWR volunteers working together to actually get the bird to LWR, however, with the biologist fearing it had a wing fracture.
And what was the bird that caused all the ruckus? A migrating sandhill crane!
With the crane on the way, I’d also contacted colleague Kathryn Dudeck of Chattahoochee Nature Center, who’d dealt with a few sandhills in the past, although she works primarily with raptors and reptiles. She alerted me to the fairly calm nature of sandhills, which was lovely to hear, and we agreed, based on my description of his wing positioning and movement upon intake, that we didn’t think he had any broken bones—or at least, no serious breaks. And he was indeed a calm guest, making himself quite comfy in the rehab bathroom until I could get him to Smalley’s Animal Hospital the next morning.
He made himself right at home on the exam table, much to vet Richie Hatcher’s amusement. While the sandhill played peek-a-boo with his reflection in the framed print you see on the wall in the clinic photo below, Richie and I “geared up” for the x-ray…and then things got…interesting…
You see, the sandhill wasn’t thrilled that we “manhandled” him so rudely: I had his head and feet; Richie had his wings and body; the sandhill had had enough. He scratched Richie and buried a claw deep in my arm, but we by-God got our x-rays. And the rehab gods smiled on us: he had no fractures!
You see, the sandhill wasn’t thrilled that we “manhandled” him so rudely: I had his head and feet; Richie had his wings and body; the sandhill had had enough. He scratched Richie and buried a claw deep in my arm, but we by-God got our x-rays. And the rehab gods smiled on us: he had no fractures!
So with this good news, our feathered friend’s mug shot was posted on Facebook with a note that we needed to find him a flock to migrate with, ASAP. While plenty of people liked and shared his gorgeous likeness, the only call LWR got was from a volunteer who’d located yet another sandhill. This one was raiding a family’s bird feeder and attempting to make love to its reflection in their patio door. Not good…
The volunteer spent the better part of her day driving to sandhill 2’s location and hemming it up to be boxed for transport. She met other volunteers who “ponied” the second sandhill to LWR, where we immediately placed her in the pen with our older-by-a-day guest. He had been vocalizing frantically, but when his new paramour entered the pen, he was gobsmacked by her beauty and immediately began the purring vocalization that even those of us with no prior sandhill experience recognized as conversation.
The volunteer spent the better part of her day driving to sandhill 2’s location and hemming it up to be boxed for transport. She met other volunteers who “ponied” the second sandhill to LWR, where we immediately placed her in the pen with our older-by-a-day guest. He had been vocalizing frantically, but when his new paramour entered the pen, he was gobsmacked by her beauty and immediately began the purring vocalization that even those of us with no prior sandhill experience recognized as conversation.
Sandhill cranes are highly social birds; whatever caused these two to lag behind their flocks left them without the “mob mentality” they apparently needed to continue their migration almost to Canada. At least, that’s our working theory at the moment.
So…to Facebook again to reiterate the plea for calls about larger flocks to integrate these two into. Our plan was to find a flock coming in to roost for the night and place these birds with that flock, so they’d all leave together the next morning.
In the meantime, I’d contacted the two major crane research groups in North America, Operation Migration in Ontario and the International Crane Foundation in Wisconsin. Heather at Operation Migration and Anne at ICF liked Plan A, above, so I asked about our proposed Plan B—to release the pair as a “flock of 2” if necessary. Both researchers said with two birds this was feasible and acceptable, although Anne with ICF did recommend keeping them a few days to give them time to pair-bond since they were already doing the purring and sticking pretty close to each other.
So…to Facebook again to reiterate the plea for calls about larger flocks to integrate these two into. Our plan was to find a flock coming in to roost for the night and place these birds with that flock, so they’d all leave together the next morning.
In the meantime, I’d contacted the two major crane research groups in North America, Operation Migration in Ontario and the International Crane Foundation in Wisconsin. Heather at Operation Migration and Anne at ICF liked Plan A, above, so I asked about our proposed Plan B—to release the pair as a “flock of 2” if necessary. Both researchers said with two birds this was feasible and acceptable, although Anne with ICF did recommend keeping them a few days to give them time to pair-bond since they were already doing the purring and sticking pretty close to each other.
Now, to address the question on everyone’s minds, we know the original sandhill is male because of his weight—a whopping 10 pounds! While the female wasn’t weighed, she’s slightly shorter than the male and has a more compact body. And if nothing else had clued us in, their love at first sight routine would have—ahhh, the joys of spring and hormonal birds!
With no word on any large flocks nearby, we’re set to implement Plan B within the next couple of days and wish these lovebirds well as they head north for breeding season.
With no word on any large flocks nearby, we’re set to implement Plan B within the next couple of days and wish these lovebirds well as they head north for breeding season.
