Double duty in Eagle River

Saturday was a busy day. Kelly, Chris, Ellen and myself were at the 25th Annual Scottish Highland Games in Eagle River. The Highland Games is a celebration of Scottish culture and includes athletics, music, dance, food, crafts, and historical reenactment. The weather was great and so were our host and the people who attended. This is a first for us to attend, but I'll bet we're invited back next year.

Falconry has long been regarded as the Sport of Kings, and the falcon has been the symbol of high birth and luxury. Chris presented the Merlin and Ellen presented the Rough-Legged Hawk. Kelly, an experienced falconer, discussed falconry of yesterday and today.

From there Kelly and I went to the Eagle River Campground where we met up with members of the Alaska Wildland Adventures group. Here Kelly presented the Great Gray Owl for visitors from the lower 48. There we also had great weather and a very curious audience.

I enjoy presentations from all three of todays presenters. They are a few of Bird TLC's most experienced volunteers. They are very knowledgable of the birds they present and do a very informative presentation that's very educational and exciting.

"For the Birds"

It's going to happen. On Oct 21st at ConocoPhillips Atrium in Anchorage we're going to have a silent, live and online auction to raise much needed funds for the birds. We've put together a committee and we have already started getting organized.

If you live in the Anchorage area and would like to volunteer to help out, call the office at 562-4852 or call me at 351-4968 or email me at webmaster at birdtlc dot net.

If you are a business person dealing in fishing & hunting trips or charters, birding tours, cruises, Alaskan art, jewerlry, or anything you think would help us raise funds and your willing to doanate, call the office at 562-4852 or call me at 351-4968 or email me at webmaster at birdtlc dot net.

The online auction will be a first for Bird TLC. Any advice is truely appreciated. Remember, we are a non-profit, so advice like "hire Bill Gates" won't work. We are a registered 501(c)3 with the IRS.

IATB #26

The latest I and the Bird is now available at The Hawk Owl's Nest. Go there to read about the sides for the IATB World Cup. Patrick has done a fine job.

The next issue of I and the Bird (on July 6) will be its first anniversary. For that occasion, it is returning to its original host and founder, 10,000 Birds, for a themed issue. Mike is calling for posts on one (or more) of three questions: why do you bird, why do you blog, and why do you blog about birds. For details, see here.

A visitor from Copper Center

This visitor was found on the side of the road in Copper Center just sitting there. He has no injuries that can be found by xray. We believe he collided with a car which is very common. He has suffered some head injury but we're not sure to what degree.

Can you tell me what kind of owl this is?

Have a safe Summer Solstice.

Baby Bald Eagle update

I recieved an email from Cindy Palmatier, Rehab Director and it says;

"The baby eagle is being replaced in a nest this weekend per USFW preferences. Tim Sell is doing the climbing, and he took the bird with him last night so when he finds the 'right' nest, he's ready to go."

Cute Duckie picture

Actually, Canada Goose. The baby birds are coming in.

BE 06-29

BE 06-29 has arrived and it's a baby eagle, also known as an eaglet. It comes to us from Dutch Harbor, Alaska. It was knocked from it's nest by high winds and then found on the side of the road. It's around three weeks old. Updates will be coming.

We're back

We went to the Kenai River Festival for the weekend. Our gracious housing host were Ken & Judy Marlow of Marlow's on the Kenai. Wow, what nice people, beautiful & clean cabin with a great view. At the cabin area we saw Bald Eagles, Arctic Tern, Ravens, and American Robins. There were also Violet-green Swallows and Tree Swallows that liked to do fly by's to the Northern Goshawk and Northern Hawk Owl Ruthie was presenting.


Though we didn't see any while we were there, there's also moose, caribou, brown and black bear all around that area. The river was open for fishing but the salmon aren't running that strong yet. I belive I'll be back to visit the Marlow's later this summer.


On Saturday we meet up with the rest of the Bird TLC crew that was there for the weekend. Ellen was presenting a Northern Hawk Owl and a Rough-legged Hawk, Linda was presenting a Snowy Owl and Leslie presented a Bald Eagle.

