Bird Treatment and Learning Center Anchorage, Alaska

Education Birds anual exam time

2011-12-30T20:19:00.000-09:00

All of Bird TLC's education birds are well taken care of. However, once a year their caretakers are required to bring the birds in to be examined, blood drawn and tested, talons and or beaks trimmed (coped) and anything else they medically might need.

Here Lisa trims Petra, a 17 year old female bald eagles talons and above Heather is coping Petra's beak. Both must be in ideal shape for the health of the bird.

Dr. Karen Higgs examines Galen, an estimated 19 year old great horned owl. Galen also got his beak and petty.

And of course the paperwork.

Today was a good day. 4 birds were examined and all were in excellent shape. Blood work was sent to the lab and we'll have results in a week or so. 25 more birds to go.

Alaskans can Pick Click and Give

2011-12-28T20:06:00.000-09:00

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-24T20:22:00.000-09:00

GHOW release on Winter Solstice

2011-12-21T20:33:00.001-09:00

Thanks Verity!

2011-12-08T06:58:00.001-09:00

We had a goodbye / thank you dinner for Verity at the Glacier Brew House. In the short time she's been with us as an intern, she has made a lot of friends. She got to see quite a bit of the state joining us at presentations as far away as Fairbanks. She was a huge contribution at the clinic. She also got checked off on Maverick the falcon and Gus the great horned owl
Verity leaves on Saturday for Seattle to visit family for a very short time and then she's back to Nebraska for school. Thanks for spending time with us Verity and we hope you make it back this way again.

2011 Thanksgiving Celebration

2011-11-29T22:24:00.002-09:00

Happy Thanksgiving

2011-11-24T10:23:00.000-09:00

Petra gets her turkey dinner also.

Photo courtesy of Lisa Pajot

Owl-O-ween

2011-11-01T05:21:00.000-08:00

If you missed our Owl-O-ween, you missed a lot. Over 650 people filtered through the Alaska Native Heritage Museum to see the Bird TLC owls and corvids.

For more photos, click here for Britt Coon's album.
Photo by Bill Larson / Bird TLC.

Good Morning King Salmon

2011-10-09T10:12:00.000-08:00

Ghost, Petra and I were guest of the USF&W Visitors Center at the Alaska Peninsula Wildlife Refuge in King Salmon over the weekend. Airfare for Ghost and Petra was provided by PenAir. On the first day, we visited Bristol Bay School in Egegik and did a 1 1/2 presentation to the students. I was amazed how well behaved and attentive they were. Many, many questions.

Lodging and transportation was provided by USF&W. Both Ghost and Petra loved being tethered outside were we stayed. The nights were cool and quiet. Being the end of the fall season, most other distractions weren't around.

Hopefully I'll have some presentation photos later. Many were taken the next day where we did about 3 1/2 hours of presentations at the visitor center. Over the weekend we saw over 250 people. At the visitor center alone we saw ove 120 people, which is 1/2 the population of King Salmon.

Ghost, Petra and I would like to thank USF&W for having us out to King Salmon and Egegik. It was great to meet the people of the Bristol Bay area, the people of USF&W and the Alaska Wildlife Troopers. I specifically would like to thank Julia Pinnix, Visitor Services Manager, Alaska Peninsula/Becharof National Wildlife Refuge. She was a great host and made our trip most memorable and enjoyable.

For love in Fairbanks

2011-10-04T20:36:00.000-08:00

I was invited to participate in Owlpaloza at the Alaska Bird Observatory in Fairbanks by my friends Nancy and Jen. Little did we know that it would be such a hit and Gus our Great Horned Owl would find a friend.

On the first night after we arrived, Gus was staying in an outside mew on the deck. About 1AM there began a series of hoots and all were not Gus's. All night long they hooted back and forth.

As it got lighter, she got braver and came closer and closer to his mew. We could only get a faint view of her, but she responded to all of Gus's hoots.

As it got lighter, we were able to see what a beauty she really was. Her bib expanded with every hoot and her feet were bright and fluffy. I really don't know, but I believe she's a young gal. Maybe 2 to 3 years old.

Little did we know that she had got a lot closer when we weren't watching, and did some damage to the mew. Unfortunately for Gus, the next night he got to spend inside, for his safety and so we could sleep. He's a 20+ year old Great Horned Owl and not able to care for himself as well as a wild owl can.

The next day, as tired as he was, Gus and 3 other owls WOWed them at Owlpaloza! 775 people came to the event and saw 4 owls, but Gus was the only one love struck.

The story was all over Facebook and Twitter. For more on Gus and Owlpaloza, check these links.
Wickersham's Conscience
Fairbanks Daily News Miner
More to come!

Four immatures released in Seward

2011-09-25T16:01:00.004-08:00

We released 4 immature bald eagles back to the wild in Seward yesterday at Lowell Point. A good day with fair weather was perfect for them to start their lives over in the wild again. Britt released the first one, BE 11-44 from Dutch Harbor which was this years bird. Britt has helped to release lots of eagles, but this is the first one she did.

Heather released the next one, BE 11- 30 from Kodiak NWR. He was about 4 years old. Heather is Bird TLC's Executive Director.

Verity, our newest intern released BE 11- 13 from Kodiak NWR and I got to release BE 11-41, this years bird from Anchorage.

This is BE 11-44 showing the rest of them on how to do it. They all did well and we hope not to see them again at Bird TLC.

For more photos, click here for Bird TLC's and here for Britt's.

Bald Eagle BE 11-42 Droopy released

2011-09-19T06:09:00.001-08:00

A busy weekend for releases. BE 11-42, aka Droopy was released by Michelle and her friends yesterday.

Droopy found the nearest tree and decided to stay put for some time.

He had eaten the night before and had a full crop before the release, so he was satisfied with where he was.

Have a wild one Droopy!

Bald Eagle BE 11-52 released back to the wild

2011-09-17T19:40:00.002-08:00

Roger Wahrer, former volunteer and long time supporter of Bird TLC got to release BE 11-52 aka Chatty back to the wild. She came to us earlier last month from the Anchorage area.

Chatty gave a good show and then flew around in the thermals for a bit showing off.

Thanks Roger!

For more photos, check out Britt Coon's album and the Bird TLC album.

TOTE & United Way Day of Caring

2011-09-15T22:14:00.000-08:00

A lot of the things that come to Alaska, come by ship. That's where TOTE, Totem Ocean Trailer Express, Inc. comes in. Their large ships bring thousands of trailers full of the stuff we use everyday.

Today the employee's of TOTE donated their time to help us out. They filled 16 large garbage bags full of weeds from around the flowers and bushes at the Bird TLC property. Today they gave back to their community, and we appreciate them.

To celebrate, we released a boreal owl and a merlin during breaks. Both came to Bird TLC earlier this year with injuries that they have now recovered from.

After a hard days work of weeding, shoveling and raking, they still had a big smile on their faces.

Thanks TOTE! You guys and gals are the BEST!

