3 baby eagles, YIKES!

This has been a crazy year. We seldom get in such young eagles. We got 2 in from Fairbanks on Friday and Cindy and Todd picked one up in Soldotna today. All had fell from nest and no parents around.

Look at the feathers on the one getting an exam. They are still downy feathers. Dark beak, dark head, and bright yellow feet. Oh boy!

3 New patients, an update and some bad pictures

BE 08-66 was brought in today by USF&W from Girdwood. He's seen better days. He wasn't too happy about getting his picture taken. He just wanted to be left alone.

Ruth and I chased a duck around the Anchorage Daily News parking lot for about a half hour. He couldn't fly, but he sure could run and hide under cars. I found him after TLC got a call this morning, but I knew I needed back up. I also figured it would be easier with an emptier parking lot. Well it wasn't easy enough.

OK ladies, everyone say AWWW. ain't it cute. This seagull chick has a broken leg. It'll be with us a couple weeks while it mends and grows a little more.

Our junior great horned owl is coming along fine. He still has the external fixiter on, but he's jumping all over trying to get out. He should be a fun release when it's time.

Sorry about the pix's. The subjects weren't cooperating and like I always say, that sodium lighting in the clinic is a killer for pictures.

Say Goodbye to Dances with Wolves

Back in January of this year we were going nuts with all of the eagles from Kodiak. We were sending all other eagles to The Alaska Raptor Center in Sitka because we were maxed out several times over. However, Shannon, a curator from the Alaska Zoo brought in an immature bald eagle. She said it landed in the wolf pen and the young wolves were playing tug of war.

We took this girl in and named her "Dances with Wolves". An exam was done at the zoo by their DVM, Dr. Riley Wilson who is one of our back up DVM's. He couldn't find anything wrong except for a bunch of missing primary feathers. So we fed her and placed her in a mew. It was determined that she would be fine after a molt.

Friday, Megan and I went to the flight center to pick out an eagle for a release that evening at the TLC property. There was an immature flying very well so she was selected. Megan researched the band when we got it back to the clinic and realized it was "Dances".

At the release she did just fine. She was ready to go. The weather turned nice with a little sun, no rain or wind. She left the box, flew low level until she reached the bluff. Then she perched on top of a dead tree and decided to stay there and check things out for a bit. Everyone was able to get some nice last pictures before she took off for the rest of her life.

For more pictures, click on these links.....

Photo Credits: #1 & 4 Dave Dorsey / Bird TLC
Photo Credits: #2 & 3 Britt Coon / Bird TLC

4th Blogoversary

Today is the our 4th Blogoversary. So I'm rerunning my first post about some of our patients. Thanks to everyone who has come to visit during the past 4 years.

These guys were found too close to the Palmer Airport. They are being cared for by one of our falconer friends, Tim Sell. He took them home to "hack out". Hacking is a method of raising young raptors so that they don't associate humans with food and can become independent at their own rate of speed.

Well, they're called Northern Harriers (Circus cyaneus) and they are
the only species of harrier in North America. They are somewhat
similar to accipiters such as Northern Goshawks, Coopers Hawks or
Sharp-shinned Hawks, but their lifestyle is very different. They hunt
over open meadows and marshes and nest on the ground. They were
formerly called Marsh Hawks. Their chief prey is the vole (meadow
mouse), but they also eat other small mammals as well as birds.

Thanks to Chris Maack for the info and pictures!

Update: 7/17/2008 These guys were released about 1 1/2 months later. To our knowledge they have not become repeat customers.

2008 Midnight Sun Intertribal Pow Wow

Ruth and I had the pleasure of driving to Fairbanks this past weekend to take a rehabilitated bald eagle to the 2008 Midnight Sun Intertribal Pow Wow for a ceremonial release. The Pow Wow was started back in 2000 to educate the general public about the heritage of the indigenous people of North America, to share and to celebrate the similarities and diversities, and to honor their elders and their children. Bird TLC has participated by bringing an eagle to most of the Pow Wow's.

The weather cooperated for most of the day and the temperature was in the low 60's. Our eagle was placed in this lodge in the release box until ready for release about 2 hours later. They placed a guard for security.

Prior to the release there we many tribal and intertribal dances. Everyone was able to participate and show their regalia and their pride. There were dancers of all ages.

Native veterans were out in force and they were shown honor and respect from all who attended. I didn't know this, but there are more Native American veterans than any other minority.

As we got closer to the release time, the eagle and the release box were blessed. An honor guard of veterans were used to move the eagle to the release site. Elders and council members surrounded the box and one more blessing was given.

We knew we were going to have a good release when we picked this eagle to take with us. It flew well in the flight center and it was very aggressive. It didn't let us down. When they opened the box the eagle came out, flew low through the releasers and then over the crowd. It crossed the Chena River and landed on top a spruce tree where it could over look the Pow Wow.