As the day went by we were having some major issues with the wind. Trying to keep things anchored down and the birds on fist was becoming a full time job. But by days end many, many people

visited our tent. By the time it got to be 5PM, the temperatures were dipping to the low 50°'s and it was time to call it a night.

Sunday we woke up to rain and then sun and then rain for the rest of the day. Even though the rain stayed steady, we had some die hard festival goers. We ended up closing shop early due to wind, rain and cold. All in all though it was a good weekend.

Gone for the weekend

Ruthie and I are going to the Kenai River Festival and will be gone Fri, Sat & Sun. She'll be doing presentations with the Northern Goshawk and Northern Hawk Owl. I'll post pic's when we return. Have a safe weekend all!

We like fish

We Alaskans like salmon. Red, Coho, King, you name it we like it. And guess what else likes salmon? Bald Eagles do. Right now we've had about 27 bald eagles come through the clinic so far this year. We have about 25 bald eagles of all sex, ages and sizes at the clinic and the flight center right now. That a lot of birds to feed.

We at Bird TLC have been pretty lucky so far this year. We have been getting steady donations of salmon. Fishing season just started and everyone is cleaning out their freezer of last years catch to make room for this years catch. Fortunately they thought of us. The picture at left is my truck loaded with salmon headed to the flight center. It was all donated by people getting ready to go fish for more. We have 8 almost full freezers of salmon and some red meat for the owls and golden eagles that come through.

Yeah, we like fish.

My little girl

Mike & Sara at 10000 Birds had a baby girl the other day and named her Ivy Arehart Bergin. My baby girl Cassandra Edna Dorsey graduated from Bartlett High School tonight. His daughter came into the world and mine is starting out in the world.

I know how proud you are Mike because I've been there. I still am actually. When she was a toddler we called her Sassy Cassie. Now it's Cassie or Cas. I call her my favorite girl or favorite daughter. I know, she's my only daughter. But she is my favorite girl and no one can take that away from me. I like the young woman she's grown up to be. She's not perfect and lord knows I'm not either. But she'll always be the sparkle in my eye.

Mike, you'll find yourself doing just about anything for your daughter. Her mother and I divorced when she was young. She would spend weekends at my house with her brothers. After returning her to her mom's house I would get calls like "I forgot my blankie" when I got home. That was before cell phone days, so you were all the way home before you got the call. During the middle of the night and in freezing temperatures, I'd turn around and take her blankie (Strawberry Shortcake) back to her.

Or the time she had to have her ear operated on. When they rolled her out into the recovery room, both her and Minnie Mouse had their left ears bandaged up. Or those tea parties. You have to sit through them Mike. It's the hardest thing to do as a guy or dad, but you'll remember it forever. You'll remember taking the training wheels off of her pink Barbie bike. She was such a tomboy, I described her as Evil Knievil on a Barbie bike.

Now a days I get calls like "I'm hungry. Let's go to lunch". My reply usually is "Where we going to go?" We like shopping together, riding bikes together, going to hockey games together. She helps me out with different things with Bird TLC. She's a lot of fun. Your going to enjoy it Mike.

She's going to go to UAA, University of Alaska, Anchorage, in the fall. Journalism or cosmo something or another. Get that sheep skin kiddo.

I hope your ready Mike. My little girl isn't so little anymore. Actually she's taller than me now. But you going to enjoy it. Welcome to the world Ivy.

Cassie, congratulations! I'm very proud of you and always have been.

Love you,

Dad

Meet BE 06-27

BE 06-27 is the bald eagle from the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge that came to us last saturday. He's had a stainless steel pin inserted into his right wing temporary until it mends. So far things look good, we just have to be patient until it heals. There's a good chance he might be released by fall.

Keep your feathers crossed for a speedy recovery.

Do we have baby birds? Sure.

Do we have baby birds Yes we do. we have black capped chickadee's, mallards and ravens so far. Some are about ready to be let go and others are working their way there.

I was at the clinic yesterday and it looked like a baby bird day care center. All of the birds will be placed with a Baby Bird Mom. The little ones need to be feed every 20 - 30 minutes and trust me, they let you know if your off schedule. It's time to feed me. NOW!