Meet the new boss

2011-09-03T10:33:00.000-08:00

We have a new Executive Director and it is Heather Merewood. Some of you may already have neet her, as she has been volunteering here for a little while. She has quite a bit of experience in the raptor world. She has worked at the Carolina Raptor Center and Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center, not to mention working with vultures in Nepal and animals in Costa Rica. Heather comes to us with excellent credentials and a warm, friendly way about her.

There's a Meet and Greet Potluck on Wednesday 9/14 at 6:30 at the Bird TLC office. Bring a dish and meet Heather and Guy Runco our new volunteer coordinator. We tell you more about him later.

Autumn Wings 2011

2011-08-28T22:28:00.001-08:00

Click to see the whole album

BE 11-04 released

2011-08-21T21:20:00.001-08:00

BE 11-04 came to Bird TLC in January after it was found caught by the neck and wing in a snare. The neck was so swollen it couldn't eat. Today it was released back to the wild by Elena and her family.

Elena purchased the release at the Alaska Zoo's auction a few months ago. Today

BE 11-04 aka Hangman is a resident of Potter Marsh.

More photos by Britt.
More at Bird TLC's SmugMug.

See you later Cindy

2011-07-30T10:47:00.002-08:00

Cindy Palmatier has been the Director of Avian Care since November 2004. Since then she has turned Bird TLC from a local rehab clinic maned by volunteers to a world known avian rehabilitation clinic and avian education organization. She had her hands on the pulse of the organization and many, many birds.

There's no way to tell how many birds she assisted in helping, returning back to the wild or into education birds. In the Alaskan avian world she made a difference.

Cindy has decided to move on and to get more involved with her personal life. Being an avian director can consume a lot of your time. So far she's has been going fishing with her husband Todd, taking her dog Belle to agility competitions, spending time with her grand baby, camping and you name it.

While she was with Bird TLC, she touched the pulse of the volunteers. She has been teacher. mentor, guide and friend. I've never seen an organization that its volunteers are so involved. She has always taken time for a volunteer who needed it.

If you haven't meet her, you probably seen her on TV, in the newspaper or in magazines. She helped get the word out about eagles with broken beaks, eagle love displays that had gone wrong, eagles diving into trucks full of fish guts, songbirds in the Anchorage area, lost red tail hawks, owls and of course , Bird TLC.

She's going to stay on as a volunteer and assist in hiring her replacement and giving any advice we may need. She's away this weekend presenting Hal the bald eagle in Denali.

As an organization we have a lot of adjusting to do. We always ran to Cindy for help or advice. There are many people at Bird TLC who can do the same, but she was always right there to help.

Cindy, you're going to be missed, but I'm glad you're not going too far. I already miss having my Wednesday morning muffin with Belle.

T and T

2011-07-24T19:52:00.000-08:00

I caught up with Terri and Taz at the New Presenters Orientation last week. Terri is Taz the Merlin's new caretaker. She has him eating out of her hand.

Looking good. Going through a molt, but most birds are right now.

Junco release

2011-07-20T06:38:00.000-08:00

Grace released a Junco a couple weekends ago. It took off pretty fast.

Hhmmmm

2011-07-16T21:01:00.000-08:00

Lets see. Eagles like salmon. Eagles like squirrels. But this squirrel is eating salmon in a eagle mew. Go figure.

2011 Midnight Sun Intertribal Powwow

2011-07-11T18:36:00.000-08:00

Crowd members look on as military veterans release a rehabilitated bald eagle during the 11th annual Midnight Sun Intertribal Powwow on Sunday afternoon, July 10, 2011, behind the Carlson Center. The eagle, which suffered being hit by a car four months ago, was given the name "Semper Fi" to honor the U.S. Marine Corps. John Wagner/News-Miner

Read more: Fairbanks Daily News-Miner - The voice of Interior Alaska since 1903

Busy Bird TLC Weekend so far

2011-06-26T09:15:00.000-08:00

Britt and I started with a eagle release at the Eagle River Nature Center. Marge Brehm got to release BE 11-08 and it was a gorgeous release.

See more photos at Britt's site.

Ghost and I did a last minute request at Alaska Wild Berry. It was a lot of fun. Premier Alaska Tours brought several buses by.

Bev and Flame at Spenard Farmer's Market.

Kristen and Sparky at the Spenard Farmer's Market.

Lisa and Petra

2011-06-22T21:08:00.000-08:00

Hi Dave,

Here’s a fun story to put on the blog. Last night Lisa, Karen C., and myself were giving a program on the third floor balcony at the Dena’ina Center. We were part of the “Experience America” program which was put on for 70 ambassadors and their significant others. As soon as Petra came out of her kennel the gulls starting mobbing her. Lisa got to defend Petra with her stick and Petra seemed to be enjoying herself. The only bad part was that the gulls starting pooping on Lisa and Petra. They even did it when they were getting photographed with some of the ambassadors. Everybody enjoyed the spectacle that was part of our program and we got to meet a lot of ambassadors from all over the world. By the end of the night both Petra and Lisa were covered in poop and both went home to take baths!

Karen C. and I couldn’t stop laughing initially because Lisa looked so stoic defending Petra and I wish that I would have gotten a photo of Lisa at the end of the night covered in bird poop. Luckily Lisa was a good sport about it and still put on a good show!

Ginamaria

BE 10-47 release

2011-06-19T08:00:00.001-08:00

BE 10-47 aka Big Girl, was released last Friday at the Bird TLC property. It was dedicated to the Woman's Listening group who support women who've had cancer. Volunteers released her and Big Girl put on a great show.

Photo by Britt Coon / Bird TLC

She did it!

2011-06-17T20:22:00.000-08:00

Sharon checked off on Flame the short eared owl this past week. She's going to be an awesome presenter. Congrats Sharon!!!

Rehabilitated snowy owl released over Barrow tundra

2011-06-08T19:38:00.000-08:00

A scrum of Barrow kids and a batch of tourists were on hand Tuesday to watch the city's mayor release a wayward snowy owl that had been nursed back to health at the Bird Treatment and Learning Center in Anchorage.

An Anchorage resident found the owl in Anchorage last fall. It was weak and hungry and far removed from the North Slope where snowy owls are fairly common, said Bob Harcharek, mayor.

About 20 kids were on hand, along with a dozen bus-bound tourists who applauded for the owl as it flew to freedom over the North Slope tundra, and hopefully, it's first wild meal in months.

"It took a couple minutes to exit the cage and realize there was freedom," said Harcharek, noting that the owl then flew to a tundra hill and appeared to be looking for lemmings, a favorite food of the bird.

Helping was Blair Marlowe, Bird TLC board member, who had flown north for the release. She said the animal was pretty weak and hungry when it was brought to the bird shelter last fall, according to Jake Neher, news director at KBRW.

"They're leaning toward the idea that it flew down to Anchorage looking for food, but they haven't ruled out the possibility it was removed from its habitat," Neher said.

Harcharek said he'd scouted for the past two weeks for the proper release site, and chose the stretch along Nunavak Road outside town because he hadn't seen owls there lately.

"We put him in an area where there's no competition," he said.

