Magic of the Snowy Owl

Watch Magic of the Snowy Owl on PBS. See more from Nature.

Ghost, Bird TLC's education snowy owl was a part of this movie.

Thank you Alaskans!

 

176 Alaskans donated to Bird TLC from their Permanent Fund Dividend this year for a total of $9,800.00. Is this a great state or what!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Education Presenter Orientation

The Bird TLC Education Committee put on another Orientation Program tonight with an awesome turn out. Over 20 people interested in being one of our education presenters were on hand. We also had guests from Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. They are working on developing a program of their own.

Everything was discussed from how to present, what not to wear....

gear for the bird, gear for the presenter and then

everyone that wanted was able to test drive one of our education birds.

BE 12-32 from Kodiak

BE 12-32 came from Kodiak on Saturday in pretty rough shape. It was very dehydrated, signs of being on the ground for a while and started vomiting green slime during intake exam. He was given fluids, but not much more we could do until it was a little more stable. When it was placed in a mew, it was a little unstable, but settled down after a bit.
On Sunday afternoon, Karen examined the bird again and gave it fluids. She also gave it some red meat and salmon by tong and it took it with a little help and kept it down. Karen and Sharon then cleaned up its beak and nasty feet. He was also treated for feather lice.
This guy has a long road to recovery, but at least it's closer to being stable to be treated.

A Visit to Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center AWCC

Dr Karen Higgs and Guy made a visit to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center in Portage yesterday. They went to examine their three display birds. They have a bald eagle and two great horned owls. All have permanent injuries that don't allow them to be released.

With lots of assistance from the staff and lots of interest, all thee birds got their exam, blood work, talons trimmed and beak cooped.

A little hands on and a lot of instruction.

It was obvious these guys were in good care. They passed their exams with flying colors.

See more photos here.

Autumn Wings 2012

Another year and another fun Autumn Wings.

The weather was awesome even though what they had predicted. Kodie and Elise was greeting everyone that came through the gate.

There were plenty of events and programs for the entire family.

But not everyone was real excited.

If you didn't make, you sure missed it and we hope to see you next year!

For more photos, go to Bird TLC's photo albums or
Britt Coon's online photos.

Autumn Wings Festival

Bird TLC’s Autumn Wings Festival

Saturday, August 18^th from 12:00-4:00

15510 Old Seward Hwy 

Join Bird TLC for a fun-filled celebration of birds, wildlife, the outdoors, and Alaska’s version of autumn.

Activities will include:

-Booths

·         Alaska Department of Fish & Game

·         Alaska Falconers Association

·         Alaska Museum of Natural History

·         Alaskan Heritage Museum

·         Alaska Zoo

·         Bird TLC Education Bird Booth

·         Campbell Creek Science Center (BLM)

·         Eagle River Nature Center

·         Face Painting Booth

·         Fish Lips & Bird Teeth Studio

·         Kid’s Booth (Bird TLC)

·         U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

-Live Bird “Jeop-Birdy” Program at 1:00 pm

-Bird Calling Contest at 1:30 pm

-Bald Eagle Release at 3:00 pm

-Music by the Alaska Button Box Gang

-Fundraiser BBQ

For more information contact Bird TLC at 562-4852 or visit our website at www.birdtlc.net.

Bird TLC Makes an Appearance on a National Reality Show

Alaska has become the subject of a growing number of reality shows

By Lauren Maxwell
Bio | Email

Pacific Loon @ Conners Lake

I got a call early this morning from Pet ER. They received a call from a gentlemen about a loon with a broken leg on Conner Lake. At Bird TLC we're not set up to do this type of rescue. We don't have canoe's and that type of equipment. So I figured it was time to call the boss, Heather.

We decided that her husband Sean and her were going to look for someone with a canoe and I was going to call ADF&G, Wildlife Troopers, and anyone else that I could get involved. With great help from Trooper Dispatch, I got a call from ADF&G. Only problem was he didn't have any of that type of equipment or at least access to any on a weekend. Sean and Heather had better success and found a friend with a canoe. That friend was going to drive in from Peters Creek, meet them in Eagle River and while I got other supplies at our clinic they would drive to Connor Lake.

Mosquito's are bad there and even though we sprayed down twice, I'm sure Sean and I are running a quart or two low.

After carrying the canoe and equipment through the woods we made it to the lake and headed out to the nesting area. We saw the loons away from the nest and they saw us also. As we got closer, we spotted the two adults and two chicks. We checked out the nest and around it, but found nothing. We called Heather who was onshore, to find out exactly how many chicks there are. Two!

