The last Thursday of August, DNR head biologist Bob Sargent and I met to transfer the eagles from my possession to his for transport to the Avian Conservation Center in Awendaw, SC, just outside Charleston. Center president Jim Elliott informed us within 24 hours of the birds’ arrival that Swimmer appeared to have compromised vision, which is something I’d suggested after her second failed release attempt. Most likely this will mean she’s also a candidate for ed bird status. Thus far, we have no word on their verdict for Wing-wrap but hope to know something soon.
As Bob said, it truly does take a village in wildlife rehab, something I’ve pointed out to y’all on numerous occasions. Individually, rehabbers tend to be independent, often ornery and cantankerous, but we know when and how to call on and cooperate with colleagues and official resources to ensure the best outcomes for the critters in our care.
Below are a few of the last photos I took of these two juvie eagles prior to their transfer. Enjoy—if previous trends hold true, these are probably the last eagles LWR will see for 2024 (and I probably just jinxed myself…).
As Bob said, it truly does take a village in wildlife rehab, something I’ve pointed out to y’all on numerous occasions. Individually, rehabbers tend to be independent, often ornery and cantankerous, but we know when and how to call on and cooperate with colleagues and official resources to ensure the best outcomes for the critters in our care.
Below are a few of the last photos I took of these two juvie eagles prior to their transfer. Enjoy—if previous trends hold true, these are probably the last eagles LWR will see for 2024 (and I probably just jinxed myself…).
LWR had only two new intakes for the past two weeks, both of which had life-ending injuries. The first was an utterly gorgeous first-year red tail with an open wing fracture. He was humanely euthanized.
The second was an adult barred owl who died en route to LWR from a nasty open fracture.
With the eagles out of the main flight, the juvie red tail went in—after the flight had been cleaned up a bit. He was utterly delighted to have room to actually fly; the first thing he did was fly strongly from one end to the other and back. He’s since discovered the joys of the fake-stone water dish, a radical departure from the stainless steel one he had in the mini-pen, and found himself a discarded eagle feather that I missed during post-eagle cleanup. That’s been his favorite enrichment item thus far!
With the eagles out of the main flight, the juvie red tail went in—after the flight had been cleaned up a bit. He was utterly delighted to have room to actually fly; the first thing he did was fly strongly from one end to the other and back. He’s since discovered the joys of the fake-stone water dish, a radical departure from the stainless steel one he had in the mini-pen, and found himself a discarded eagle feather that I missed during post-eagle cleanup. That’s been his favorite enrichment item thus far!
The second-year red tail moved into the mini-pen, where he is moving from perch to perch and from the ground to the perches with no problems. Given his failed release in early August, this is good news indeed; his chances for release are now looking better and better!
Y’all enjoy what’s left of the Labor Day weekend; predicted temps in Georgia for the next week or so are beginning to look almost fallish…or at least less heat-of-Hell summerish…
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