The owl was weak and tired when an Anchorage resident found it on the road near her house, Harcharek said. She knew there had to be a problem and brought it to Bird TLC - find it at www.birdtlc.net - Alaska's pre-eminent wild bird rehabilitation facility, Harcharek wrote in a media statement earlier in the week.

"On admission to Bird TLC, the snowy owl showed no signs of injury or trauma but had a very thin keel (an extension of the breastbone), which is indicative of starvation. So the volunteers who staff the facility began a very careful re-feeding program that allowed the snowy owl to gradually gain weight and strength," Harcharek wrote.

Here's more from the original press release:

"Once the snowy owl had his belly full, he started to show his true personality, a personality that indicated a distinct dislike for humans. Even those volunteers bringing plumped up dead rats into him for dinner found themselves facing hisses, flashing eyes and fluffed out wings. Most volunteers knew not to venture too far into his mew but to toss the rats from a distance.

The fact that the snowy owl so intensely dislikes human contact is a good sign for his rehabilitation and release back into the wild. It means he hasn't imprinted on people and so will not hang around where they are.

With the owl back to its full weight and able to fly and feed himself recently, Marlowe agreed to transport the snowy owl to Barrow where. It was particularly appropriate to release the bird in Barrow since the Inupiat name for the traditional village is Ukpeagvik, which means "place of the snowy owl.

Harcharek included a personal note: "It's always exciting to be able to participate in releasing a wild animal back to its natural habitat. Here in Barrow we are very lucky to be surrounded by such amazing wilderness that we can pretty much go out any road and let the snowy owl free and know he'll find the food and shelter he needs."

On a personal note, Blair Marlowe did this release trip at her own personal expense. Yea Blair!!!!!!

At the Bird TLC property

2011-05-26T22:37:00.000-08:00

Photo taken after a presentation at the Bird TLC property tonight. It was 73° and a gorgeous day.

Return to Moose Pass

2011-05-21T22:38:00.000-08:00

Ghost, Petra and I went to Moose Pass on Friday night. Every year Bird TLC is invited back to Trail Lake Lodge to do presentations for their birding groups. We always have a good time and meet some great people from all over the states. Since I went solo, there are no photos of the presentation, but here's Ghost and Petra chillin' afterwards.

Moose Pass is not a large town so there's not a lot of traffic off the main road. We only attracted a few people at the lodge.

Ghost didn't care. He said "I'm off the clock. I'm enjoying the quiet".

Petra did a few calls for the few that walked by. I think she thought they wanted her salmon. She didn't want it then, but she didn't want to share.

Nothing like a nice bath after a long over-nighter.

Thanks Dave, Doug, Chris and Nan for having down again this year. It's a big treat for us.

International Migratory Bird Day at the Alaska Zoo

2011-05-16T20:20:00.002-08:00

Let the releases begin

2011-05-14T09:26:00.000-08:00

The first release of the year will be tonight at the Eagle River Nature Center right after their auction. BE 11-29 came to Bird TLC less than a month ago from Kodiak after it was hit by a truck. He recovered fast and has quite the attitude.

A good time at Potter Marsh

2011-05-07T05:10:00.000-08:00

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game was the host of a fun event at Potter Marsh yesterday. It was for the 4th & 5th grade kids of Anchorage School District to learn more about salmon and life cycle.

An estimated 800 kids came out for the day and they also go to see some of our education birds.

(Picture borrowed from Patrica Grenier)

A gorgeous day helped make it a perfect event.

Gina Maria presented Arc our great horned owl and Lisa with Petra a bald eagle. Cindy and Hal a bald eagle and me with Ghost a snowy owl also got to present.

For the past 9 months I've worked with Lisa and Petra. We both got to share this event today.

All in ll a fun time today.

There's some serious building going on

2011-05-02T05:55:00.000-08:00

Even tough Bird TLC doesn't hold a permit for their education birds to reproduce and even though Petra doesn't have a mate, she still goes through the steps of building a nest.

Here she is gathering grass to line her nest.

Petra is considered partially flighted, so she has a very large mew. Sticks and limbs provided by Lisa are arranged by Petra to form what she considers a nesting area. Lisa will hand her a limb and Petra will size it with her beak. If it fits her needs she takes it and places it in the nesting area were Petra feels it needs to be.

Here she's placing grass within the nesting area.

Petra is very protective of the nesting area. Weighing almost 14 lbs, she can very intimidating. We stay clear of the area when we enter her mew for feeding, watering and stuff. She's also more receptive to Lisa than me right now. We're not sure if it's because she's more familiar with Lisa right now or what.

Anyways, Petra is staying very busy right now.

The bottom 2 photos are by Lisa Pajot and the top 2 are by Dave Dorsey.

Grace has been a big help!

2011-04-30T20:31:00.000-08:00

This week alone we picked up 3 bald eagles at the airport. This one came in a box that barely fit into my truck.

Treat yourself and treat the birds

2011-04-30T08:06:00.000-08:00

Help support Bird TLC at

TUDOR ROAD DQ GRILL & CHILL ®TM

611 E. Tudor Road

Anchorage, AK 99503-7321

on May 1st. from 3PM - 6PM

10% of all sales go to Bird TLC

Golden Eagle to be released at Hawk Watch

2011-04-15T21:50:00.000-08:00

This golden eagle came to us from the Juneau Raptor Center needing some flight time. It's been at our flight center getting it's strength back. A group of Bird TLC Volunteers are taking it to be released at Hawk Watch on Sunday. If you're interested, it'll be at mile marker 119 at the highway pull off near Sutton. The volunteers should arrive around 12:30 or 1PM.

BE 10-25

2011-03-31T06:30:00.000-08:00

Orientation

2011-03-29T06:34:00.001-08:00

A Presenters Orientation class was held on Saturday for those interested in presenting and caretaking of one of Bird TLC's Education Birds.

Afterwards they were able to try it out to get a taste of things.

I think I saw a few smiles.

For more photos, click here.

Wednesday's Crew

2011-03-23T07:11:00.000-08:00

Say hello to Wednesday's morning crew taking a break when all is done.

AUCTION TIME!!!!!

2011-03-17T19:55:00.000-08:00

Building Taz a mew

2011-03-16T07:35:00.001-08:00

Taz is a merlin that has now become a part of our education program due to a permanent wing injury. He has been staying at my house waiting for a permanent home. Terri stepped up and is going to house him at her place.
We spent Saturday afternoon at Todd Palmatiers house while his wife Cindy was away playing outdoor girl. Todd had recently made a mew for a sharpie that would the perfect model for a merlins mew.

Terri got right into it with a little help from our visiting intern from England, Grace.

After a few hours, no injuries and a few mistakes, we had a new merlin mew. After it's approved by USF&W and Bird TLC, Taz will be moving to a new home with Terri.

Of course once Taz moves in it will have a perch, water, etc.

Have fun Terri!

For more photos, click here.

Getting ready for the auction

2011-03-12T10:00:00.002-09:00

We're getting ready for "For the Birds" Live and silent auction this coming Friday at the Anchorage Hilton. Lot's of great donations have been pouring in. The nice thing about helping with the auction, you get an early preview of what's going to be there.

