Same ol’ same ol’? In wildlife rehab? HAH!

Honestly, one of the amazing—and often frustrating and exasperating—aspects of wildlife rehab is that there is no routine. I mean, sure, you have the current residents to feed daily—that’s a routine of sorts. But how many, how often, and what to feed—that’s where part of the lack of routine comes in. Now, add to the mix random phone calls that may or may not result in another intake or intakes, meaning you may or may not need to scramble to prepare heat, meds, additional food and caging—all while ensuring the current lot get fed and medicated on schedule…all done on minimal sleep, whatever food can be gulped on the run, and sometimes questionable personal hygiene…small wonder we rehabbers often look frazzled, discombobulated, and somewhat frightening to the average person—I’m sure I’m not the only rehabber who’s caught a glimpse of her reflection after a long, sticky day and uttered a startled squeal until she sheepishly realized that vagrant was actually her!

Despite the long days, frequent heartbreak, and even more frequent desire to throttle some well-meaning but clueless idiot, there are rays of sunshine. Like this week. Last week, if you recall, I was *ahem* NOT in a good mood. This week, despite even less sleep (I managed one night with 4 hours’ sleep; most were 2-3 hours, and one was a measly hour), I’m in a somewhat better mood.

Why?

Releases! Releases always make all the insanity worthwhile.  The older blue jay, the cardinal, both Carolina wrens, and two of the red bellies are now taking their rightful places in the big, wide world!

Yeah, it’s a bit like a scene from The Birds every time I go out, but how can I not smile when I look at those birds and realize that they’re “my” babies?  Watching them fly freely through my yard and strafe me for a handout…yeah, that’ll put a smile on your face!

Not all is sweetness and light in the LWR B&B, of course. The hummer will never be releasable, and given a hummer’s usually short lifespan in long-term rehab, as long as he’s eating and reasonably active and happy, I’ll just let him live out those few weeks in safety and comfort.

And the third red belly and younger blue jay are looking less and less like they’ll ever be releasable. Neither can fly properly; the blue jay’s feet are still causing perching issues; neither will even attempt to self-feed. I’m giving them every opportunity I can, but I also know they’re living on borrowed time. I expect to make the call on them later this week.

Making the call on these two birds was less difficult: the red shoulder hawk’s leg was shattered just above the knee, and the martin’s wing was broken and it was already on the way out from loss of blood from two deep puncture wounds in its side. (And yes, those are maggot eggs, and yes, that’s why I seldom eat rice during the summer…)

Saving the clown for last, we have two theories on Igor’s apparent wing injury last week. One is that he strained it flying in place so vigorously on his perch; the other is that he was deliberately trying to freak me out—and don’t you think for an instant that a crow won’t mess with your mind, given half a chance!

Igor will be headed for the flight pen this week, probably Monday, and I can’t wait to watch his reaction to having glorious room to really stretch his wings and fly properly! He’s needed to be out there for a week now, but I had to clear out the smaller birds first. While I adore crows, I’m also very aware that they’re bullies to smaller birds, so Igor will have no buddies in the flight pen with him—less fun for him, perhaps, but safer for the smaller birds.