At the Bird TLC property

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

Return to Moose Pass

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

Let the releases begin

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

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

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!

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

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

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

Orientation

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

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

AUCTION TIME!!!!!

Building Taz a mew

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

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

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

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.

Click here on link.

Bald Eagle #7

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!

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.