There's everything from art, trips, beer, dinners, and a few surprises. The committee is in the process of getting the items organized and cataloged and stuff.

I think Cindy is trying out a few things that she's going to bid on. I hope they come with instructions.

The support of people and businesses is amazing. It should be an awesome auction. It's both live and silent and our auctioneer is Cary Carrington. Tickets are available and will also be sold at the door.

Call the Bird TLC office during normal business hours at 907-562-4852.

This is our main fundraiser for the year. Proceeds help out Alaska's wild birds in need.

"Because wild birds don't have health insurance".

Tickets are available at the door!

Love Is In the Air

2011-02-12T21:19:00.002-09:00

Lots of kids of all ages had fun at todays "Love Is In the Air" at Alaska Heritage Museum. Today kicked off a series of Second Saturday events held on the second Saturday of every month through July.

There were all kids of birds from songbirds to a great horned owl.

Kids could make make Valentine's Day cards. There were all kinds of snacks and drinks.

A good day to be inside since it was 8° outside.

To see more photos, click here.

Out with the old

2011-02-06T08:58:00.000-09:00

Nah, I can't say that. Valerie is no where's near old. But she is leaving Bird TLC and taking a full time position with USF&W. Lucky for them. However, she plans on coming back to TLC as a volunteer. She wants to become an education presenter. With her sparkly personality and good humor she'll do great.

Monique is new. She's taking over Val's position as administrative assistant and fitting in just fine. We haven't run her off with our mice, rats and other quirky stuff yet. I look forward to working with her more.

We're going to miss you in the office Val and welcome to TLC Monique!

On Channel 11 this morning.

2011-01-21T20:54:00.000-09:00

Click here on link.

Bald Eagle #7

2011-01-15T08:34:00.000-09:00

This young guy was fished out of one of the bays in Kodiak. When he arrived at Bird TLC it still had a pretty full crop and was really soaking wet.

Here' Cindy Palmatier is smelling its breath to make sure the food still in its crop hasn't soured.

Ginamaria and Cindy tube fed the young guy with a diluted solution of Critical Care. The main idea if for it to help dissolve the food that's in its crop. Brian's holding our guy and afterwards placed him in a warm kennel.

We're getting a lot of eagles in early this year. Everything from airplane hit, snare or trap caught to being fished out of the water.

I did it!

2011-01-12T20:27:00.000-09:00

After months of practice, studying and observing other presentations, I checked off today on presenting Petra the bald eagle for Bird TLC.

With great help from my mentor Lisa and great support from my friends the day finally came.

Petra and I hope to see you at a presentation soon.

Photo Credit: Britt Coon / Bird TLC

For mor photos, click here.

As the Snowy flies

2011-01-08T10:15:00.000-09:00

Back in November, a couple brought in this snowy owl that wasn't doing well. It was very lethargic and obviously hadn't eaten in quite a while.

On Friday Britt and I took him to the flight center to see how it's coming along. It's eating well and all other signs are good. There is some concern about its eye sight, but we'll let it tell us how that's doing.

Right now, it's the only snow that's flying around here. It took off right out of the kennel.

A little more time is needed to know for sure how it's doing and if it'll be able to be released. Right now it needs to get its bearings, get it's flight strength back and remember how to hunt.

We'll keep you updated.

Happy New Year!

2010-12-31T07:46:00.000-09:00

Here's hoping everyone has a Happy and Safe New Year!

Happy Holidays!

2010-12-24T18:35:00.001-09:00

Lisa and Petra go to Hope School

2010-12-08T21:36:00.001-09:00

I had the pleasure of accompanying Lisa and Petra to Hope where they did an awesome presentation for the students and staff at Hope School.

Hope School is a little over an hours drive from Anchorage and has a student population of about 24 with 3 of them being seniors this year. Lots of questions were asked by all and both Lisa and Petra were happy to answer.

Both were asked to return again along with other presenters and education birds from Bird TLC. It was a fun time for all.

For more photos of their visit, click here.

Who doesn't like leftovers from Thanksgiving dinner?

2010-12-03T06:39:00.000-09:00

Turkey necks, legs and cranberries are some of the items donated to Bird TLC after Thanksgiving. Petra here is showing her appreciation.

Fresh snow

2010-11-28T10:06:00.000-09:00

Fresh Snow is very pretty, but when it snows a lot it creates a lot of work. Wet snow doesn't pass through the nets that cover our flight pens, it just collects it. The weight of the snow makes the nets droop lower and lower. To much weight from the snow can cause damage to the cells, so it needs to be removed.

Britt and I were out there Friday afternoon knocking the snow off of the nets and then shoveling the snow we knocked down to make paths for the non-flighted eagles. To knock it down we use long aluminium poles with squeegees on the end. The squeegee end keeps from tearing the net.We raise them to the nets and push up and down causing the snow to fall through. Sounds easy, doesn't it? Thrust me, your arms, neck and back feel it after 1/2 a cell. Your also guaranteed to be dumped on often. By the time you're done, you are beat and soaking wet.

Everyone at the flight center gets their turn during the winter. This time was Britt's and mine. If the amount is too much, you call for back up.

Palmer Senior Home presentation

2010-11-26T06:00:00.001-09:00

Erin, Ghost, Randy and Artemus did a presentation the day before Thanksgiving at the Palmer Senior Home to a very large audience.

The weather cleared up enough for the presenters and their birds to make it out to Palmer and back safely. The birds seemed excited about being out the day before a famous bird holiday.

Stories and questions filled the air.

A good time was had by all.

It's winter at the flight Center

2010-11-21T19:38:00.000-09:00

The birds that are at the flight center now will be there until spring. We don't release eagles in winter. We prefer that there's a easy food source for them when they first get released and they have to get use to defending for themselves again.

Some might not be releasable, only time will tell if their rehabilitation works. If not, we attempt to find them a permanent home. Right now, each eagle is fed 2 1/2 lbs. of salmon at each feeding. They get fed every other day.

There's no running water during the winter at the flight center. We haul it in 5 gallon jugs. The eagles use 5 gallons a day. It's not that they drink that much. They drop food in it, take bathes or whatever else you can think of. We place heaters in their water bowls so it doesn't freeze. Also, because of the low temperatures and lack of running water, the cells aren't cleaned as in washing until spring. Scrap food, feathers, etc. are picked up When it snows, the nets need to be shaken cleaned and pathways shoveled and perches cleaned off.

The great horned owl is a little easier. He uses very little water and a large rat a day. Being a volunteer at the flight center isn't for everyone, but it sure has its rewards.

