LWR’s fundraising goal of $2000 was met mid-week. As always, heartfelt thanks to those who donated!
We’ll begin this week’s update with the red tail who, in last week’s update, was en route. He’s a mature male, keel (breastbone) 1.5 (starvation level) but alert. He tends to fall over on his side at the slightest stress but is eating well. He just needs to gain a lot of weight back before we can even consider release, and with the heat advisories we keep having, he’s inside until he’s more stable nutritionally.
We’ll begin this week’s update with the red tail who, in last week’s update, was en route. He’s a mature male, keel (breastbone) 1.5 (starvation level) but alert. He tends to fall over on his side at the slightest stress but is eating well. He just needs to gain a lot of weight back before we can even consider release, and with the heat advisories we keep having, he’s inside until he’s more stable nutritionally.
Maintaining the red tail theme, the big ol’ gorgeous female ain’t stupid, y’all. She stubbornly refuses to let me see her fly, although I know she can; I’ve walked to the main flight and heard her leaving the perch above the door just as I reached it. But until I actually SEE her fly the length of the flight and back, she’s not going anywhere…which appears to be what she wants. Can’t blame her—three hots and a cot, as it were, plus shelter from the elements in the flight blind…she’s got it made right now!
The “older” of the two male red tails with wing fractures—older in this case meaning he’s been here the longest—got loose in the rehab house twice last week, so since his fracture was a hairline “wannabe” break and he was flying quite well inside, it seemed safe enough to move him into the mini-pen for the duration of his stay at LWR. He’s doing well outside.
The more recent of the two younger males is still eating like he’s starving. His philosophy is “don’t come near my box without food in hand,” and he watches me, well, like a hawk while I’m feeding everybody, after he’s inhaled his mice.
The barred owl did require euthanasia; once the swelling went down it was obvious without x-rays that the wing wasn’t fixable.
The paralyzed red shoulder, though, has surprised me immensely. After a couple of days of steroids, he was able to sit back on his hocks. By week’s end he was able to move his feet and legs, although he’s still not standing. He may stall at this level, or he may, in a couple of weeks, be able to stand. At this point, given his progress thus far, I’m willing to give him the time he needs to see what happens.
The paralyzed red shoulder, though, has surprised me immensely. After a couple of days of steroids, he was able to sit back on his hocks. By week’s end he was able to move his feet and legs, although he’s still not standing. He may stall at this level, or he may, in a couple of weeks, be able to stand. At this point, given his progress thus far, I’m willing to give him the time he needs to see what happens.
The MIKI who’d been trying to escape but was too fat to fly slimmed down to the point that one morning last week he slipped past me as I opened the door to feed him, and he took off, strong and straight. No release photos, as he self-released on his schedule, not mine.
However, within two days of his self-release, a call came in for another MIKI, this one a nestling. He was stressed out of his gourd on arrival but once he realized he would get fed rather than be eaten, he settled down nicely. MIKIs are amazing little birds at all ages!
However, within two days of his self-release, a call came in for another MIKI, this one a nestling. He was stressed out of his gourd on arrival but once he realized he would get fed rather than be eaten, he settled down nicely. MIKIs are amazing little birds at all ages!
There will be no update next Sunday, August 20. Regular updates will resume on August 27.
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