Tar Heel Raven

If you happen to be in Chapel Hill, NC and you just happen to see a raven, say "Hi Poe". Poe is a non-releasable raven that was placed in NC about 3 weeks ago. Unfortunately there wasn't room for him in our education program.

Poe came to TLC about a year ago with a wing injury that left him non-releasable. He stayed with us while we determined if he could be used as a education bird or just a display bird. During that time Poe educated us.

A large blue moving blanket was placed over one wall of his mew to help block some of the cold winds we had a few weeks back. Poe didn't like it because he couldn't see who was pulling up to the clinic. He would put his beak through the mesh and push the blanket aside so he could see.

Poe also did imitations. He was an expert at imitating a dripping faucet. "Doink, Doink". He also kept the local raven community well fed. He would regularly have other raven visitors perching on the same perch as him but outside of his mew. The meal that was placed in Poe's mew by the volunteers would get shared with the visitor.

Poe was never lonely. He had many raven visitors most of the day. TLC volunteers would spend time just visiting him because he had such a personality. Poe will be missed at TLC but we know he has made some new friends in Chapel Hill, NC.

If your in Watertown, New York

If your in Watertown, New York stop by the New York State Zoo at Thompson Park and see their new addition. This Great Gray Owl has graduated from our rehab program but can't be released due to a partial wing amputation. So he was placed at Thompson Park to be part of their education program.

Break time is over!

It was nice to have a couple easy days to try and get caught up with things. But as we all know, good things don't always last. On Thursday I picked up 3 eagles from the airport and yesterday one was delivered to us from a commuter airline at Merrill Field. One of the ones that arrived on Thursday didn't survive the trip and it's co-victim barely did.

It seems that these two eagles decided to eat something that they really shouldn't have. What ever it was, was toxic to them and by the time they were discovered, it had really taken it's toll on them. The survivor was so dehydrated that Dr Palmatier couldn't find a vain that would take an iv. We also couldn't turn the bird over for being affraid it would vomit again and drown. So we all got to learn about Intraosseous (IO) Fluid administration. If you have a weak stomach, stop reading now.

Intraosseous (IO) infusion is a recommended route for securing intravascular access in small animals and birds. It is particularly useful when peripheral vessels are very small or collapsed (e.g., with circulatory collapse [shock], and/or cardiac arrest). Because the vessels in the bone are supported by a rigid matrix the IO route remains useful even when all other vessels are collapsed.

Translation, the needle is placed into the bone. In this guys case it's placed in a bone at the right elbow. Just talking about it makes me feel the pain. Any how, this guy needed fluids now and this was our last resort and it worked.


This guy is no way in the clear yet. The catheter was left in the elbow so we could administer more fluids over the weekend. He doesn't support himself yet, but is scooting around some. Cindy got him to eat a few pieces of salmon yesterday, but I wasn't so lucky today. We're using heated iv bags like hot water bottles to keep him warm to get his body temp back up and stable. We were surprised when we found him still alive Friday morning. We're trying everything posible, but the odds aren't in his favor, but he battles on. Keep your feathers crossed for him.

UPDATE

Our toxic eagle didn't make it. Ruth and I picked up another eagle from Kodiak tonight at the airport. When we got back to the clinic we found that he had passed on.

Say goodbye

This morning starting at 4:00 am Alaska Standard Time , Cindy, Todd and myself loaded up our trucks with 18 of the OBS eagles and headed to the airport. Ocean Beauty Seafood paid for the return freight of the eagles to Kodiak.

At that same time, Greg MacDonald was checking in at Alaska Airlines passanger terminal. OBS paid for him to travel there to assist with the releases and over see the birds safety and well being until they were released.

I'll have more for you from Kodiak after Greg gets back.

A cup of coffee and a Snowy Owl please

Our friends at Terra Bella Bakery and Cafe' held a Raptor Roast a few weeks back. With all of the business of the OBS eagles going on I'm just now able to get a post up on it.