Goodbye Silver

2010-11-08T06:00:00.001-09:00

I am sad to pass on the news that ‘Silver’ our long-time education Barred Owl passed away on Tuesday. ‘Silver’ was quite elderly and had only lived as long as she had due to the careful care and attention of her caretaker Kristen. Bird TLC acquired ‘Silver’ from Washington State in 1992, being the only bird that Bird TLC has ever gotten from another facility.
We are all sorry to see ‘Silver’ pass, but know she had a long, well cared for life.
Thanks everyone.
Cindy

Cindy Palmatier
Director of Avian Care
Bird Treatment & Learning Center
6132 Nielson Way
Anchorage, AK 99518
(907) 562-4813

A visit from the emperor, goose that is

2010-11-07T09:01:00.000-09:00

This emperor goose was sent to us from Cold Bay. After x-rays it was determined its wing was broken by it being gun shot. It is illegal to hunt this species due to it being listed as near threatened.

Todd and Cindy were able to operate and place a pin. Give it a few weeks and we'll see how it turns out.

The emperor goose breeds around the Bering Sea, mostly in Alaska, but also in Kamchatka, Russia. It is migratory, wintering mainly in the Aleutian Islands.

It's snowy at TLC

2010-11-03T19:40:00.000-08:00

Yesterday in Anchorage, a couple that was out hiking found a snowy owl that wasn't showing much of a defense as they neared it. They caught it and brought it into Bird TLC. During its intake exam, the snowy was found to be extremely thin and emaciated.

This snowy hadn't eaten in some time and it would take a little bit of time to get it back on a regular diet. First we have to ease into it by tube feeding it twice a day with a very nutritional liquid.

Here you have Sharon restraining the owl and holding onto its legs firmly while Cindy inserts the tube and injects its lunch. Once it starts getting a little stronger, it'll be introduced to some mice.

Because of its colorization and size, this is believed to be one of this years birds and probably a male. We'll keep you updated on it progress.

Owl-O-Ween 2010

2010-11-01T06:45:00.000-08:00

The bee's, monsters, goblins and super heroes were out last night to visit with the crows, ravens and owls of Bird TLC's Education Program. Owl-o-ween was at the Alaska Heritage Museum and we had a packed house.

All of the presenters were dressed in their best Owl-O-Ween costumes and so were the visitors.

I have no idea how many visitors we had except to say there were a lot of all age, size and species.

Thanks to all hoo attended!
For more photos, click here.

Photos by Britt Coon / Bird TLC

TAPS employees reunited with rescued falcon

2010-10-31T18:13:00.000-08:00

Owl About a Latte a big success

2010-10-24T16:59:00.000-08:00

With the help of a lot of friends, Owl About a Latte was a fun success.

We had a Great horned Owl, Boreal Owl, Short Eared Owl and a Snowy Owl for all to visit with.

In between presentations, Chelsea of Terra Bella's Bakery & Cafe' Educated us all on bird friendly organic coffee. We all got to try some out too, that's my favorite part.

Thanks to all who came and thanks to all that helped put it all together.

Not all turns out well

2010-10-20T20:37:00.000-08:00

Cindy and I was all excited when I brought this one into the clinic today. It was hit by a car outside of Soldotna last night and sent into PET ER this morning. We don't see many Western Screech Owls in these parts. Unfortunately we lost him later in the afternoon due to head trauma.

Owl About A Latte'

2010-10-16T11:36:00.002-08:00

Join Bird TLC and its educational owls for a fun afternoon of bird friendly coffee tasting and good company at Terra Bella's Bakery and Cafe'. Tickets are $25 and are available at the door, the Bird TLC office or on the Bird TLC website.

Triple Header Eagle release in Portage

2010-10-04T13:46:00.000-08:00

alaskamagazine.com

2010-09-30T21:27:00.001-08:00

It's getting close to Holloween, we got lots of owls

2010-09-26T20:15:00.003-08:00

This guy came in tonight from Nikiski. Dr Doty at PET ER helped get it settled down for the night. Broken left humerus.

This is what the guy on top looks like when he gets well. This guy is working on his flight strength.

Here's Snappy, a short eared owl from Bethel. He's getting his hunting skills back.

This great horned owl came in from Soldotna. It's recovering from a broken wing.

Eagle Presenter Training

2010-09-23T06:51:00.002-08:00

Daryl has been working with Hal for the past few weeks and things seem to be going well. Hal has been with us since 1989. Daryl has presented the red tail hawk and osprey.

I've been working with Petra for a couple months now. Things are coming along pretty good. It's a lot of fun working with these magnificent birds.

United Way Day of Caring

2010-09-15T06:12:00.003-08:00

Employees of ConocoPhillips Alaska lent a helping hand to help improve the Bird TLC property as they participated in the United Way Day of Caring, one of the largest corporate volunteer events in Anchorage. Held on Sept. 9, the Day of Caring was an opportunity for volunteers to donate several hours, materials or goods to a special Anchorage project.

Over a dozen ConocoPhillips employees helped cut down trees and clear brush from the release area overlooking Potter Marsh. This area is where we release birds back to the wild. Over the past few years it has become overgrown with trees and brush and it has made it a little tough for them to maneuver through the opening.

Thanks to the ConocoPhillips who did an awesome job. Also, thanks to Alaska Industrial Hardware who donated tools and safety supplies and MacDonald Waste Industries who had fantastic service in such short notice.

All of the trees and brush that was removed was taken to the Anchorage Wood Lot for recycling.

Top 2 photos by Britt Coon / Bird TLC

Check out more of Britt's photos of this event here.

A correction, update and thanks!

2010-08-30T19:22:00.003-08:00

The correction is that the sandhill crane came from Homer, not Soldotna. He's liking the outdoors a lot more than the indoor mews.

From Soldotna we did get an immature great horned owl with a broken wing. Check out those eyes.

The thanks goes to PET ER from Petra. They gave me some donated road kill squirrels and she loved them.

Erin checks off on Ghost

2010-08-23T22:02:00.002-08:00

Erin checked off on presenting Ghost the Snowy Owl on Sunday. I was her mentor for her training. She picked up on things pretty fast.

Ghost also saw that she was a good match.

Congratulations Erin!

Alaskan Bald Eagle released back into the wild

2010-08-22T06:00:00.000-08:00

Borrowed from Youtube. Taken last Sunday by a member of the 477FG.

Sandhill Crane is in, Scaups are out

2010-08-20T20:58:00.003-08:00

This Sandhill Crane came to us from Soldotna earlier this week. It was a very late hatchling and mom and pop and another older sibling headed south leaving this one behind.

I took this photo of these scaups right before I crated them up to release them. They were orphaned back in July.

All of the scaups were sticking together after I released them at West Chester Lagoon. They were really having a blast diving and swimming real fast. Now it's up to Mother Nature.

Autumn Wings Festival

2010-08-11T09:11:00.001-08:00

Lilith the Bald Eagle is back in Valdez

2010-08-08T09:29:00.003-08:00

Back in April, Lilith came to Bird TLC from Valdez. She and her mate were doing their mating ritual and they both crashed into the ground. Lilith survived, but unfortunately her mate did not. She was sent to Bird TLC and was in very rough shape, but no broken bones.

Check out this video.

After four months recovering at Bird TLC, she was healthy and fully recovered physically. She returned to Valdez earlier this week courtesy of ERA Alaska. She was returned back to the wild and our report from USF&W was that she flew beautifully.

Click here and here for more related stories about Lilith.