As I mentioned to begin with, some dozen people were involved in rescuing these birds: DNR biologist Todd; volunteers Amy, Lindsey, Laurie and Marshall; Kathryn at Chattahoochee; the wonderful folks at Smalley’s Animal Hospital, especially Richie, Christy and Autumn; Heather at Operation Migration; Anne at ICF; all the folks who shared the Facebook posts to help search for a large flock; and I’m sure there are other people who were peripherally involved that I’m not aware of. To all of you, thank you for caring enough to help these gorgeous, graceful, amazing birds.
It wasn’t all sweetness and light at LWR last week, though. As most of you probably know, LWR’s focus has shifted through the years to primarily birds and flying squirrels. The voicemail message for the LWR phone line indicates this and provides help in finding other rehabbers in the state, but people frequently leave messages about species we’re not taking. This happened last week, and I returned the call to assist the rescuer. She had a gray squirrel, eyes closed, that she’d taken from a cat late the previous evening. I explained again that LWR’s focus was primarily birds and flying squirrels and referred her to another rehabber, urging her to call me back if she couldn’t get that person on the phone within a reasonable time frame, as the squirrel would need meds ASAP.
I wasn’t prepared for what happened next.
Fifteen minutes later, she called back. The rehabber I’d blithely and trustingly referred her to for help told her that "cat-attacked squirrels don't usually live anyway" and refused to take it. OH. MY. GOD. You have no idea what that did to my blood pressure.
I told the rescuer that if the squirrel had no serious puncture wounds he had a VERY good chance at survival with the proper meds and that I'd meet her and take this poor baby. I mean, the lady was trying to do the right thing; she said the squirrel was active and it only had scratches. I could not in good conscience let her sit there and watch it die from TREATABLE injuries.
The approximately four-week-old male gray squirrel was slightly dehydrated on intake and his belly and flanks were scratched up but he readily took formula and his wounds are already almost completely healed. He’s also gained over 10g since intake and wiggles about excitedly when he hears me open his little cage to feed him.
I wasn’t prepared for what happened next.
Fifteen minutes later, she called back. The rehabber I’d blithely and trustingly referred her to for help told her that "cat-attacked squirrels don't usually live anyway" and refused to take it. OH. MY. GOD. You have no idea what that did to my blood pressure.
I told the rescuer that if the squirrel had no serious puncture wounds he had a VERY good chance at survival with the proper meds and that I'd meet her and take this poor baby. I mean, the lady was trying to do the right thing; she said the squirrel was active and it only had scratches. I could not in good conscience let her sit there and watch it die from TREATABLE injuries.
The approximately four-week-old male gray squirrel was slightly dehydrated on intake and his belly and flanks were scratched up but he readily took formula and his wounds are already almost completely healed. He’s also gained over 10g since intake and wiggles about excitedly when he hears me open his little cage to feed him.
On intake. Wounds are superficial.
Four days later, on meds.
Folks, lest there be any confusion on this, let me explain as clearly as I can: rehab is NOT about taking only the critters that will survive and the photogenic rascals who make you look good. If that's why a person becomes a rehabber--to "look good" and feed their ego--they need to get the hell out of the biz and stop ruining the reputations of those of us who're in it for the RIGHT reason: to help wildlife, even when that help takes the form of euthanasia—which, in this guy’s case wasn’t needed because HE GOT MEDS. ‘Tain’t rocket science, people, and any rehabber worth his or her salt should know this simple fact: meds save lives.
In more worrying news, the cedar waxwing, while getting increasingly restless, still has no real lift. He is fluttering farther before drifting to the ground but once he’s grounded he makes no attempt to fly. Coracoid fractures usually heal to allow unfettered flight, but there are always exceptions. I’m beginning to suspect this guy might be that exception. I hope not; I hope to have good news to report on him next week. But the doubts keep rising…
And despite a week of utterly crappy weather, my nephew Alex, my father and I did manage to get the remainder of the predator guard down in the raptor flight and doors ready to hang on both flights. That leaves the pea gravel and fill dirt, perch installation and other minor tasks easily handled by one person, so…by next weekend I hope to have these pens fully ready for use!
In more worrying news, the cedar waxwing, while getting increasingly restless, still has no real lift. He is fluttering farther before drifting to the ground but once he’s grounded he makes no attempt to fly. Coracoid fractures usually heal to allow unfettered flight, but there are always exceptions. I’m beginning to suspect this guy might be that exception. I hope not; I hope to have good news to report on him next week. But the doubts keep rising…
And despite a week of utterly crappy weather, my nephew Alex, my father and I did manage to get the remainder of the predator guard down in the raptor flight and doors ready to hang on both flights. That leaves the pea gravel and fill dirt, perch installation and other minor tasks easily handled by one person, so…by next weekend I hope to have these pens fully ready for use!
Raptor flight
Songbird flight
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