If no more donations come in this week, we’ll end this one short of the goal and have another fundraiser closer to the end of the year …
There were three new intakes last week: an additional MIKI and two red tails. We also had a release: the red shoulder who was going absolutely nuts inside. He was moved outside for a few days, while the red tails were moved inside. He was happy; they were most definitely not. I’d’ve preferred to give him a couple of weeks in the flight rather than just a few days, but ya do what ya gotta do to get antsy birds who’re risking self-injury moved and released.
At any rate, he wasted no time skedaddling when given the chance—before I could even hit Record on the camera. And when I started into the brush to try for a post-release photo, I heard rattling near my feet so, while I never saw anything, I decided discretion was the better part of valor and backed off slowly.
The new MIKI came from Laurens County and is a recent fledge. He was found in an area full of dogs, cats, and children and his finders decided his chances of survival were nonexistent if left there. He and the previous MIKI have settled in nicely together.
There were three new intakes last week: an additional MIKI and two red tails. We also had a release: the red shoulder who was going absolutely nuts inside. He was moved outside for a few days, while the red tails were moved inside. He was happy; they were most definitely not. I’d’ve preferred to give him a couple of weeks in the flight rather than just a few days, but ya do what ya gotta do to get antsy birds who’re risking self-injury moved and released.
At any rate, he wasted no time skedaddling when given the chance—before I could even hit Record on the camera. And when I started into the brush to try for a post-release photo, I heard rattling near my feet so, while I never saw anything, I decided discretion was the better part of valor and backed off slowly.
The new MIKI came from Laurens County and is a recent fledge. He was found in an area full of dogs, cats, and children and his finders decided his chances of survival were nonexistent if left there. He and the previous MIKI have settled in nicely together.
Both MIKIs need flight pen time, too, but they’re not as self-destructively antsy as the red shoulder was. Still, they need to be gearing up for migration very soon, so we may have to switch birds around again in the immediate future.
August 1, two red tails, both second-year birds, came in from different counties. The first, from Pulaski County, was found grounded and came in with his feet balled and unable to stand, although he could extend his wings and flare his tail. I nestled him in a donut, suspecting a hip or pelvic fracture, but by that evening he was standing and has remained on his feet since then.
The second red tail came in via DNR from Monroe County, after being whacked by a car antenna on I-75. The driver apparently stopped and called for help rather than just leaving a potentially injured bird by the roadside, so kudos to him for doing the right thing. Despite the disheveled feathers, nothing appears broken. He does slightly favor his right shoulder, so we may have some bruising or soft tissue damage. He’s alert and aggressive, which is always good.
The other two red tails are delighted to be back in “their” flight. I’m having to be really careful when going in; the juvie has figured out the door leads to freedom and would very much like to self-release. The nonreleasable is absolutely unflappable—such a calm gal! I think she’s going to do well as an ed bird at Elachee.
The turkey vultures were highly uncooperative when it came to photos last week, so this was the best of about 12 shots of them. They just wouldn’t be still, and they don’t like the flash (think stress-puke-level dislike), so the flashless camera blurs rather than freezes motion. All the other shots look like some sort of weird abstract art!
Just an early heads-up: there will be no update on August 24. I’ll remind y’all again as the date approaches.
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