It was a pretty busy fall week that culminated with the release of the dog-attacked first year red tail who came in last month. And it was SUCH a pretty release that I kinda sorta went overboard with photos and video, so let’s start with gorgeous and move on from there, shall we?
There’s nothing much to say about these photos and videos. He shot out of the box before I had the camera even focused, so no release video, but oh, the aftermath—after perching above water for some time, obviously planning to bathe, he treated us to a spectacular bathing display before shaking dry and flying off. Enjoy!
There’s nothing much to say about these photos and videos. He shot out of the box before I had the camera even focused, so no release video, but oh, the aftermath—after perching above water for some time, obviously planning to bathe, he treated us to a spectacular bathing display before shaking dry and flying off. Enjoy!
The screech whose eyelid required suturing back together is doing great. He’s a textbook pissy screech and his eye looks amazing: clear, full movement of the eyelid, and full vision. Another week or so, and he should be ready for the mini-pen.
Unfortunately, things aren’t looking as promising for the screech with the eye infection. It appears he’s totally blind. He cannot find his food, and he hates being force-fed. I’m trying to give him time but he’s likely a candidate for euthanasia.
A mature male red tail may be facing the same situation. He was found in an interstate median and while nothing is broken, his right eye remains swollen and he doesn’t seem to have vision in the left eye, either. He’s currently in the mini-pen but cannot see to locate the perches. I placed him on the low perch when I moved him outside, in hopes that the fresh air would perk him up, but within hours he was on the ground at the back of the mini-pen, where he’s remained. Again, force-feeding is a struggle—he can’t see what’s going on and hates being handled for feedings. We’re trying a little more time with him, as well...
A mature male red tail may be facing the same situation. He was found in an interstate median and while nothing is broken, his right eye remains swollen and he doesn’t seem to have vision in the left eye, either. He’s currently in the mini-pen but cannot see to locate the perches. I placed him on the low perch when I moved him outside, in hopes that the fresh air would perk him up, but within hours he was on the ground at the back of the mini-pen, where he’s remained. Again, force-feeding is a struggle—he can’t see what’s going on and hates being handled for feedings. We’re trying a little more time with him, as well...
Saturday morning an adult brown thrasher came in with a severe case of pox. He died before I could euthanize.
And this morning FWS agent Thomas Payne delivered a young adult black vulture he’d retrieved from beneath a cell phone tower. He bated hard as we walked to the raptor flight, and I loosened my grip slightly to prevent him from breaking one or both legs—and he got loose. I still can’t run because of the ankle issues, so poor Thomas had to chase him back down, but we did get him back and into the raptor flight. Nothing felt broken but he favors his left wing ever so slightly. I think a little time will do the trick for him.
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