As some of y’all may have noticed, LWR is having a raptor-heavy year. That means an extra-expensive year: We’ve needed rodent orders every 2-3 weeks since February so we can keep these birds fed —and each order has been a minimum of $500. Add to that the boxes, liners, gloves (do y’all KNOW how much exam gloves cost in this Covid-crazed world??? It’s insane!) and other essentials for healthy birds, and we’re running low on funds. I’m aiming at one big fundraiser this month, and if we meet the goal, there won’t be another fundraiser for the remainder of the year. The goal? $3000. I’m counting on y’all to help keep the raptors LWR takes in well-fed!
The barred owl who’d been possibly hit by car is ready to go; because he’s an adult and his finders say he’s one of their neighborhood owls, they’re picking him up tomorrow to release back in his home territory.
The screeches are also good to go; the mini-pen door will be left open tonight to give them their freedom.
The MIKIs are ready to be moved to the raptor flight. Yes, their box is filthy—the photo was taken before I moved them into a clean box because I knew getting a decent shot of them after the stress of being handled would be impossible.
The red tail will go in the mini-pen if the screeches seize the freedom offered them tonight. He still stargazes badly, even after steroid injections. This is gonna be a long haul with him, I suspect.
In new intakes, a red shoulder pulled from a truck grille had no external injuries but his right shoulder was shattered. He required euthanasia.
This sweet little barn swallow leapt or was shoved from the nest at my grandparents’ house I’m renovating and when the parents didn’t coax him to a safe place after an hour and sunset was approaching, I brought him home with me for safekeeping overnight, with the goal of reuniting him with his sibs ASAP. Sadly, the poor fellow died overnight.
A barred owl was found in the road with a broken wing. Unfortunately, it was an open fracture and the bird required euthanasia.
Yesterday evening, as mammal rehabber Charydi Gambill was on her way home from work, she saw a blue jay attacking this nestling mourning dove. Seeing no nest around, she retrieved the dove and brought it to LWR. His crop was hard as a rock, which had me worried he might also check out overnight, but he’s doing well and his crop feels normal again today.
And of course, we can’t end without an update on the black vultures, recently released and now inviting their friends to the party. Three times this week I’ve seen two adult black vultures hanging out with the twins, and at least once a turkey vulture joined the festivities. Meanwhile, I’m threatening to give my family exam gloves and trash bags for when they see fresh road kill...
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