Always wanted to say something like that...Anyway, the good news is that the IRS has granted Laurens Wildlife Rescue 501(c)(3), or tax exempt status! That means donations to LWR are now tax-deductible, so what are you waiting for??? There’s a PayPal donation button at the bottom of every page on this site except this one, so get busy and help us "give Nature’s children a second chance!"
Bijou the blue jay and Georgia the brown thrasher have officially cut the figurative apron strings: they no longer visit me for snacks. Golda the gold finch comes less frequently and is getting more nervous about accepting goodies from me, so I don’t expect her to continue coming down much longer...especially since she’ll already interrupt her begging to snag a juicy caterpillar and after gulping it down, go right back to begging!
Little Blue, the bluebird, has been released but is still coming down for snacks, at least for now. Somewhere along the way she acquired the nickname "Toodles" - don’t ask; I don’t know! She seems to like it better, so "Toodles" it is. Here she is looking a bit askance about the camera deal, and below is a shot of her looking superior...bluebirds are such sweethearts!
Traveller has also been released and is enjoying his new-found freedom while still dropping in to beg for the occasional snack.
Heloise and Abelard have been joined by Hildegard, who’s a bit younger. She’s at the very back of this shot. Poor Hildegard came in with her eyes gummed shut by a massive eye infection, and she had pneumonia, to boot. Obviously, she’s out of quarantine now! She’s actually only about a week younger than Hel and Ab but her illness has left her with some major catching up to do in terms of size. She may always be on the small side; it’s hard to tell. Illnesses in young squirrels can stunt their development somewhat.
We also have this little darling, currently just called Wee One. She’ll acquire a name as she ages and begins to develop a more distinct personality. At the moment, at app. 3 weeks old, all she does is eat and sleep...and pee and poop, with help, of course!
As feather season continues to slowly wind its way to a close, I also have this little rascal, named Chip. He was found in a pasture with a bleeding head wound, and after consulting my bird books, the ‘Net and other rehabbers, we’re all guessing he’s a blue grosbeak, which means the previous two "blue grosbeaks" I had were in all probability actually indigo buntings.
I’d be embarrassed at the misidentification except that I’d also consulted several other rehabbers who agreed with me on those birds. When the juvies look nothing like the adults, it can be a huge and very entertaining guessing game for all of us!
Below is another shot of Chip - he's just too cute!
Believe it or not, I also received another Mississippi kite, this one a nestling. He was fully feathered but definitely not out of the nest yet, as he settled down quite happily in the makeshift nest I made for him and made contented little chirping sounds - quite a change from the species’ normal ear-piercing "few-FEEEWWWwww!" (It fades away toward the end.) He’s been transferred since I’m not licensed for raptors.
I also just barely passed the century mark this past week, with my 101st intake for the year. Last year I received 118 animals, and I’m guessing I’ll probably do at least that again this year. Who knows? The only predictable thing about wildlife rehab is its unpredictability!
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