Lisa is a new Snowy Owl presenter, but she has been a volunteer, presenter and caretaker for other Bird TLC birds for almost 15 years. I personally enjoy her presentations because of her knowledge of the species she presents.

Lisa had been checked off on presenting Anna, our female Snowy Owl. But Anna had to have her wing operated on and it wouldn't be healed or presentable for Raptor Roast. Ghost, our male Snowy Owl was available, so he got to pinch hit for Anna. Even though he had a surprised look on his face when she first took him out of his kennel, he took to Lisa and Terra Bella just fine.

We all got to taste Terra Bella's organic and fair trade coffee that's roasted right here in Alaska. Lisa also told us of the relationships of coffee and owls. Because of Raptor Roast, I've become an almost regular customer at Terra Bella's. They have great coffee and it's a nice place to have lunch.

A slight change of plans

Due to some scheduling issues, the release has been changed to Tuesday. Because of those issues, Cindy won't be escorting the birds to Kodiak. Instead, Greg MacDonald will be spending the day in Kodiak assisting USF&W with the release of the birds.

We'll keep you updated.

Pack your bag, you're outa here

Cindy will be escorting 5 of the OBS eagles on Saturday to help USF&W with the release and observe the birds. This will be the first batch of several to go back home to Kodiak. Here's hoping someone takes pix's and shares them. I know Cindy won't have the time. She'll be back that same night though.

Here's a nice Kodiak Daily Mirror story about Cindy.

16 OBS eagles now at flight center

At first I thought we had one of our birds on the wrong side of the netting. Then I counted the eagles in the cell and checked the status board and the one on top made one too many eagles. That's when we figured we had a visitor on the outside looking in. I bet he was eyeing all of the salmon these guys are getting. He didn't move until I yelled for Cindy and Greg to check it out. He flew to the closest tree about 50 feet away and continued to watch us.

Anyhow, we took another 7 eagles out to the flight center. That makes a total of 16 OBS birds out there right now. The first 9 are looking strong and are getting close to release. They might, I repeat might get sent to Kodiak this weekend.

With the cold temperatures we've been having (-5°f as I write this), if they can survive that they can survive it in Kodiak. Cindy's all bundled up in her new insulated Carharts. She's no dummy. I bet those eagles would like a set also.

Anyhow, things are moving along a little faster than planned. That's good for the eagles. I think some of them are ready to go today. But just like anything else, there's a process that we must follow. So they have to follow along also. So for beiing patient, they continue to get their free salmon dinners on Bird TLC.

Slimed eagles, save one, soon to return to Kodiak

Here's an article in today's Anchoarge Daily News. If you want to know what happened that ugly day in Kodiak, some of what's happened here at TLC and what the plans are for the return of the OBS birds to Kodiak, check it out.

A Fish Story

Our guest have been eating up a storm. Lucky us, we've been having a big response from the local community on donating fish. Outside our front door we have a drop off bin where you can drop off unprocessed salmon 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. With the winter temperatures the way they are, the fish keeps until we can get it into a freezer. Ocean Beauty Seafood has offered us Salmon, but there's not a need for it now. We'll save that for when our stock is low.

One donation would be a trophy fish anywhere's but Alaska. It's hard to tell it's weight because it has been gutted and is also frozen, but you can tell in the picture that I'm mumbling "Hurry up and shoot" to Greg. It was pretty cold also.

Things are moving along well with the OBS eagles. We just did full exams with blood and everything and found 9 that were ready to go out to the flight center on Camp Carrol. It's their last step before they are sent back to Kodiak for release. Notice the winter coats being worn in the exam room. Cindy and Greg would catch an eagle from one of the outside mews and bring it right into the exam room. When they were done they would go get another one.

I belive the eagles now believe that Cindy is some type of vampire. Look at all th viles from todays blood samples.

Click pix's to enlarge.

Bloggers spell check is inop and so is mine.