Eagles4kids ~ 2012

Beth · **Posted:** Wed Dec 12, 2012 4:14 pm

Wow Talon-bucket of blood...to bad it isn't Halloween time :)

skygirlblue · **Joined:** Sun Jul 26, 2009 3:18 pm **Posts:** 63313

talon wrote:

Just poppin' in for a bit. Nothing really new to report. I went to a local butcher near me last night. I asked him for a bucket of blood. You should have seen the look on his face. Of course I introduced myself first and the reason I was there. He was still shocked! Upon returning with the blood, I asked if he could suggest a low grade cut of meat for both sites that I could pour the blood over. He came back with a bag of ground up meat and a chunk of good stuff. All this at no charge! Of course how do you charge for blood? ;D I freshened up both sites on my way to school this morning.

No pics on mt trail cams yet. I am really hoping soon. I am working on getting some small fish as well. I do fish but do not have the time right now. I have someone putting out the word on that at a local archery club of older gents that are constantly fishing.

OMG, Talon!!! Now, that's going above and beyond!!!! All I can say is YUK!!! :hollaugh:

I guess "freshened" is in the eye of the beholder and certainly takes on new meaning!!!. . :teehee:

skygirlblue · **Joined:** Sun Jul 26, 2009 3:18 pm **Posts:** 63313

I've had the cam/chat up this afternoon. . .Talon came on for a few minutes and reported this to the chatters:

hi all, just got back from nest and area. Found Lucy! it looked like she had just eaten. great news, I was fearing the worst myself. she was on the ground again, but moving around, sluggish though. she is adapting at this time. I will be perching here, getitng video and pics organized :)

Hopefully, he'll have something official posted soon on the FB page. . .and maybe he'll have time to stop by here!!

talon · **Posted:** Sun Dec 16, 2012 9:14 pm

Sorry, no official update will be forthcoming tonight on Lucy. I will update tomorrow. Here is a video of Larry a couple days ago.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v

I hate youtube. I tried several times with this code, changing it here and there and nothing worked.

SusanE · **Posted:** Sun Dec 16, 2012 9:31 pm

Is this it, talon?

talon · **Posted:** Sun Dec 16, 2012 10:36 pm

yep, you done good! Again, I sure wish youtube didn't change things.
BTW, there was no & sign in the code this time that I could see. It was strange. I tried changing other parts instead but guessed wrong. :(

skygirlblue · **Joined:** Sun Jul 26, 2009 3:18 pm **Posts:** 63313

Lucy finally made an appearance at the nest. Her right foot continues to show injury. . Left foot shows the 3 toes, but not clear enough to see the talons. . I've isolated some pics..I'll post later..

skygirlblue · **Joined:** Sun Jul 26, 2009 3:18 pm **Posts:** 63313

These isolated pics are not great...hope Talon got better closeups. .

Left foot~I am just not sure what she is doing with her left foot. It almost appears that it is balled up when she is standing and the toes only extend when she walks. I guess I need to go look at some BE standing pics and compare the feet. I just don't recall seeing BE's standing with balled feet..but, they might.

I'll try to isolate/enhance more later. .

I think the people working on this may be faced with a difficult decision. If she is captured, can that right foot be successfully treated .. I just don't know..it looks a mess. Is the left foot in good shape? Can't tell that either. Its a catch 22 situation. I fear that if caught and that right foot is not treatable, then that will be the end of her. I do feel that if that left foot is healthy, then she can survive. we've seen it before with one-footed falcons, though I'm sure it will be extremely difficult for her .. Just me thinking outloud!!

PattiO · **Posted:** Mon Dec 17, 2012 7:41 pm

I tried ... not much better...

I still think it looks like there's something stuck in the right foot. I just don't know. But I've had the same thoughts as you SGB ... if they can catch her - and heal her - I just don't know if she'll be releasable.

Alison · **Joined:** Wed Jan 20, 2010 9:31 pm **Posts:** 2776

It's hard to tell from the pics, but the dark areas on the toes on the right foot look like necrotic tissue to me. I don't know this nest, and I don't know the area. Is there a possibility that Lucy could have been caught in a leghold trap, and was finally able to free herself? That could cause this type of injury.

Is there any progress in being able to capture and treat her? Is there anyone in the area with a cannon net and experience in setting it up?

