And at no point was this made clearer than with Monday’s juvie bald eagle intake. Y’all would not believe the number of people involved in getting this bird aid—and I don’t usually name names, but in this case everybody deserves credit for a job well done.
First off, around 10:15 AM, Game Warden Connor Moon alerted me that the eagle, reported fallen from its nest at the Dodge County PFA on Saturday but unable to be located that day, had been found and he was en route to LWR with it. I then alerted state and federal authorities that we had an eagle en route and called Smalley’s to tell them the same thing.
When Connor arrived with the bird, I was ready to head to Smalley’s ASAP, right after he removed the fishing line wrapped around the bird’s left leg and foot. On the way to Smalley’s I was on the phone with colleague Kathryn Dudeck the entire time, as the poor fellow’s lethargy made me fear AVM or lead poisoning. And Mondays are Kathryn’s day off, too…
We continued to text, bouncing ideas off each other, as I waited for the staff at Smalley’s, always efficient, to move as quickly as possible to get rads on the eagle. I don’t even remember who-all worked on him aside from vet tech Autumn Parker and vets Jim and Peggy Hobby, but there were several others who assisted, as well.
First off, around 10:15 AM, Game Warden Connor Moon alerted me that the eagle, reported fallen from its nest at the Dodge County PFA on Saturday but unable to be located that day, had been found and he was en route to LWR with it. I then alerted state and federal authorities that we had an eagle en route and called Smalley’s to tell them the same thing.
When Connor arrived with the bird, I was ready to head to Smalley’s ASAP, right after he removed the fishing line wrapped around the bird’s left leg and foot. On the way to Smalley’s I was on the phone with colleague Kathryn Dudeck the entire time, as the poor fellow’s lethargy made me fear AVM or lead poisoning. And Mondays are Kathryn’s day off, too…
We continued to text, bouncing ideas off each other, as I waited for the staff at Smalley’s, always efficient, to move as quickly as possible to get rads on the eagle. I don’t even remember who-all worked on him aside from vet tech Autumn Parker and vets Jim and Peggy Hobby, but there were several others who assisted, as well.
As evident in the rads below, his right femur was broken and badly displaced. This necessitated a transfer to UGA for surgery.
So then I put out the word to the Georgia Wildlife Network, a statewide group of volunteer transporters, that we needed transport to UGA immediately if not sooner. At the same time I contacted falconer Dennis Mock, as the falconry community has stepped up in the past to transport eagles. Sure enough, falconer Ken Dunn was willing to transport the eagle to UGA’s Wildlife Clinic.
Meanwhile, I’d updated the state and feds as to the situation and also contacted UGA’s Wildlife Clinic to send them the rads and request an update on the final outcome for the bird, as Kathryn and I had agreed that the break looked very iffy in terms of fixability.
It was after 10pm before poor Ken got back home from delivering the eagle to Athens, and it was Wednesday before the vet assigned to the case contacted me. To our great surprise and relief, lead levels were low, and they were going to attempt surgery to repair the fracture either Thursday or Friday. As of today, no updates, which makes me think no news, in this case, is probably not good news. I hope I’m wrong; I would be delighted if I am. Sometimes you WANT to be wrong. But we shall see…Keep your fingers crossed for this young eagle.
Meanwhile, I’d updated the state and feds as to the situation and also contacted UGA’s Wildlife Clinic to send them the rads and request an update on the final outcome for the bird, as Kathryn and I had agreed that the break looked very iffy in terms of fixability.
It was after 10pm before poor Ken got back home from delivering the eagle to Athens, and it was Wednesday before the vet assigned to the case contacted me. To our great surprise and relief, lead levels were low, and they were going to attempt surgery to repair the fracture either Thursday or Friday. As of today, no updates, which makes me think no news, in this case, is probably not good news. I hope I’m wrong; I would be delighted if I am. Sometimes you WANT to be wrong. But we shall see…Keep your fingers crossed for this young eagle.
And it’s not just eagles that people step up to aid. The GSW osprey has a very specific diet of whole fish. I don’t fish. My cousins Steve and Seth have been fishing like crazy to provide food for this picky eater, allowing him to have the proper nutrition to aid in healing his wing fracture.
I try to always make a point of individually thanking all the people who help, but today they get public thanks en masse. Without all these wonderful professionals and volunteers, my job would be a helluva lot harder, if not virtually impossible.
Aside from the eagle, LWR had two other new intakes, a first-year Coop and a barred owl. The Coop was found in the road and was in pretty bad shape. I didn’t really expect him to make it through the night, and he didn’t, poor fellow.
Aside from the eagle, LWR had two other new intakes, a first-year Coop and a barred owl. The Coop was found in the road and was in pretty bad shape. I didn’t really expect him to make it through the night, and he didn’t, poor fellow.
The barred owl, whom I totally forgot to get a photo of, came in with a nice little concussion and blood in his right eye. As of today, he’s eating well and the eye is looking great—still some blood but it’s clearing daily.
The juvie barreds remain in the main flight, as we haven’t had three consecutive days with low or no rain chances—and I’m NOT complaining about that; we still desperately need the rain. They’re ready for release as soon as the weather allows.
The juvie barreds remain in the main flight, as we haven’t had three consecutive days with low or no rain chances—and I’m NOT complaining about that; we still desperately need the rain. They’re ready for release as soon as the weather allows.
The juvie red shoulder has finally discovered his voice and loves the sound of it, as do all red shoulders. Mouthy little things…
And the screeches outgrew their extra-small box AND started totally self-feeding last week. *sniff* They grow up so fast… Typical screeches, they have now assessed the world and decided they hate it, me, and pretty much the entire universe. Gotta love a screech!
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