New Ed Bird Presenters Class Graduates

Bird TLC's Education Committee had it's New Education Bird Presenters Class on Sunday and it was packed. We now have 10 new Ed Bird Presenters in training. The class covered everything from proper bird care to how to prepare for a presentation. A lot of information was covered in four hours and we scared no one off.

Welcome aboard and I look forward to seeing your first solo presentation.

Boy do we have volunteers

As usual, you'll find Bird TLC Volunteers presenting education birds at the Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival May 5 - 8 in beautiful Homer, AK. We'll be presenting a snowy owl, bald eagle, and a raven.

Special thanks go to Carol Lambert. In addition to serving as a Bird TLC volunteer, Carol is a very talented artist. Her solo show "On Wings: Studies Of and About Birds" opens in Homer at the Ptarmigan Arts Gallery. The show starts on May 6 from 5 - 7PM. Meet the artist and check out her work. She has committed to donationg 10% of sales from the show during May to BIRD TLC. So don't buy just one, buy two or more.

Check out more on the News page of her website, Carol Lambert Art.

Earth Day @ BP Alaska

The Education Birds from Bird TLC got to spend Earth Day @ BP Alaska. Kristen presented 2 owls, a great gray and a barred owl. Wayne Rush presented a NW Crow and Mary Bethe Wright presented a golden eagle.

We had a great time. The people at BP always treat us well. We signed up some new members, have a few new volunteers and lots of new friends. More people are more informed on the avian wildlife in their backyard and the hazards they face. They also now know more about Bird TLC and it's mission.

Sharpie doesn't live here any more

The goal of Bird TLC is to rehabilitate sick, injured or orphaned wild birds and return them to the wild. If that's not posible for what ever reason, and the bird can live a healthy life in captivity, Bird TLC places them in their very popular Education Program.

Sharpie the Sharp-shinned Hawk came to BIRD TLC after flying into a window and fracturing her left wing last year. Not much could be done so we wrapped it and hoped for the best. After healing, her left wing had a droop to it. That made us wonder how well she could fly. Sharp-shinns must fly fast and turn on a dime. It spends it's time in mixed woods and it's main source of food is small birds.

Sharpie was placed for caretaking and possible Ed Program training with Cindy Palmatier who's now our rehab director. About a month ago, Cindy says she thinks that Sharpie may be releasable. I asked why she thought that. She said and I quote "That booger can fly". So she started testing her and she passed every test. She discussed it with Dr. Scott, Bird TLC's Medical Director. He said that if she thinks it needs to be released and it's totally heathy, then it needs to be released.

Cindy decided Sharpie needed to be released and she picked her neighborhood. It's a spacious neighborhood with big trees, small birds and other small wild critters. She released her this past Saturday. Cindy said it flew to the closest tree with a surprised look. It spent a couple hours flying from tree to tree and preening. Then it flew away. She said she didn't see it again that day, but she put a mouse on top of the jacuzzi just in case it got hungry.

Don the snow plow guy

For the past two years Don has plowed our parking lot and mew yard after evey significant snow fall.........for free. When he first offered his services I asked him if I could advertise for him. He said no, I have enough accounts. The couple times I saw him late at night plowing, he had his bride of 30+ years Linda with him. I'm not sure if she was keeping him company or making sure he behaves himself. Any way, THANKS Don. You've done a heck of a job for us and saved us some big bucks. Take the summer off.

By the way, he's also the guy who pronounced Ruthie and I man and wife.

Mew Renew

Most of our mews are in pretty fair condition. The Boy Scout Eagles built a couple new ones to our specifications the last couple of years. Ferg did some major repairs after last years big wind storm, but the winter season takes it toll.

I did a mew walk around with Rehab Director Cindy Palmatier last week. What I thought would be a small list turned out to be two full pages. There was everything from cleaning to roof repair. Our gates need repair also, mainly alignment. Don our plow guy had fun this winter opening them up. Our parking lot was repaved last summer, but because of the height of the asphalt you can only open the gates inward now.

With the price of gas going up and up, summer vacations might be spent closer to home. Our version of Home Improvement might be Mew Improvement. It will be too hot for flannel though. I've already have had some pea gravel donated, but I'll need more than that. More pea gravel, driveway gravel, 2 X 2's, 2 X 4's, 2 X 6's, roofing panels, nails, screws and some tools. Any donations will be appreciated, did I have volunteer labor on that list?

Bad News

Long time Bird TLC Education Bird "Raider the Red Tailed Hawk" passed on yesterday from complications from asper. Raider was taken care of by Gloria Beckman for a many year. He was the first bird I had on fist at a Presenter Education class over 2 years ago. Though he was a wild bird, he still knew you ment him well when you handled him (or he let you handle him) on your fist.

