Yup, just 20 days after this year’s first eagle, the second eagle of 2023 came in... DNR called me around 9:30 Friday morning to let me know they were on the way with an eagle found grounded in Toombs County. My vets at Smalley’s were unavailable for the day, so I checked with Richie Hatcher of Magnolia Grove Vet Clinic to see if he could see it. (Some of y’all may remember the fantastic work he did on a red tail with a ruptured crop a few years back.) He said bring it on, so...now we waited for the bird to arrive.
It arrived around 11am and I immediately headed to Magnolia Grove for x-rays. As you can see in the area I circled on the trunk x-ray, the head of the femur appears to be disintegrated, and Richie also noticed nodules in the chest. His diagnosis was cancer or some other metabolic condition. Based on severely frayed tail feathers and emaciation (keel 2, for those who know the chart), we agreed the bird had been down a while. Richie's recommendation was euthanasia but we agreed that since the carcass would have to be sent to UGA anyway, it would be easier to transport a live bird than to try and keep a carcass refrigerated for transport. I discussed this with DNR's Bob Sargent, head of the eagles program, who agreed with our plan. I also forwarded the x-rays to the vet at UGA who would be seeing the bird, and he informed Bob that he agreed with Richie’s diagnosis; there was nothing he could do for the bird, either.
It arrived around 11am and I immediately headed to Magnolia Grove for x-rays. As you can see in the area I circled on the trunk x-ray, the head of the femur appears to be disintegrated, and Richie also noticed nodules in the chest. His diagnosis was cancer or some other metabolic condition. Based on severely frayed tail feathers and emaciation (keel 2, for those who know the chart), we agreed the bird had been down a while. Richie's recommendation was euthanasia but we agreed that since the carcass would have to be sent to UGA anyway, it would be easier to transport a live bird than to try and keep a carcass refrigerated for transport. I discussed this with DNR's Bob Sargent, head of the eagles program, who agreed with our plan. I also forwarded the x-rays to the vet at UGA who would be seeing the bird, and he informed Bob that he agreed with Richie’s diagnosis; there was nothing he could do for the bird, either.
Richie and I were laughing about the time an eagle took a chunk out of my jaw...
Meanwhile, transportation needed to be arranged, and through the Georgia Wildlife Network, a group of volunteer transporters, we were able to locate a falconer who was willing to transport the bird, even knowing its fate in advance. By 8pm Friday UGA had the bird, and now we await necropsy results, which UGA has told us will take at least 4 weeks. We’re all curious as to whether this was actually cancer, which Bob said he couldn’t recall seeing in any other eagle in Georgia to date, or whether it was some other metabolic condition, or...who knows? We’ll know in a month or so, hopefully.
Meanwhile, the stressy, emaciated Coop from last week didn’t survive; he died last Sunday night.
A second Coop, about the same age, came in from another county, even more emaciated than the first, but part of his issue was that he’d been grounded for at least three days before his finders decided since he wasn’t moving along, he might need help. I didn’t expect him to survive the night, but the next morning he was standing, head tucked in sleep—and he willingly self-fed on the small meals I offered and was perching by that evening. I had high hopes he’d be fine, but he died his second night at LWR. Sometimes they’re just too far gone, even when they seem to be improving...
Meanwhile, the stressy, emaciated Coop from last week didn’t survive; he died last Sunday night.
A second Coop, about the same age, came in from another county, even more emaciated than the first, but part of his issue was that he’d been grounded for at least three days before his finders decided since he wasn’t moving along, he might need help. I didn’t expect him to survive the night, but the next morning he was standing, head tucked in sleep—and he willingly self-fed on the small meals I offered and was perching by that evening. I had high hopes he’d be fine, but he died his second night at LWR. Sometimes they’re just too far gone, even when they seem to be improving...
An adult red shoulder came in Saturday after being found in the road. I suspect a pelvic fracture and possibly internal injuries, given that he was likely hit by a car. He did eat this morning, so we’ll just have to wait and see how he does through tomorrow morning.
The barred owls are slowly maturing to release age; another few weeks and they should be ready to go.
And the red shoulder who came in as a hatchling back in April is a gorgeous, if somewhat goofy, young bird now who finally figured out the self-feeding thing and just needs the barreds released so he can move into the main flight and build up his flight muscles for release.
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