Cyrano is getting a little well known

Cindy and I spent most of the morning on the phone with different newspapers, news stations, The Discovery Channel. BE 09-31, now affectionately known as Cyrano, is getting pretty well known. With his new beak designed and put into action by Cindy and Dr. Kirk Johnson, he's become quite the celebrity.

Unfortunately because of his injury, he'll never be released back to the wild. If he wasn't brought to Bird TLC, he would have faced a certain death. So he must start thinking about being an education bird. He'll be able to represent his proud species and hopefully educate people about the dangers they cause to wildlife when they recklessly leave trash in the wild.

Don't let the shoulder bumpers scare you. Those are only to protect his wings while in a small mew. They'll be removed soon. He was placed in a larger outside mew this afternoon.

If you would like to donate to help out, please click the donate button below.

Phoenix, Thanks for the visit!

In August of 2008 we received two osprey chicks that were recovered after their nest on a power line caught fire. They both were too young to leave nest. One had no injuries and one had severe burns to its legs and a broken wing. The one that had no injuries was placed in a foster nest a few weeks later.

The other took some time to heal. After healing he was so imprinted there was no chance of release. Cindy was told that it was impossible to keep an osprey in captivity. So that was her inspiration to have an education osprey. I spent a lot of weekends building an insulated mew that would stay heated above 32°f, with a sad light on timer and remote thermometer.

Phoenix as he became known was well accepted by all of the volunteers. He would readily squeal at you if you didn't talk to him as you went by his mew. He became so easy to handle on glove that several volunteers checked off on him and were doing presentations. Phoenix was getting well known.

A few weeks ago Phoenix was a little quiet. It was also noticed that he wasn't eating as well as he normally did. An exam and blood test should nothing abnormal. A couple days later he passed away. There wasn't a dry eye in the building.

Even though Phoenix life was short, he sure touched a lot of people. I'm a little late writing this post because I didn't want to get anyone more upset. I doubt he'll ever be forgotten.

Trapped Golden Eagle

On Thursday afternoon I received a call from our local USF&W Office of Law Enforcement requesting assistance recovering an eagle caught in a leg trap outside of Glennallen. After making a few calls to Bird TLC volunteers, no one was available on such short notice, so I decided to take a days vacation and make the trip.

Our USF&W agent was in Fairbanks and would travel down and meet me at the Eureka Lodge. His trip was about 5 hours and mine was about 3. We were to meet with an Alaska State Trooper and recover the bird. Because of our travel time, the local trooper recruited some help from the local Bureau of Land Management agent and they traveled about 8 miles by snowmachine in the -10°f mountain area to recover the bird.

We meet them on the roadside and transferred the bird into my truck for a trip back to Anchorage. It's right leg still had the trap attached just above the foot. The trap and foot were engulfed in ice, so at that time it was impossible to get the trap off.

In my Durango, the bird had a chance to warm up on the 3 hour trip back. As I got back on the highway I called PET ER and gave them a heads up that we were going to be there around 6PM and will need assistance. Dr. Doty who is their best avian DVM was off that day but decided to come in to assist.

When we arrived we got the bird out of the kennel and immediately stated running cold water over the trap and foot to thaw them out. It took two people to open the trap so I could pull the foot out. The wound was cleaned and x-rays were taken.

The x-rays showed the only bone damage was a broken hallux. The large gash above the foot was sutured closed and antibiotics and pain medication was given. Our main concern for the next few days is if there is blood circulation in the foot.

A grateful thank you to the Alaska State Trooper and BLM agent in Eureka, the USF&W Law Enforcement officer from Anchorage but who traveled down from Fairbanks. Their names I won't post because this might be a criminal case. Those guys went above and beyond in my opinion. Thanks also to PET ER who's always a big help and Dr. Doty from breaking away during her off time to help tend to this gorgeous bird. Also, thanks to the kind ladies at the Eureka Lodge who kept me entertained and full of coffee while I waited.