Call me Snappy

2010-08-04T21:03:00.004-08:00

We don't often get the whole story of what happened to a bird that makes it come to Bird TLC. I love it when we hear from people who bring us up to date or as Paul Harvey would have said "and here's the rest of the story".

Hello,

Good to see an update of the Bethel Short-Eared Owl on your blog, “Of Grebes & Owls”. But sorry to see that the main website (www.birdtlc.net) and none of the links (maybe except your blog) hasn’t been updated since last summer.

My family brought in the owl to ADF&G. We were berry-picking between Bethel and Eek when a juvenile owl took off from next to us. Being young, it could only fly a short distance. One of our dogs gave chase, but before I could stop it, the dog was upon the young owl, grabbing its body and shook it. The dog left when I shouted at it to get away, but the owl was shaken up and hurt (broken leg and all) and at first I believed it wasn’t going to survive.

We took the owl back to camp and bound it tightly in a towel (like a body splint) and left it in our boat cabin. By the next morning, it had escaped its body splint and perched on the dash okay. We had a bunch of kids (7 kids, age 2-14, from 2 families) and they took a liking to it. When we first treated it, it snapped its bill and hissed. So the kids started calling it “Snappy.”

We brought it back to Bethel and then to ADF&G. When we arrived in Bethel, we fed it strips of meat. When ADF&G said they’d send it to Bird TLC, we checked your website every day for news of the owl.

I’d like to help out with its rehabilitation if I could. Thanks for responding.

Allen Joseph
Bethel, AK

How interesting of a story is that. Thanks Allen for telling us this story and taking care of Snappy until he got to Bird TLC.

I guess I'll get to updating the website now. (BLUSH)

Of grebes and owls

2010-08-02T21:52:00.001-08:00

This young grebe spent just a short time with us. It was returned to the lake it was found at and released. It spent a couple days getting fed and regaining its waterproofing.

This short eared owl sent in from Bethel by ADF&G will be staying a while. It has a broken leg just above what would be its knee.

Ravens

2010-07-28T06:55:00.002-08:00

Both of these guys came in at the same time but from different parts of town. The one on the right wasn't thriving. We couldn't find anything wrong. It's eating just fine now. It's not gaining weight but it's stronger and not loosing weight.

The one on the left was shot in the right leg. The pellet was removed by Dr. Doty at PET ER before it came to Bird TLC. It's still limping but getting along well. It can afford to gain a few kg's also.

Training with the bald eagle named Petra

2010-07-21T19:43:00.004-08:00

It's official, I'm training with Petra and Lisa is my mentor. You might remember that Lisa was my mentor with Gus the great horned owl. This is training that will take some time, you can't rush the process.

Lisa has been working with Petra for a couple years now. She's been one of my favorite presenters. Besides Petra she also presents Galin the great horned owl and Willow the magpie. She is the chairperson for the Education Committee and works in the Bird TLC Clinic on Sundays. She's a busy gal.

Petra has been with Bird TLC about 16 years now. She had an injured shoulder that left her non-releasable and avian pox. She is very vocal. Since One Wing and Ol' Witch passed away, she has become the boss of the mew yard. Even though she doesn't have a mate, every mating season she sets up a nesting area. She averages about 14 lbs during that time and drops down to about 12 the rest of the year.

This is pretty exciting for me. I started at Bird TLC in 2002 not wanting to work with any of the birds, just doing repairs and fundraising. Well, I still do that and also manage the flight center. I live with a snowy owl and a falcon, I also work with a great horned owl and now I'm training with Petra. There's a couple other task in there somewhere. Petra is an awesome ambassador for Bird TLC and I'm proud to be working with her.

For more photos of Petra, click here.

Bald Eagle BE 09-31 aka Avalanche released

2010-07-18T14:38:00.009-08:00

Sometimes we're so busy, some of our eagles stories don't get told. Not that their story is boring or not important, just that we have a lot going on.

Avalanche came to us back in January. He and 4 other eagles got caught up in an avalanche. He was the only survivor, but was pretty well beaten up.

A few weeks later while he was at the clinic, I had picked up another eagle coming in from Kodiak that was not doing well. It was found to be very anemic and needed a blood transfusion right away. Avalanche became the donor and an eagle hero. Little did we know that later on this eagle, aka Lunch Date, would be the replacement release eagle for the Powwow.

After about a month Avalanche was transferred to the flight center.. He couldn't fly yet because his flight and tail feathers were all busted up, but if he stayed at the clinic too long he would probably unintentionally injure himself there. The plan was to let mother nature take her coarse. Hopefully the next molt replaces all of the damaged feathers or enough for him to be flighted.

Come about May he went into a molt and the blank spots started to fill in. One day while at the flight center he surprised us and flew to perch, so we knew he was going to do well. We decided to release him in Fairbanks at the Powwow, so Britt and I caught him and she took him to the clinic to spend the night. When they went to take his id band off, they found an abscess on his right foot that had to be removed. Needless to say, the Powwow release was moved to another eagle, Lunch Date.

On Thursday he was cleared to be released, so we decided he went next. He was released on Saturday at Kulis ANG Base for part of a retirement ceremony for Chris. His wife Andie had purchased the release at our auction and decided that would be an awesome way to celebrate it.As you can see in the photo, he can fly just fine.

A beautiful release and an awesome ceremony! Congratulations Chris and Avalanche!

For more photos of the release, click here.

Photo credit: Britt Coon / Bird TLC

2010 Midnight Sun Intertribal Powwow

2010-07-12T21:47:00.000-08:00

It has been busy

2010-07-07T04:09:00.002-08:00

This young eagle came to Bird TLC on Friday from Soldotna. It's nest had fallen from its tree and its parents were unable to care for it. It got a good weekend of salmon and hooligan. On Monday, long time volunteer Tim placed it in a foster nest near the airport.

These two also came from Soldotna under the same situation. They were very close to a river bank and could be threatened by predators. It was decided to send them to TLC. They might be too old to place in a foster nest. Lets see what happens.

This young raven found his way into a sump pump at one of the pipelines pump stations. It was sent to TLC via a stop at a 24 hour veterinary clinic in Fairbanks. The next day it got its first bath. It will need a few more. It's not eating on its own yet, but is being tube fed

Thanks to Alyeska Pipeline and the construction people for taking the time to sent this guy to us and following up on its progress. And thanks to ERA Alaska who flew all of these birds to us at no charge.

Ghost the snowy owl does double duty

2010-07-01T20:18:00.005-08:00

Ghost and I did two presentations on Wednesday at two totally different venues. The first one was at Camp Fire USA which was held on Alaska Pacific University Campus (APU).
It was a large crowd of great kids with lots of questions. Ghost loves questions, especially when they are about him.
Our next stop was the Mabel T. Caverly Senior Center in downtown Anchorage. Ghost has been there before and loves going back. He gets lots of attention and the ladies there love him.
We had a full day and we were accompanied by our own paparazzi. Our friend and fellow volunteer at Bird TLC, Britt Coon came along and took these photos and helped out.