We moved closer just checking them out and all seemed well. Then we noticed there was just one chick. We had lost track of the other one. We started checking the Lilly pads areas and found the other chick hiding out. As we went to recover it, mom and dad showed their displeasure, but kept their distance.

I was able to do a full exam of the bird and couldn't find any breaks or dislocated joints. The leg operated normally if I moved it manually. The chick showed no pain. There were no predator markes, talons, teeth, etc. The right leg just doesn't work. Now it was time to decide on what to do.

Loons don't do good in captivity and now we have a baby chick with a special problem given by mother nature. If we took it back to the clinic, it had maybe a 25% chance of survival and there's nothing we can do for the leg. Once we have it in clinic and if it survives, it's not re-releasable. It's now a captive bird for the rest of its life.

On the lake we saw it swim and keep up with its parents most of the time. They were watching out for it. It was diving some and it floated better than anything I've ever seen. It also knew how to hide and rest in the Lilly pads. It just couldn't get into the nest.

We decided to leave it. It had a better chance dealing with mother nature than with us intervening. We know this is not going to be a popular decision, but we feel it's the right one. If the chick survives, it'll be a stronger bird for it.

The nesting site and web cam belongs to Anchorage Audubon Society. If you would like to contact them, they can be reached at info@anchorageaudubon.org .

Pacific Loon at Conners Lake

Please bear with me as I finish everything else I have to do today, but I will have an update for you later tonight with photos. As of now, all loons concerned are alive and healthy.

Presentation at Clark Middle School

Chris and Maverick the peregrine falcon before the students at Clark.

Lisa answering bald eagle, Petra questions.

Ghost and me finish things up.

We had the pleasure of presenting some of our education birds to some of the students of Clark Middle School today. Students and teachers alike were asking questions and listening to our presentation. I hope they have us back again.

Photos by Cynthia Hoog / Bird TLC

ADF&G Salmon Celebration @ Potter Marsh

Lisa, Petra, Ghost, Galen and myself we're at the ADF&G Salmon Celebration at Potter Marsh on Friday. There were over 1500 kids from the Anchorage School District that made it by to see us and look at the education birds up close. It was a beautiful day and a great time was had by all. We can't wait until next year.

Snowy Owl prepped for release

One of our flight center volunteers, Cynthia helped me catch our snowy owl who has been with us since October. It was brought back to the clinic to prep it for release. ERA Alaska is flying it to Barrow tomorrow and it will be released there. Barrow is the snowy owl capital of Alaska.

Goose, duck, owl

On Saturday we had the right patients, so Dr. Karen had a tube feeding class. Both a Canada goose and a mallard required some tlc.

It amazes me the people that step up to learn to do these things.

Our boreal owl has some serious eye injuries. Time will tell if it gets to see again.

What awesome volunteers!

Lauren Maxwell from KTVA CBS 11 visit the flight center

Ghost & Gus at Friends of Creamer's Field

Last weekend, Ghost, Gus and I were invited to Fairbanks to help out Friends of Creamer's field by doing presentations. Since it's one of our favorite places to go, we had to be there. ADF&G did an awesome job talking about the owls of Interior Alaska and putting on an awesome program on Short-Eared Owls.

Gus being the senior owl came out first. Being a Great Horned Owl, his species is well known.

We did another presentation later in the afternoon. Ghost the Snowy Owl always attracts the kids and photographers.

Friends of Creamer's Field had lots of artifacts showing what is at their place. I know if I lived in Fairbanks, that's where I'd be a volunteer at.

Here's hoping we raised them a few dollars and got some folks interested in volunteering. Thanks to Friends of Creamer's Field for inviting us, ADF&G, and Jim & Nancy Dewitt for putting the 3 of us up for the weekend. Oh, also thanks to Nancy for taking the photo's. We had a great time!

For the Birds" 2012

Click photo to see more

Saturday, Be There!

"For the Birds"

Live & Silent Auction

March 24, 2012

Sheraton Anchorage

Click for more info

 

A fun time at Saved by Sweets

Check out more photos to see all the fun. Click on the photo.

Saved by Sweets

Saved by Sweets is tomorrow, February 11th from 5 to 8 pm at the ConocoPhillips Atrium. We will be enjoying delicious sweet treats, and the company of some of Bird TLC's feathered friends. Come meet Hal the bald eagle, Ghost the snowy owl, Kodi the Northwestern crow, and our poster girl, Crawford the raven.