Dr. Doty and I checked in on our golden today. It's more alert and standing on its ow., but the injured foot is very cold still.

We have Northern Goshawks

The above immature Northern Goshawk came to us a couple weeks ago with a injured left wing. The bones at the wing tip are fractured. It's not known right now if it will be releasable or not. The only thing we could do was immobilize the wing and let it heal.

If you noticed its crop it's getting plenty of quail. If you look at its expression on its face I don't think it minds.

This immature Northern Goshawk came in from PET ER over the weekend. It was found on the ground in Wasilla and the people brought it in for care. It caused quite a ruckus when it escaped from the technician that was checking it in. It got into the cat room, but fortunately the cat room was unoccupied.

It's in for observation. We believe it just knocked itself out flying into something. The tail guards are put on all goshawks, falcons, etc. to protect their tail feathers while in captivity until they are released. These guys use their tails like a rudder and make some really sharp turns with them. Damage to their tail feathers would delay their release until they molted.

Of Eagles and Waxwings

BE 10-003 came in late Saturday night from Kodiak. It was found with a fox leg trap attached to its left leg. I picked it up at Era Alaska with some fantastic help from their employee's. I took it to PET ER because it's hard to handle an eagle like this on your own and I didn't want to stir anyone out of their home knowing it would be a late nighter.

Dr. Doty had stayed late to help out. She and her staff are big supporters of Bird TLC. We took x-rays and confirmed it was broke. It's a clean break. The plan was to stabilize it for the night and make plans tomorrow on when to operate. I took it to Bird TLC and bedded it down.

Dr. Riddle, one of Bird TLC volunteer D.V.M.'s, came in early Monday morning to check 003 out and maybe operate. At that time the foot was cold and there is no reaction to the pinch. He stabilized it and returned it to his mew. We'll check on it in a couple days. Hopefully we have something better to report.

It's the Bohemian Waxwing season. They're out flocking around, running into things and sometimes eating too many fermented berries. We have several visiting with us for a little while.

Cindy checks off on Hal the bald eagle

Cindy checked off on Hal the bald eagle on January 7. Hal has been with Bird TLC since 1989. He's a victim of the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Disaster. Cindy is our Director of Avian Care and Education. I know both will do some awesome presentations together.

This picture was taken during Cindy and Hal's dry run presentation. I wasn't able to attend the actual check off presentation due to Red going on a vacation.

He's back

With the help of local falconer Eric Fontaine, Red is back at home at Bird TLC in his mew. Red had escaped almost a week ago, and it's been a hand full trying to get him back. The first few days we spent chasing sightings and the we found what he was calling his new home. We were able to stake it out, but Red was good at robing our traps. Eric helped out with his equipment and experience and that's what it took.

Thanks to Channel 2 News for broadcasting our alert, PET ER for screening all sightings and forwarding them on, all of the volunteers who joined in the search, Diane who spotted him in his new home, everyone who called and especially Eric.

Welcome home RED!

How about a transfussion for lunch?

I was supposed to take my friend Britt to lunch at the Greek Corner. With all of the holiday stuff, she was sick for a bit and just things getting in the way, we hadn't done much together. Right before lunch time I got a call from Valarie at the TLC office about an eagle coming in from Kodiak. Cindy has been swamped trying to catch Red, getting EOY reports done and trying to get all things squared away so she could leave town for a week. Sure, I can go get it and bring it back to TLC and drop it off and head out to lunch. Fortunately I picked Britt up before the eagle.

We get to the clinic and Cindy starts the exam right away. The bird looks physically fine but is very pale and its mewts are discolored. Toxic reaction is suspected and is tube feed to neutralize whatever it might have taken in. Blood is taken and it's found to be extremely anemic. A transfusion is lined up.

Did I mention Britt is taking the photo's? It don't look like we're going to make it to the Greek Corner today. Thanks for a friend who understands and actually gets to join in.

