I’m pretty sure y’all know the second line, and plans did go awry last week, with cold temps and rain. We managed only one release, DNR decided late November would be a good time for a facilities inspection (we passed, of course; I keep my facilities inspection-ready at all times), and the seasonal but still unpleasant weather resulted in a couple of new intakes, with another en route as I type. The good news is that the fundraiser goal was not only met but slightly exceeded, with an ending total of $1300! Heartfelt thanks to all who donated.
Several nights of hard freezes, followed by several days and nights of rain, meant nothing else planned for the week got accomplished. The falcon and great horned are still inside, the barred awaits release, and LWR had a red tail intake, a red shoulder intake, and today’s en route bird is another red shoulder.
So let’s start with the release: Just days before the cold and rain hit, the screech was released. Thanks to his finder, Connie Leonhardt, for returning to pick him up and release him back into his home territory, and for providing a video of the release.
Several nights of hard freezes, followed by several days and nights of rain, meant nothing else planned for the week got accomplished. The falcon and great horned are still inside, the barred awaits release, and LWR had a red tail intake, a red shoulder intake, and today’s en route bird is another red shoulder.
So let’s start with the release: Just days before the cold and rain hit, the screech was released. Thanks to his finder, Connie Leonhardt, for returning to pick him up and release him back into his home territory, and for providing a video of the release.
Boxing him up for pickup to be released.
The red tail is a late first-year/early second-year bird, male, who came in starvation thin (keel 1 for those who know the chart), lethargic, and with a right foot injury. He’s showing great improvement now that he’s getting regular meals and inhaling everything he’s offered, although it will take some time for him to reach a healthy weight again.
The red shoulder appears to have some spinal trauma; we’re trying steroids to see if his paralysis is caused by inflammation. He shows pain response in his feet, so that’s a potentially good sign.
The barred is ready to go and the weather looks much better for a release this week.
That will mean the great horned can finally be moved into the main flight. His toes have healed but still have scabs from being caught in the leg hold trap. He’s a very lucky bird; had the trap been larger, he’d be missing two toes.
And the peregrine can finally be moved into the mini-pen next week to begin her flight conditioning.
Finally, with all the December activities on tap, several of our weekly updates will be cancelled or rescheduled; below is the schedule for updates for the remainder of the month:
Dec. 10—as regularly scheduled
Dec. 18--MONDAY
Dec. 24—Christmas Eve, no update
Dec. 30--SATURDAY
Dec. 10—as regularly scheduled
Dec. 18--MONDAY
Dec. 24—Christmas Eve, no update
Dec. 30--SATURDAY
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