Busy weekend

I got a call on Friday from Cindy our Rehab Director. We have a eagle coming in from Soldotna on Saturday morning with a compound fracture to it's right wing. She was going to be out of town and was wondering if Ruthie and I could pick it up at the airport. You already know my answer.

I told her to go ahead and give Liz of the USF&W in the Kenai NWR my cell number to contact me. Liz called me the next morning. There was a possible hold up at ERA Aviation. This is the beginning of salmon season and there might not be room for our eagle. ERA donates the flight, so beggars can't complain. They said they would do the best that they can do and they did. The eagle landed at 12:45 and we had it in possession by 1:15.

We took it to the clinic with the idea of placing a wing wrap on it and bedding it down for the weekend. When we got there we prepped a mew with some food and water. We had to take the top off of the kennel to get him out. It was a small kennel, I presume because of the aircraft size and to limit the eagles movement. It was a young eagle, maybe 2-3 years old. His head feathers were changing color. We new there was a problem when the wing would not go the way it should. As I held the eagles feet and head, Ruthie examined the wound. By her remarks that I won't repeat, I new it wasn't good for she has a lot more experience than me when it comes to the medical side. We discussed it and decided that we needed more help.

Since Cindy wasn't an option, we called Barbara Doak. She's been a volunteer at Bird TLC since 1990 and was at one time the Rehab Director. She recommended we take the bird to Pet Emergency, a 24hr animal hospital that takes in birds when Bird TLC isn't available. We kenneled him in a larger kennel and off we went.

When we arrived we were greeted by the staff which included Bobby Beckman, a former volunteer at Bird TLC and son of one of our eagle presenters, Gloria. At Pet Emergency, they donate the time and materials used to take care of the birds that come through there. Right off the bat I felt comfortable that we had taken the eagle there. The staff was very helpful and friendly. They said it would be a little bit. They were going to knock the bird out to examine it and wrap the wing. So we went to lunch.

When lunch was done we headed back. Barbara Doak was leaving the parking lot when we arrived. She had checked in on the bird and brought food for it for the weekend. We went inside and saw that he was fine and still real groggie from the drugs. Barbara wanted them to keep the eagle and she would pick it up on Tuesday when she went to the clinic. It was smart to take the bird there. The wound was huge and the bone was sticking out. They were able to place the bone back in the wing and then wrap it securely.

Chances are on Tuesday after Barbara picks it up, it will go to Pet Stop for x-rays. Hopefully the wing can be pinned and in time it can be released.

Thanks to Shell Stachowicz for taking the pictures and emailing them to me. Also, thanks to the professional staff at Pet Emergency. They were able to make this injured eagle more comfortable then we could for the weekend. Thanks to ERA for the flight and getting the bird onboard as soon as possible. Thanks to Barbara Doak for her advice and thanks to Liz with USF&W for trying her best by herself on the holiday weekend.

Update - Be 06-27 went into surgery today and recieved a stainless steel pin in it's right wing. The pin will be removed in a few weeks after the bone starts to heal.

No, freedom is not free

"Do not stand at my grave and weep;

I am not there, I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the softly falling snow.
I am the gentle showers of rain.
I am the fields of ripening grain.

I am the morning hush.
I am the graceful rush
of beautiful birds in circling flight.

I am the star shine of the night.
I am the flowers that bloom.
I am in a quiet room.
I am the birds that sing.
I am in each lovely thing.
Do not stand at my grave and cry;
I am not there. I did not die."


...Mary Frye, Baltimore MD, Circa 1933

Have a safe a fun Memorial Day weekend. Remember why we have it.

The eagle beow has a good weekend going. He was released on Thursday at the Anchorage Golf Course. He had been with us since last fall.

Isn't it Great

Say Hi to my friend Kelly. She is my mentor for the Great Gray Owl that I've been training with for a while now. She had a presentation today at the Anchorage Museum of History and Art and the Hunters of the Sky exhibit. You might remember that the other week I was there with my wife Ruth.

There are a couple things that make this presentation fun. First is that most of the people attending are from out of state. Second they can see the live bird and then go and see the same species bird in the exhibit.