Blood is taken from an immature in rehab. It wasn't a happy participant. Britt is then recruited to help out because we've run out of hands. The transfusion is given to our new patient. He's given a clean mew, water and lunch. He's being monitored and blood will be taken and tested again in a few days to see if what was going on is still going on.

Time is up. I need to get back to my real job and Britt has an appointment to go to. That was lunch I guess. Hopefully when we get to reschedule, we get to go to the Greek Corner.

For more pictures of our lunch, check out Britts website.

Red is on the loose

by Channel 2 News staff
Monday, January 11, 2010

ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- There have been lots of calls and lots of sightings, but Red is still on the loose.

The red tailed hawk escaped Thursday night from the Bird Treatment and Learning Center. Red is an education bird and while he can fly, he can't take care of himself in the wild.

There have been multiple sightings around town of a hawk with leather straps across his ankles.

He appears to be spending most of his time in trees along the New Seward Highway near the Dimond exit, but so far no one's been able to catch him.

If you see Red, contact the Pet Emergency Center at 274-5636 and they will contact staff at Bird TLC.

The first of the year 10-001

This Bohemian Waxwing came to Bird TLC from PET Emergency after someone had dropped it off. It was found on ground not flying and being attacked by other birds. During exam nothing sufficient was found wrong (NSF). A number of things could have happened from flying into something, fermented berries, your guess is as good as ours. This time of year we get a few of these berry bandits. They get to spend a few warm days with us inside and we fill them full of berries that volunteers picked and stored early in the season.

Last chance this year

If you're looking for a place to give a last minute donation to a 501(c)3 non-profit organization so you claim it on your 2009 taxes, you're looking in the right place. If your looking to donate to a non-profit organization who cares about the wildlife who can't always take care of it self, think of Bird TLC.

We've had 34 bald eagles come into our clinic this year. Everything from being shot, electrocuted, caught in fishing lines, avalanches and just about anything you can think of.

We've done live bird presentations all over Alaska in schools, private organizations, youth groups and many more, educating the public about the wild birds in our state. All of our birds in our education program are not releasable because of injuries or illnesses that prevent them from being able to care for themselves in the wild.

We care for all birds native to Alaska or migrate through Alaska. That means songbirds, water fowl, raptors, corvids, etc. Every bird gets a second chance.

And every bird that can be released back to the wild is. Last year our release rate averaged about 55%. That's above the national average. Our staff and dedicated volunteers care for these birds 365 days a year.

We don't have a steady income from any government agency. We rely on donations from corporations and caring citizens.

If you would like to donate, go to www.birdtlc.net. On the home page you can specifically donate to BE 09-31 for his beak repairs. You can also go to our Sponsor page and donate for a specific species in rehab, or you can go to our Donations page and donate to Bird TLC in general. Any way you choose, you can be assured that your money will be used to give the best possible care to the wild birds of Alaska.

BE 09-31 is getting plenty of news coverage

Click on his picture above and you'll see his story on KTUU Channel 2 which also was shown on MSNBC.

He was also in the Anchorage Daily News.

Things are looking up, but we could use your help. If you would like to donate to help out, please click the donate button below.

Merry Christmas!

A little snow and Erin checks off on Phoenix

We got about 20 inches of fresh snow last week. Because of the previous heavy frost and the snow was very moist, it accumulated on the netting. The only way to get it down is to knock it down. It's not an easy task, but it needs to be done. Too much snow on the netting will cause it to tear and or collapse.

In the mean time there are still birds in the flight center. We need to keep and eye on them so we don't accidentally harm them or vise versa.

The temps were near 0°f. Gary and Warren were hard at it while I had to come in once or twice to thaw my mustache out.

Erin checked off on Phoenix the osprey on Saturday. I missed it due to work but Cindy took this picture for me. Congrats Erin!

More BE 09-31

We have a couple different things in the works right now for #31. We have a dentist coming in on Sunday to take a mold of our beak. We know he can never be released again, but we can be more handsome with some help.