After the release ceremony, Ruth and I were called into the ceremonial circle where we were presented a Certificate of Appreciation for Bird TLC. Since we didn't take a donation box, they decided to perform a blanket dance to take up a collection from the crowd. The crowd was extremely generous.

I would like to thank the Midnight Sun Intertribal Pow Wow Council for having us and treating us to excellent hospitality. I would also like to thank the Master of Ceremonies, Robert W. Gilcrease (Bob) and Benno Cleveland for having the blanket dance performed. And last but not least, thanks to all of the members and attendees. It was a special day for us.

It made a specticle of itself

Peter, a USF&W biologist in Nome sent us a Spectacled Eider that he had caught. It had a tear in it's throat and was on the ground for a while and hiding under a building. This is a bird not seen by many even when it's not hiding under a building.

After a goat rope getting it from the airlines it was shipped on, Ruth and I met up with Pam Tuomi, DVM of the Alaska Sealife Center in Seward. She was in town for the weekend and we met her at her husband Jack's clinic, Highland Animal Hospital. There she did an exam and gave it some fluids. She determined that it was well enough to make the trip to Seward and there she'll work on patching her up.

It's now one of their patients. They are better set up to handle waterfowl and the Eider can be a little touchie during rehab. It's in good hands.

This is a very interesting species. Check out the links on both it and ASLC.

When things go bad, it's good to have a great staff

Almost a month ago we had a water pipe break on the second floor on a Sunday afternoon. That means it wasn't discovered until Monday morning. It was predicted that almost 200 gallons of water leaked all over Bird TLC. The offices are what mainly was effected.

The carpets got soaked and so did some of the walls. If you ever smelled wet carpet after a flood, it isn't nice. Drying them out wasn't an option because they were old and well worn. We sub-lease the building from the IBRRC, so the local director had to be informed and she was out of state.

To cut the story and a headache short, the offices had to be emptied and carpet had to be ordered. The staff moved to the second floor and they had to work out of boxes. People who are use to being organize had to suffer through disorganization. Nobody liked it, but what were we to do. They made the best of it and they are real troopers.

They even withstood Dave's razing. For example, Cindy was promoted to the second floor bedroom where she kept all of the files in bed.

Poor Lynette was moved to the balcony so she could see whoever came in the door and Megan was piled in a corner. Greg rewired the phones so we had them where we didn't before.

Anyways, the walls and ceiling tiles have been painted and the carpeting is supposed to be installed on Wednesday. Things should be moved back in and arranged as they want them. Maybe in a week we'll be back to what we call normal. And to look on the bright side, we all kept in shape going up and down those stairs.

A little Great Horned Owl with a big attitude

Back on 7/1, Ruth and I picked up an eagle from Homer at the airport. We arrived back at TLC long after normal closing time. We walked in on Cindy and Todd and a little patient from Valdez. We squared the eagle away first because he was an easy patient.

The little patient was a very young Great Horned Owl with a broken leg and some other minor injuries. We guess it was hit by a car. Cindy and Todd were about to do an operation that they have had the chance to do several times in the past few years. They insert stainless steel pins in each half and secure them with an external clamp, sort of. The whole deal is called an external fixiter.

So I went out to my truck and got the camera. I told Ruth we would be there just for a little while. She knew better. We stayed for the whole operation.

At the end, Todd applied a 3M putty that hardens in 5 minutes. The bird can't bite through it and it's strong enough to hold the repair until it's removed. Then it is easily removed with wire cutters.

I went in to visit at lunch today and the little booger was standing on the injured leg. Of course he huffed and puffed like the big bad bird he is. I talked with Cindy and she said he was jumping around on it earlier. He'll feel even better when he gets the external fixiter removed.

Here's a link to pictures of the whole operation, if you can handle it.

CLICK HERE

ACE to the Rescue

BE 08-63 was brought to Anchorage from Dutch Harbor by our friends at ACE Air Cargo. That's 800 air miles free of charge. This isn't their first time.

It has some minor injuries that was keeping it on the ground so it was eating at the dump. It was rescued by U.S.F.&W. and shipped via ACE. It'll spend some time getting some r&r and some good food so it can get it's strength back. We figure it's a second year bird. Check out it's coloration.

If you ship within Alaska, check out ACE and also tell them thanks from Bird TLC.

Arctic Thunder 2008

As usual, Arctic Thunder 2008 was the event of the season. Wynnona Judd performed a free concert saluting our military on Friday. Saturday and Sunday was full of air shows by the Thunderbirds and others and all kinds of events. And yes, Bird TLC was there also. The crowd was estimated at 175,000. That's half the population of Anchorage and 1/4 the population of the whole state.

The crowd was fantastic. From the kids to the big kids we were asked all kinds of questions and had a zillion pictures taken. We got plenty of PR coverage for sure.

I like it when a Bald Eagle or a Snowy Owl draws more attention then an old F16, F22 or F15. But then, I know why they do.