Kelly does a really nice presentation. I personally think she does an excellent job making sure the kids understand what she is saying. She also gets them involved by asking them questions. She doesn't talk down to them, but she makes sure they get the message.

Kelly is one of many Bird TLC Volunteer Education Presenters. She is also the caretaker of this bird and has been doing so for about 5 years. Unlike many other rehabilitation clinics, our education birds stay at a caretakers home, not Bird TLC. That caretaker is responsible for their housing, feeding, and well being. After the initial expense of building a mew for the bird, they pay for the birds food themselves. In Kelly's case it's about $130 a month. Other birds are less expensive. Ruthie is caretaking a Northern Hawk Owl and it's food bill a month is about $65. They are also responsible for doing educational presentations with the bird about 12 times a year.

Sometimes there are medical bills also. Normal check ups and exams are provided for by our volunteer veterinarians, but some medicine, blood test and x-rays are not. So our caretakers are dedicated to the bird in more ways than one. A Great Gray Owl can live up to 40 years in captivity.

So, don't you think it's great that we have volunteers like Kelly? Volunteers that provide the home, food, care and time for the bird. Time to do education presentations to the public with a bird that came to Bird TLC with an injury or illness that didn't allow them to be released back to the wild. I think they are all great.

open wide

Never say never, because you'll be proven wrong. DeAnne Maus did a presentation at our Baby Bird Seminar last month and said we never get any baby ravens. This is number two. It's about 3 weeks old. It's nest was on a tower being torn down in south Anchorage and mom or pop was not around. We're lucky the workers noticed it before it was too late.

It's already stealing the girls hearts at the clinic. I don't get it though. All it does is eat and then takes a nap. I try that and I get in trouble.

I guess it's a baby raven world right now.

Hunters of the Sky

Ruthie had a presentation Wednesday at the Anchorage Museum of History and Art. It was part of the "Hunters of the Sky" exhibit. Someone from Bird TLC is doing a presentation every Wednesday at 2PM and yesterday was her turn. I went to help out and got a peek at the exhibit before her presentation. WoW! It is awesome. Worth checking out. We're going back on Sunday just for ourselves.
This exhibit is the main event for the summer. It's all about raptors and was developed by the Science Museum of Minnesota and the Minnesota Raptor Center. There are tons of displays, hands-on activities, and a lot of taxidermy specimens. This exhibit will be showing through September 17th and Bird TLC will be a part of it during this time.



Here's some more pictures of the exhibit. Oh, and by the way, Ruthies presentation was excellent. It's amazing, I've been to most of her presentations for the past 4 years and I always come away with something I didn't already know. She's a natural.

I have a link to the "Hunters of the Sky" page at the Anchorage Museum of History and Art to your right. I'll leave it up until the exhibit ends.

#20,000

20,000 people have visited our blog since I started it on Aug 27, 2004. The blog has helped get the word out about the Bird TLC mission, helping you to know what to do or not to do with a wild bird, we link to some great sites, we've shown you what we do and offer an opinion or two. I hope you've enjoyed it as much as I have hosting it. I've meet a lot of great people through it also. My wish is for Bird TLC to close it's doors due to the lack of business. Now, back to reality.

Hey, if you have an extra check that your looking to send to someone, Bird TLC is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization dedicated to rehabilitating sick, injured or orphaned wild birds and providing avian education programs to the public.

Bird TLC
P.O. Box 230496
Anchorage, Alaska
99523

Or during the month of May, Wells Fargo Bank is providing us with free credit card services. Call the clinic at 907-562-4852 , give them your credit card number and tell them that Dave asked you to call.

Good news is Good mews

Long time Bird TLC volunteer and friend Elise Patkotak is a free lance writer and she's in the Anchorage Daily News every Wednesday in the "Voice of the Times" . This week she wrote about our "2006 Mew Yard Spring Clean Up" and the friends we made that helped us out. You can also visit her blog by clicking on her name above. If you don't leave her blog with a smile on your face after reading it, riga mortise is setting in.

Voice of the Times Go to the 3rd story
http://www.elisepatkotak.com/index.php?/trackback/383/

By the way Elise, Thank You also!