In the mean time Cindy has been trying a prototype of her own using some poly mar clay from a local craft shop. She started at home shaping away at her kitchen table for several hours. The next day was time for the initial fit. The exterior we're not concerned about just yet. First it has to fit the existing beak without trimming what's left. It needs to add support to the upper beak for strength. It needs to have holes for the nares and breathing. We don't want a permanent attachment, but using some type of adhesive.

Some final trimming was still needed before it snapped into place with some Polygrip to help it stay in place.

So far the experiment is working.

Thanks to those who have donated to help out with the expense of helping BE 09-31 out. Your donations are helping with the expense of maintaining a healthy bird and hopefully helping this guy look a little more natural and help reinforce it's beak. Since he needs some special help, your donations keep us from having to take away from other areas where the money is also needed.

If you would like to donate to help out, please click the donate button below.

UPDATE on BE 09-31 Bald Eagle

This guy came in weighing 8.5 lbs . That's a little on the small side for him. He was probably taking care of himself as best as he could, but not enough to maintain a healthy weight.

Since he's not releasable, he's going to be at Bird TLC for a while. How long is yet to be determined. Long term rehabilitation can get costly.

This bird is a beautiful fully flighted bald eagle that in time will be even more beautiful. Once he's stable, has his weight up and is proven to be 100% healthy, (minus the injury) then the type of repairs on the beak will be considered.

Cindy Palmatier, Director of Avian Care at Bird TLC is asking the public to help out with the cost of this birds rehabilitation. With the nation being in a recession, donations to Bird TLC are off about 20% this year. The added cost of this birds care can take its toll in other areas of the clinic where the money is desperately needed. Every dollar donated through the donation button bellow will go to this birds care. We know being the holiday season makes it tough, but this guy is a fighter and can use the help.

BE 09-31

This guy came into Bird TLC from the Alaska Sealife Center in Seward after it was fished out of Resurrection Bay. It's beak injury is an old one and we have no clue as to how it had got it.

It's also a permanent injury and this guy is also not releasable. But we can do cosmetic repairs to make him more attractive and to reinforce his upper beak so there isn't further damage done. Right now we're kicking around our options. In the mean time he enjoys a clean mew and fresh salmon.

Photo Credit: Cindy Palmatier / Bird TLC

Sunrise

The clinic has been staying busy and I have also at my regular job. So post have been a little thin. We'll get caught up real soon.

Duck n donuts

I got a call from Valerie at the Bird TLC office right about lunch time. She said a lady had called and said she had a duck. I asked what was wrong with it. She said the lady said it won't leave. I said that it had missed migration and it's too cold for it to even try. She said well, it won't leave her restaurant. It was in it. She said it followed a customer in and it has made itself comfortable.

I asked what restaurant. She told me it was Jerry's Donuts and Burgers. I knew right where it was. I get donuts for my customers there from time to time. I walked in and sure enough, the male mallard was sitting under an artificial tree watching everyone walk by.

I caught him after a slight duck chase through the restaurant and into the restroom. With the help of a patron, I got him into the carrier. A dozen plus donuts, the duck and I head to TLC.

We were meet by Terry & Bev, two of the nicest volunteers to ever help a duck. They checked him out and couldn't find anything wrong, so they bedded him down in a warm mew with lots of duck chow. He'll spend a few day and if all is well we'll try to get him headed in the right direction.

Cindy and Hal

Cindy started working with Hal a few months ago after his caretaker moved away. Eagles can take on new presenters / caretakers, it just takes a little for them to get use to them. Cindy is not one to push training to get it done fast. She likes to take the time to get it done right.

Last night was the first time of putting him on fist. Both took to it as natural as could be. After a little time Hal was comfortable enough to try some preening.

Hal is a Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Disaster survivor. This year is his 20th anniversary with Bird TLC. He was an immature when he arrived and is guessed to be 21 years old.

Best of luck to them both and we can't wait to see you both doing presentations.