For those of you who perhaps don’t remember, the GBBC is a great way to allow scientists to track changing bird populations across North America, as ordinary citizens report the number of avian species they see at their feeders, in the woods, at the park—wherever they happen to be. You can count birds for as little as 15 minutes a day; you can participate every day from Feb. 18-21 or just one or two days, depending on your schedule; and you can list only the species you see or hear that you recognize, so you don’t even need a bird ID guide…although it’s my considered opinion that everybody should have one good bird guide handy at all times—I have several and even keep one in my car! How much easier could it be, unless you had someone counting the birds for you? (In which case, you’re probably so lazy you’d like to hire someone to eat and breathe for you, too…) Go to www.birdcount.org or click on the GBBC button below for more info.
Only one intake since the Feb. 3 update, a gorgeous mature male red-tailed hawk. Unfortunately, this laid-back bird had several major health issues that necessitated his euthanasia…He came in with a nasty open wing fracture, which is pretty much a death sentence for any bird. Steve Hicks of Bubba and Friends (www.bubba-and-friends.org) and I discussed the hawk’s potential fate prior to my taking him to Smalley’s Animal Hospital for x-rays and had decided if the x-rays didn’t show too much displacement or a totally shattered wing, we’d give him a chance, anyway.
Unfortunately, as you can see in the x-ray at right, the bone was too badly displaced for the bird to ever fly again, and we also discovered that he had severe bumblefoot in both feet. This is where the pads of the feet are punctured/torn/slashed and infection sets in. Judging by the swelling in his feet, the infection was pretty bad by the time he got to us, and this is a long-term, difficult health issue to address, particularly when both feet are affected at the same time.
I’ve also had several calls, ranging from bats to possums, that didn’t result in intakes. While the “downtime” has been nice, I’m cringing every time the phone rings, expecting the next call to signal the official beginning of baby season 2011—and as slow as things have been thus far, I’m afraid there will be a deluge, not a trickle!
I’ve also had several calls, ranging from bats to possums, that didn’t result in intakes. While the “downtime” has been nice, I’m cringing every time the phone rings, expecting the next call to signal the official beginning of baby season 2011—and as slow as things have been thus far, I’m afraid there will be a deluge, not a trickle!
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