With baby season over and first-year raptors being told by the resident adults to pack their bags and get outta Dodge, raptor rehabbers will begin seeing more first-year birds in trouble. That was certainly true at LWR this week, with intakes of two first-year red-tailed hawks, a first-year Cooper’s hawk and a young adult barred owl, all with varying degrees of trauma.
The first red-tail came in early in the week and was thin, lethargic and having tremors. I suspected West Nile, but withheld judgment till the bird had seen a vet. At Smalley’s Animal Hospital the day after intake, vet Richie Hatcher agreed that the symptoms could be WNV. The problem was that those symptoms could also be from a combination of capillaria and head trauma—and the bird was found by the roadside. We agreed that general supportive care and treatment for the possibility of capillaria was the best course of action. Thus far, the bird isn’t responding to treatment. It’s not looking promising.
The first red-tail came in early in the week and was thin, lethargic and having tremors. I suspected West Nile, but withheld judgment till the bird had seen a vet. At Smalley’s Animal Hospital the day after intake, vet Richie Hatcher agreed that the symptoms could be WNV. The problem was that those symptoms could also be from a combination of capillaria and head trauma—and the bird was found by the roadside. We agreed that general supportive care and treatment for the possibility of capillaria was the best course of action. Thus far, the bird isn’t responding to treatment. It’s not looking promising.
According to the University of Minnesota (UMN) Raptor Center website, there are three phases to WNV:
I’d guess this bird was solidly in Phase 2, heading toward Phase 3, given that he doesn’t respond to his surroundings to any great extent and we were able to sit him unrestrained on the exam table, where he rocked and nearly tipped over sideways.
Sadly, there is no treatment for WNV; all rehabbers and vets can do is provide supportive care and hope. Again, according to the UMN Raptor Center, “There is no prescribed treatment. But supportive care can be provided, and it is possible for birds to recover. In general, the likelihood of recovery depends on what phase the bird is in. Phase 1 birds respond reasonably well to supportive care. Once they reach Phase 2, some birds respond to supportive care, but others do not and proceed to Phase 3. Complete recovery is uncertain. Birds suffering from the severe tremors and seizures characteristic of Phase 3 are close to death.”
The second red-tail came in a few days later; his symptoms and response to treatment are eerily similar to the first. If they’d come from areas close to each other, I’d honestly warn the county officials they might have a West Nile outbreak, but they came from counties north and south of Laurens County.
- Phase 1: Depression, anorexia, weight loss (in proportion to duration of anorexia), sleeping, pinching off blood feathers. Elevated white cell count.
- Phase 2: In addition to the above, head tremors, green urates (indicating liver necrosis), mental dullness/central blindness and general lack of awareness of surroundings, ataxia (clumsiness), weakness in legs.
- Phase 3: More severe tremors, seizures.
I’d guess this bird was solidly in Phase 2, heading toward Phase 3, given that he doesn’t respond to his surroundings to any great extent and we were able to sit him unrestrained on the exam table, where he rocked and nearly tipped over sideways.
Sadly, there is no treatment for WNV; all rehabbers and vets can do is provide supportive care and hope. Again, according to the UMN Raptor Center, “There is no prescribed treatment. But supportive care can be provided, and it is possible for birds to recover. In general, the likelihood of recovery depends on what phase the bird is in. Phase 1 birds respond reasonably well to supportive care. Once they reach Phase 2, some birds respond to supportive care, but others do not and proceed to Phase 3. Complete recovery is uncertain. Birds suffering from the severe tremors and seizures characteristic of Phase 3 are close to death.”
The second red-tail came in a few days later; his symptoms and response to treatment are eerily similar to the first. If they’d come from areas close to each other, I’d honestly warn the county officials they might have a West Nile outbreak, but they came from counties north and south of Laurens County.
The Coop has a broken right wing. He came in late Saturday and with Monday being Labor Day, it will be Tuesday before we can get x-rays. I’m not real hopeful; there’s a scab right at the elbow that leads me to think we have an open fracture. He’s typical Coop feisty and crazy, but the wing just doesn’t look like the x-rays will be good news.
The barred owl apparently hit someone’s vehicle running board and was left for dead. A neighbor saw the bird and sought help; he was transported to LWR late yesterday, as well. Nothing feels broken, which is good news. His left eye is cloudy and he’s got some major head trauma going on, but with time and supportive care he should be okay.
In more upbeat news, the mourning dove was released and still shows up every couple of days or so.
The great horned owl was also released, but I have no footage or photos of the actual release. The snot barreled out of the box before I had the camera fully focused, sat on the ground and stared at me, so after a couple of seconds, I turned off the camera and turned to put it down and grab the gloves. I turned back around to see the uncooperative doofus headed for the tree line. I ran over to where he entered the woods, hoping for a couple of post-release perching shots, but when a GHO doesn’t want to be seen, you’re not gonna see him. Sooo…below is the video of him sitting on the ground…for what it’s worth…
The Mississippi kites are showing some improvement in their flight skills. I’m still not sure they’re gonna be capable of the sustained, swift flight they need, but they’re already doing better than I thought they would, so I’ll be delighted if I’m wrong.
The photos below show the difference a cloud passing overhead can make in the quality of the image. In the video you can hear two characteristic MIKI vocalizations.
The photos below show the difference a cloud passing overhead can make in the quality of the image. In the video you can hear two characteristic MIKI vocalizations.
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