Rest well Raider in the Big Hawk Haven in the sky. Our condolences go to Gloria, we know she'll miss him.

There were three eagles from Seward

These 3 eagles were sent to us from the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward last Thursday. They were found with an extremely upset stomach. We figure they were eating from an old carcase and the meat had turned bad.

Their crops were flushed and blood was taken for testing. They were put on a limited diet and vitamins. They should recover after a short stay and be released back in Seward. Hopefully they are a little more picky about dinner next time.

Bird TLC has taken in 26 eagles so far this year. In 2004 we only had 32 eagles the whole year.

The Great Alaskan Sportmans Show

Ellen Murphy-Welk gives a little closer look with Bird TLC's Education Program's Northern Hawk Owl known as Zypher. Hundreds of people filed by to see the education birds being presented. There was a bald eagle, a golden eagle, a rough legged hawk, a merlin, a saw whet owl, a great gray owl, a snowy owl and many more being presented to the public. Many became members, and many now know what Bird TLC is and what its hard working volunteers do. They also learned about each species, its eating habbits, territories, migratory habbits, etc. Even though we live in Alaska and so do these birds, we don't always see or know them so easily.

The Sportsman Show goes through Sunday night at 9PM. Hope to see you there.

Beauty on the News

To assist us in helping educate the public about misguided citizens who shoot at wildlife mischievously, KTVA Channel 11 Morning Anchor Lauren Maxwell came to Bird TLC and did a story on BE 05 - 19 also known as "Beauty". Lauren is a great supporter of Bird TLC. In 2003 she was co-auctioneer at our "Benefit for the Birds" helping to raise over $25,000 dollars.

California Bound

BE 05 -09 known as George will be going to ZOO TO YOU of Wildlife Education Inc., in California within the next couple of weeks. ZOO TO YOU takes in abused and orphaned wild animals. George doesn't fall into those catagories, but he does need long term care with plenty of hands on that we can't provide for him at Bird TLC. ZOO TO YOU is a non-profit organization formed to educate students of all ages about wildlife and the environment.

George came to Bird TLC with severe head trama. He had flown into something, probably head on. He had head swelling, was also deaf and blind. He has been with us several months now and the swelling is gone. He has partial vision and hearing now. We believe that in time more of his sight and hearing will return, but to what degree we don't know. George is a first year eagle.

As of yeaterday, Bird TLC has seen 25 eagles so far this year.

We're going to Spenard

That's Mr Whitekey's Fly By Night Club in Spenard, Alaska, and your invited also on May 31. Tickets are $20 per person. A portion of ticket sales and all of Bird TLC stuff sales go to the birds.

If you never been to the Fly By Night your missing a great Alaskan show. "Springtime in Spenard" is the show and Mr Whitekey says " It's the Alaskan show the Department of Tourism does not want you to see". I guess that's why the Fly By Night has been going out of business in the same location for over 30 years.

Thier food is excellent, but arive around 7:15 to beat the show. They have over 70 specialty beers and ale. Minors over 16 are OK, but must be acompanied by Mom or Dad. The show starts at 8PM.

For more info, call Bird TLC at 562-4852 or visit http://www.flybynightclub.com/

Reservations must be made by phone @ 279-SPAM. Be sure to say you want the Bird TLC tickets on May 31. It's a non-smoking night.

Bird TLC 2005 Membership Drive

It's that time of year again. Last year we signed up over 300 new members raising $50,000. That money was matched by ConocoPhillips. This year we don't have a major corporate sponsor, so we have lots of money to raise. So lets get right to it.

Hero $1000, Partner $500, Benefactor $250, Supporter $100, Associate $75, Family $45 and Individual $25.

For that yearly membership you get a Bird TLC pin, membership card and quarterly news letter "Flight Feather". You also get that warm feeling knowing you gave to a fine non-profit that cares for Alaska's injured, sick or orphaned wild birds. You read here what we do. So far this year we have cared for 22 eagles and countless songbirds. Send a check to;

Bird Treatment and Learning Center
P.O. Box 230496
Anchorage, Alaska 99523-0496

Attn: 2005 Membership Drive


Bird TLC is a 501(C)3 non-profit organization. Talk to your tax advisor about using your membership as a tax deduction.

Sad News

Our friend BE 05-01 Lead Bottom passed on yesterday. He had recovered from lead poisoning but he never fully recovered from his stroke. I'll remember him as a fighter and many people fighting for him. This is a bird I made a point to see everytime I was at Bird TLC. I think he just had too much against him.

See you later LB. Keep soaring with the eagles.