For more photos of the presentations, visit Britt's website here and here.

Another bizy day

2010-06-27T08:41:00.002-08:00

A red philarope flew into a electric line and damaged its left wing. It had to be amputated so obviously it's not releasable. Looks like it might get a new home on Monterrey.

Kendra is a visiting intern from Washington State University. She's been a big help and I know she's having fun. Here she checks out a northern hawk owl.

Our latest bald came with a broken right wrist that wasn't repairable. Unfortunately it had to be amputated at the wrist. After recovery, we'll find a permanent home for him. Here it's still feeling woozy from the surgery.

Taz cracked his beak so he need plastic surgery. Cindy applied some plastic goo for a temp fix until his beak grows out.

The bear didn't have a chance

2010-06-21T06:46:00.002-08:00

We continue to get baby birds of all types in. The ducks are the only ones that don't get set up with a Baby Bird Mom. They are a little mom fragile than songbirds and easily imprinted. They love the stuffed animals we put in their hold boxes. Terry picked up quite a few from PET ER this weekend.

We go a specticled eider in from USF&W in Barrow with an injured wing. It was spending the night or two until the Alaska Sea Life Center in Seward could arrange transportation. One of their volunteers took it down yesterday. What a nice looking bird.

This young mature came in on Saturday from the Kenai NWR. It was found on a river bank. It was soak en wet when we received it. It also has a broken right wrist. X-rays today.

It was a busy weekend.

Bald Eagle BE 10-13 released at Eagle River Nature Center

2010-06-08T21:12:00.002-08:00

Sylvia heads Fire Lake Preschool in Eagle River. Every year she has several of our presenters out doing presentations to her students and their parents. We held a free drawing at the Great Alaskan Sportsman Show for a eagle release and guess who won.

Before the release her students sung a song to the bald eagle being released. Then Sylvia dedicated the release to "One Wing", Bird TLC's mascot who had passed away last year. And then she asked me to release it, because she said there was no fair way to pick 4 people from her group to do the release.

I have watched, organized and photographed a lot of releases, but this is the first one that I've released myself. Just a couple days before, this eagle had swooped down at me at our flight center leaving a nice mark on my face. Now, I got to tell it to go enjoy its life in the wild, find its own food and to have a awesome long life.

It couldn't have a better place to have a new start.

Thanks Sylvia for letting me be a part of your release and also thanks for your long time support of Bird TLC.

Also, thanks to my friend and fellow volunteer, Britt. She came along to help catch the bird, help organize the release and take photos. Without her help it would have been a real chore. She also took some fantastic memorable photos for me.

For more photo's of the release, click here.

Photo Credit: Britt Coon / Bird TLC

Nothing but tail feathers

2010-06-05T22:36:00.005-08:00

This is the view the people of Bird TLC like to see. Nothing but tail feathers from a successful eagle release.

With the help of US Senator Lisa Murkowski, BE 10-26 aka Rocky was released back to the wild at the Potter Marsh Discovery Days Festival.

Quite a crowd was on hand to see the very successful release. Thanks Senator and good luck Rocky!

For more photos of the release, go to the Bird TLC photo gallery here, and Britt Coon's website here.

We have baby ducks!

2010-06-03T21:15:00.002-08:00

So far we've taken in about 1 1/2 baby birds, the majority being baby ducks. If this year is like any other, we'll take in about 300 baby birds.

We have foster parents

2010-05-30T08:55:00.002-08:00

Yesterdays Baby Bird Seminar had a great turn out. The weather was good and everyone was off for the weekend. There were some baby birds present with Cindy and Chris, so they got to see first hand on what it's like to be a foster parent.

The season has started and I'm sure everyone will get a chance to help these orphaned feathered friends start off with a little help.

Become a baby bird foster parent

2010-05-26T00:01:00.002-08:00

Baby Bird Class and Baby Shower
Saturday, May 29, 2010: Become a foster parent for orphaned Alaskan Baby Birds! Join Bird Treatment and Learning Center, at their Baby Bird Class and Baby Shower. Learn baby bird care, see baby birds and receive handouts on baby bird rescue. Donate money for baby bird supplies or bring baby bird gifts to the event and receive a free Bird TLC lapel pin. Hundreds of babies rescued, nurtured and released every spring. Saturday, May 29, 2010, 4:30-7 pm @ the Alaska Zoo, Gateway Buildings, Off O’Malley Road. Call Bird TLC for more information #562-4852 or www.birdtlc.net for baby bird needs list and rescue information.

Bald Eagle Taking a bath

2010-05-20T06:00:00.000-08:00

This is Petra. She's one of our bald eagles in our Education Program. She's housed at the Bird TLC clinic in a very large mew. She's only a couple feet away from a kiddie wading pool, but she's decided she would rather scrunch into her water dish to bath and cool off.

It did get up to almost 60° by noon today, before it cooled off and started raining later on. I guess a good dip felt good.

I guess a clean eagle is a happy eagle.

An eagle in every pot?

IMBD International Migratory Bird Day at the Alaska Zoo

2010-05-17T20:54:00.003-08:00

Bird TLC was out in full force for the International Migratory Bird Day at the Alaska Zoo. We had stellar jays, magpies, northern goshawks, merlins, eagles and you just about name it.

The weather was a little on the chilly side, but that didn't keep the crowds away.

We even had songbird like robins and bohemian waxwings.

At the end we had a release of a rehabilitated merlin. To see photos of the release and other presenters, visit Britt's website. Click here.

Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival

2010-05-12T06:00:00.000-08:00

Erin brought Gandalf, the great gray owl and I brought Ghost the snowy owl and Gus the great horned owl. It was an owl of a weekend.

Both of our presentations at the high school were packed full. We had plenty of questions on owls and Bird TLC. What owls they can find around Homer and Alaska was the most popular.

The next morning we were at the Birders Breakfast at the Islands and Ocean Visitor Center sponsored by USF&W. Many people came through to see the owls.

We stayed for a long while before we had to break away to head back home. Thanks for having us Homer!

Photo Credit: Christina Whiting / Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival

Valdez courting eagle recovering at flight center

2010-05-10T11:10:00.005-08:00

Now known as Lilith (from Cheers and Frasier fame), our surviving gal from a bad courtship in Valdez is now at the Bird TLC flight center. This is her chance to prove to us that's she's going to be ready for release or not. She'll have ample time to build her flight strength back and prove that there was no permanent damage from her crash last month.

Right out of her travel kennel, she flew to perch at the far end of the flight cell where she was placed. It's a little obvious that she needs some practice, but that's expected. She's been through a horrifying ordeal. She'll be sharing a cell with other eagles in different levels of recovery. Most are either not flighted or are partially flighted, still working on building their strength and skills back.

The weather has been cooperating. The temps have been staying above freezing at night and mostly sunny during the day. Lilith and her new companions have the perfect fall weather to get ready for a life back in the wild.

For more on Lilith's story, click here and here.

