We had quite a few releases this week, with an equal number of intakes (eight of each), and the nestling Mississippi kites (MIKIs) are starting to arrive—three this week.
This adorable robin—you know how I love any member of the thrush family—came in Monday after being found in someone’s back yard with no nest in sight. He’s matured rapidly and is ready for the flight pen next week, as is the mocker he’s currently housed with. No photos of the mocker; again this week we’re pretty much focusing on the new intakes and releases.
This adorable robin—you know how I love any member of the thrush family—came in Monday after being found in someone’s back yard with no nest in sight. He’s matured rapidly and is ready for the flight pen next week, as is the mocker he’s currently housed with. No photos of the mocker; again this week we’re pretty much focusing on the new intakes and releases.
The very next day two nestling Mississippi kites (MIKIs) came in, also found grounded a few counties away, with no nest in sight. Neither was thrilled at their new environs but both settled down nicely after a meal.
A third MIKI came in Saturday from south of LWR but I didn’t snap a photo of him—just plopped him in with his new sibs, where he promptly showed them what “food aggression” meant. They’re all three content as long as the food keeps coming.
This first-year red shoulder was found by the roadside but given his emaciated state, I don’t think he was hit by car. He was starving on intake and despite frequent small meals that he kept down, he died just over 24 hours later. There’s a certain threshold and once they’re past that, all the efforts in the world just can’t pull them back, sadly.
This first-year red shoulder was found by the roadside but given his emaciated state, I don’t think he was hit by car. He was starving on intake and despite frequent small meals that he kept down, he died just over 24 hours later. There’s a certain threshold and once they’re past that, all the efforts in the world just can’t pull them back, sadly.
And these two nestling Carolina wrens were found in a vehicle motor after it had been moved. Caros are stressy little birds, as you well know by now, but thus far these two sweet babies are doing well.
This adult GHO was transferred from UGA’s wildlife clinic to LWR for continued care and—we hope—eventual release. His right eye is pretty messed up—detached retina—and he has a coracoid fracture that the UGA vets are reasonably sure will heal for flight. I’m awaiting the x-rays so I can see for myself what we’re dealing with; they’re sending me copies next week. According to their paperwork, the bird was found outside their clinic in a box earlier this month.
In a reversal of plans, the fledgling Coop went into the raptor flight first. As you may remember, Coops are psychotic little birds, and he was going stir-crazy inside, so I opted to get him in the flight pen first so he can be released before he pulls some Coop shenanigan like breaking his own fool neck by flying full-speed into the flight pen wall.
In releases, all the flyers were soft-released over several days last week—their choice as to when they left. Below are the last photos of them, taken as I checked the box each morning to see who was left.
The red-headed woodpecker, after most of the week in the songbird flight, was released. Unlike red bellies, red-headeds don’t seem to hang around after release.
The kingbird was also released after most of the week in the songbird flight, and she hung around for a couple of days but I haven’t seen her today.
The kingbird was also released after most of the week in the songbird flight, and she hung around for a couple of days but I haven’t seen her today.
The adult red tail was released—no video but a couple of fairly decent post-release photos.
And the sharpie made no bones about being glad to “get shed” of human contamination!
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