Laurens Wildlife Rescue
  • Home
  • I found a wild baby - what do I do?
  • How can I help?
  • Contact us
  • FAQ
  • This week in wildlife

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

7/21/2013

4 Comments

 
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!
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
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…)
Picture
Picture
Picture
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.
Picture
Picture
4 Comments
Pipette
7/21/2013 02:30:49 pm

Releases, YAY! And Igor, what a character - the photos of him make me laugh, and I don't even know why!

I'm sorry for the ones who are on borrowed time - but it is well-cared-for, high-quality borrowed time, and you've given them that. It's not a minor thing!

Most of us don't have the personality or the skills to do what you do, thus I'm always grateful that you (and others like you) are out there, somehow finding the energy to fight the good fight, even though it's an uphill struggle and often heartbreaking to do so. Thanks for being who you are!

Reply
Laurens Wildlife Rescue
7/21/2013 03:07:33 pm

Thanks Pipette! Igor is just a clown and a bit of a ham when he sees the camera. It's hard NOT to laugh at him!

Reply
domna
7/26/2013 02:24:43 pm

U r truly an amazing person. I wish you I had ur knowhow! Thanks for all u do

Reply
Laurens Wildlife Rescue
7/26/2013 03:06:52 pm

Thanks dm!

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010
    February 2010
    January 2010
    December 2009
    November 2009
    October 2009
    September 2009
    August 2009
    July 2009
    June 2009
    May 2009
    April 2009
    March 2009
    February 2009
    January 2009
    December 2008
    November 2008
    October 2008
    September 2008
    August 2008
    July 2008
    June 2008
    May 2008
    April 2008

    Categories

    All
    Baby Birds
    Baby Deer
    Baby Opossums
    Baby Possums
    Baby Rabbits
    Bluegray Gnatcatchers
    Carolina Wren
    Common Loons
    Epd
    Fawns
    House Finch
    Mbta
    Migratory Bird Treaty Act
    Mockers
    Mockingbirds
    Orphaned Birds
    Orphaned Deer
    Orphaned Fawns
    Orphaned Opossums
    Orphaned Possums
    Orphaned Rabbits
    Orphaned Wildlife
    Squirrels
    Wildlife
    Wood Ducks

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.