Thanks for the people at Elmendorf AFB for having us. The hospitality was top notch as usual.

Ghost would like to thank Corey for taking the first 2 pictures.

One out, one in

BE 08-42 was released today at Bird Point. He was ready to go even though he was only with us about 2 months. He ate something toxic and it had him down, but he's back to full bald eagle status now.

Ruth and I picked up BE 08-62 from Soldovia, AK tonight at the airport. More of an update on her later.

Check out the TLC property

From a dump to a nice place to have an event. Cindy and Greg put together a plan and now our piece of property formerly known as "The Rabbit Hutch" is a very attractive piece.

Greg got Chuck from Chucks Backhoe to level the property, place jersey barriers all around the road right aways, had the lot hydro seeded and used recycled asphalt for the parking area. Now the property is secure from derelict vehicles and people using it a a dump.

The Grand Opening of Potter Marsh is on July 26th and people won't see the TLC property as the eyesore of the neighborhood.

Our first event there will be an early Bye-Bye Birdie. In August, we will be celebrating our 20th anniversary and we'll be spreading One Wing's ashes around the property.

We will have Alaskan Native drummers and dancers helping us to send One Wings spirit to the skies and he'll always be a part of The Bird TLC property. The Alaska Zoo will be bring their Education Birds to be presented along with ours. U.S.F.&W. and A.D.F.&G. will be participating also. We are inviting all Bird TLC supporters, past and present.

It's exciting seeing things finally moving along with the property. Thanks Cindy, Greg and Chuck. It's a beautiful job well done.

That's Chuck in his office.


Check out more of my pictures. Click on the link below.

2008-06-20

We've become Foster Baby Bird Mom & Dad

That's just on the weekends. We're on the call list at Pet Emergency Treatment. Every year PET takes in dozens of baby birds that have been orphaned in many different ways. There's no cost to the finder or TLC. You can even donate to TLC at PET when you drop the birds off. They are wonderful folks.

They call us on the weekends. We pick the birds up at PET and then we take them into the day crew at Bird TLC. When we get there, we fix the birds a nest, get them fed and then we find them a permanent Baby Bird Mom or Dad.

If it's later in the day, we take them home and Ruth care takes them until the next day. On Fathers Day my son Ryan and his girlfriend Eryn took us out to dinner. The birds went with us. They stayed in the truck and Ruth went out every 45 minutes to feed them.

So far for the past 2 weekends, we've picked up 14 ducks, 1 goose, 6 chickadees, 2 juncos, 2 robins and 3 seagulls.

An eagle among eagles

The weather was fantastic this afternoon and we were in the company of some awesome people. We were invited to do an eagle release on Elmendorf AFB (EAFB) during an appreciation picnic for their people. We couldn't ask for a better setting. What a great crowd.

Our eagle had been with us a long time. It came to TLC with a fractured left wing. After rehabilitation it showed no interest in flying. That happens sometimes, but if you look at these pictures I think it changed its mind.

We have several volunteers at TLC that come from EAFB. They have had the chance to interact with this bird while it was in rehab. Today they got to say goodbye and goodbye it went. He did a great fly by of the crowd and headed south.

These pictures are compliments of our newest volunteer. Actually she's a returning volunteer and we're glad to have her back. Great shots Britt!

PHOTO CREDIT: Britt Coon / Bird TLC

Osprey

An Osprey was sent to Bird TLC last night from Aniak, Alaska which is about 320 air miles from Anchorage. It had accidentally amputated its left wing at the elbow. We don't know how. The amputation was cleaned up by Dr. Palmatier.

Talking with Cindy today she tells me that they are hard to get to eat in captivity. If we can beat that issue we'll have a fine education bird for someone.

Ospery are one of the largest birds of prey in North America, the Osprey eats almost exclusively fish. It is one of the most widespread birds in the world, found on all continents except Antarctica.

It wasn't up to giving me a good picture. Maybe in a day or two it will perch and I can get some better shots.

Baby Bird Season has struck

What a crazy day it's been. I got a call from Pet Emergency (24 hour vet hospital) that they had 5 baby robins and a duck. I went and picked them up and brought them back to TLC to feed and then find Baby Bird Mom's. I got them bedded down and Mia showed up after a presentation she did, so I drafted her to help out.

Ruth called and I told her what was going on, so she decided to come help out also. Then Pet ER called again. They had another duck and there were some other birds coming in. I called Ruth back and had her swing by Pet ER to pick them up. The duck was there, but the others hadn't shown yet. So we decided to go out to dinner.

As we were waiting for our dinner to be served, Pet ER called saying the other birds had finally shown up. We decided to take these guys home for the night so went and picked up some supplies from TLC. When we got to Pet ER, we discovered they were 8 Tree Swallows.

Tomorrow we'll take them into TLC and find them a Baby Bird Mom to raise them. Right now it's the easy life, eat and sleep.