Eagle Freedom Flight

2010-05-04T06:41:00.008-08:00

BE 10-19 came to Bird TLC from Karluk which is on the island of Kodiak. It's population is about 25. With the bird came a request of returning it to Karluk as long as it recovered OK. Now a days most of us don't have the money to spend on things that aren't absolutely needed. This is an expense Bird TLC couldn't afford.

BE 10-19 became known as Karluk and recovered from its injuries just fine. Then became the task of trying to get it back to its home. The people in Karluk were now willing to pay for it. I called ERA Alaska because they are so generous in donating the flight space that the eagles come to us. When I told them that we had someone paying for Karluks return flight, they just said "Why?". I just replied "You guys walk on water!".

Karluk has been released back to the wild in its home of Karluk. It took a lot of people, USF&W, Bird TLC and ERA Alaska to make it happen.

Eagle Recovering After Love Crash

2010-04-27T22:15:00.004-08:00

Immature bald eagle hit by truck

2010-04-18T08:41:00.007-08:00

This young bird came to us from the Anchorage landfill. There's easy picking for these guys when food is being a little hard to get. With all of the heavy equipment operating there, it's not the safest place for them to feed or hunt. This guy got hit by a truck. The accident banged him up pretty good. He got a cracked beak and a broken left humerus. Cindy fixed his beak right away, but he had to wait a day or so before his wing was repaired. He needed an operation.

Most operations are done after hours. That's when there's less traffic and interruptions. It's also when we can borrow some tools and equipment from Pet Stop, a local veterinary clinic where Dr. Todd Palmatier works. Most things we have available at Bird TLC, but some of the more expensive equipment we don't.

Not that long ago we had to take these birds elsewhere to operate on them. But with generous donations of equipment, there's not much we can't perform at TLC. X-ray's are the only thing we can't that I can think of off hand. Just preparing a room for the equipment is expensive. Both Pet Stop and PET ER help out with the x-ray's.

Here 4 stainless steel pins were placed in this guys humerus. They will be removed after the bone heals. Todd is putting on the bird what is called an external fixitor. The pins protrude through the birds bones and sticks out through the skin.

An epoxy putty is then mixed up. It's very flexible for about 3-5 minutes and then it dries really hard. It's placed on the pins to keep them from traveling up, down or all around during the healing process.

When the bones has healed, the putty can be broken off with wire cutters and the pins removed with out having to cut into the bird again.

The wing is now wrapped up to protect it from the bird, the bird from it and to hold the wing in position until it heals. Todd then uses a laser treatment to help the healing process.

As of the last report I got, the bird is standing and eating on it's own. X-rays will be taken in a couple weeks to make sure the bone has healed and the fixitor is removed.

For more photographs of the operation (a little bloody), go to the Bird TLC SmugMug operations gallery.

Setbacks for surviving eagle in death spiral

2010-04-12T21:15:00.001-08:00

The surviving eagle from the death spiral in Valdez is being monitored for severe head trauma.

Andrea Gusty / KTVA Channell 11 News

ANCHORAGE, Alaska—The surviving eagle from the death spiral in Valdez is being monitored for severe head trauma.

In what experts believe to be a mating ritual gone wrong in Valdez, the female locked talons with a male mid-air, then both spiraled to the ground crashing head first.

The male died on impact.

The female eagle has been recovering at Bird Treatment and Learning Center but after making progress all week, yesterday she suffered a set back.

Staffers say the eagle got stuck after falling on her back while in her cage.

Given her injuries, experts say the incident is likely an affect of head trauma.

She's made it a long ways already from where she was when she started, but just like with any head trauma, even in humans, it can take a little more time even after you are up walking around. You may still have dizzy spells and I think that may be what we are experiencing with her,” said Cindy Palmatier Director of Avian Care.

Staff at Bird TLC will continue to monitor the eagle for head trauma and ligament damage in her wing.

If she can be released back into the wild, experts want to bring the eagle home to Valdez, otherwise the eagle will spend the rest of her life in a zoo or educational center.

Aerial courting goes awry for bald eagles

2010-04-08T21:03:00.002-08:00

Two bald eagles crash into the ground leaving one dead and the other seriously injured after misjudging the distance during what experts believe was a mating ritual.

Andrea Gusty / KTVA Channel 11 News

ANCHORAGE, Alaska—It's a case of aerial courting gone awry that has one Anchorage facility helping an injured bald eagle recover.

The Bird Treatment and Learning Center in Anchorage works to help 800 injured birds recover each year—about 50 of those are eagles.

Usually when an injured animal comes to the center, workers must piece together what they think happened based on the injuries.

The case of this particular bald eagle is so unique in that experts know what happened and are able to use that information to help her recover.

The female eagle's ordeal began a few days ago in Valdez in what experts believe to be a mating ritual.

During their peculiar courtship, male and female eagles will lock talons mid-air as they both spiral towards the ground.

In this particular case, "they misjudged the distance to the ground and crashed. One was dead at the scene and the other one was really embedded in the snow,” said Cindy Palmatier Director of Avian Care.

The surviving female was transported to a vet, then to Bird TLC in Anchorage and is now on the long road to recovery.

"The one thing that we are concerned about is when she hit and went into the snow, the wings were pulled this direction really really hard as she broke through the crust, so we are definitely concerned about shoulder damage and the ability to carry the wings appropriately,” said Palmatier.

I don't feel anything broken and the vet in Valdez didn't feel anything broken, but she is definitely not holding them as well as she could.”

Palmatier and her staff will continue to monitor the eagle for head trauma and ligament damage in her wing.

If she can be released back into the wild, experts want to bring the eagle home to Valdez where she will likely find a new mate.

Otherwise, the eagle will spend the rest of her life in a zoo or educational center.

“I'm pretty confident she'll live now. But, releasable or not…I don't know yet,” said Palmatier.

Experts will decide what her future will be as the eagle recovers over the next couple of weeks.

1st 2 photos courtesy of Robert Benda, Valdez, AK

2nd 2 photo's Dave Dorsey / Bird TLC

Trumpeter Swan from Ketchikan

2010-03-31T20:23:00.003-08:00

This young trumpeter swan was sent to us from the Deer Mountain Tribal Hatchery and Eagle Center in Ketchikan. After caretaking it for a few days, it seems that it had a toxic reaction to something.

It seems to be getting some strength back and got to play in one of our kiddie pools today.

Unfortunately we had to end the fun and tube feed him since he's not eating on his own yet. Hopefully he starts eating again soon.

Nisos

2010-03-25T06:00:00.000-08:00

Nisos, the osprey, came to us over 2 years ago. Somehow he had a self amputation, either by flying into a cable or wire, or he had a situation with a airplane. He lost his left wing tip, so obviously he can't fly or be released.

Ospreys can be hard to care for in captivity. They are a migratory bird, so Alaska is a tough place to keep one year round. In the photos, he has bumper pads on his wrist so he doesn't bang them up in his kennel during shipping.

Nisos is headed to Sea World in San Diego. There he should be happy year round. With Sea Worlds reputation for caretaking birds, mammals and animals, he should be well taken care of.

Thanks for your time with us Nisos.

2nd series of photos by Sharon Larson / Bird TLC