The sooner Lucy can be captured and cared for, the better her chances, but you already know that.

I don't know if these versions of pics from your video are any better.

skygirlblue · **Joined:** Sun Jul 26, 2009 3:18 pm **Posts:** 63313

Thanks for trying to enhance the pics, PattiO and Alison. Whether something is stuck or not, I do think that part of that right foot looks necrotic. To catch you kinda up to speed, Alison, The National Eagle Center is helping out. Two bait traps have been set up in hopes of luring her in. So far, no luck (obviously). Now that its been so long, part of me hopes she is caught and evaluated. The other part of me hopes she's not. I know that's strange, but if that right foot is totally dead then I don't see how she would ever be released...or worse...so, now I'm torn. Oh well, I guess time will tell. I sure do hope the best for her, whatever that is.

skygirlblue · **Joined:** Sun Jul 26, 2009 3:18 pm **Posts:** 63313

Talon posted video from yesterday's visit. He was able to zoom in some.

I was able to isolate a few pics from his video

Lucy visited for over 2 hours today. (I've got video, but it really needs to be edited, so I'll post later) She looked very relaxed and spent the majority of the time laying in the nest. Several vocalizations. (chat said they heard a second eagle..I missed that), a little preening, and a good poop shot at the end~so she's eating.

talon · **Posted:** Tue Dec 18, 2012 9:26 pm

All I can say is a report is being carefully drafted that will state our next step. Thank you all for your continued support. It has been tough dealing with difficult things like this, and then add the stress of the situation out east and it makes it worse. I hope to be able to post something tomorrow, but if I do not, understand that the report is being carefully drafted so that it communicates clearly why we have come to the conclusion we have. Thanks for hanging in there with us!

skygirlblue · **Joined:** Sun Jul 26, 2009 3:18 pm **Posts:** 63313

Talon, thanks so much for checking in with us. .. I certainly know this must be so stressful for you and everyone involved, How are your school kids doing? The Lucy situation combined with the tragedy in Newtown certainly has created such sadness and anxiety I'm sure!!

We look forward to the report. .

skygirlblue · **Joined:** Sun Jul 26, 2009 3:18 pm **Posts:** 63313

Video from this morning. It appears that it is becoming more difficult for Lucy to walk. However, after the end of the video, she preened/scratched for about 20 minutes. Then she lay in the nest for almost 2 hrs after that. I would like to think that preening is a positive sign. She also had a really good poop shot so she's eating. I think her right foot is now useless (and may have already lost some toes)..Her left foot in some of the pics doesn't look that bad when she has her toes extended. I just hope there isn't nerve damage..its hard to tell if she can grasp with that foot. If she can't, then its gonna be hard to perch and fish.

I can't help but wonder if this is what poor Zephyr (peregrine falcon) went through before we actually saw him on cam, missing his foot and lower leg. But, he did great and was a wonderful father, even with such a handicap. I just pray that Lucy can adapt well enough to enjoy her life!!

SusanE · **Posted:** Wed Dec 19, 2012 11:07 am

I was thinking the same thing, SGB, in comparing this to Zephyr. :girlsad3:

talon · **Posted:** Wed Dec 19, 2012 8:32 pm

I give you with great sadness and a heavy heart the report I sent out today. Most of you have probably already seen or heard but thought I should share nonetheless.

http://www.eagles4kids.com/daily-updates/2012/12/19/official-press-release-for-project-lucy.html

SusanE · **Posted:** Wed Dec 19, 2012 8:54 pm

Thank you, talon, for this report. My heartfelt condolences to you and the others on the team who have tried so hard to help Lucy. I completely understand the decision, and I'm certain it was a most difficult one. Whoever wrote the report -- great job.

skygirlblue · **Joined:** Sun Jul 26, 2009 3:18 pm **Posts:** 63313

Talon, thanks so much for taking the time to check in here with us. I did read the report earlier today. I'm sure the final decision must have been extremely difficult for all of you to make, but I want you to know that I support that decision. At this point in time, it seems to be the right one to make.

I've been glued to the cam the past few days, taking pics and recording when I can so I knew that foot was bad...I just didn't know how bad until I saw those close ups!!! About her left foot. It seems the bulk of the swelling is in her back toe (let's pray its not infection). When she extends the toes on that foot, there appears to be no swelling in the 3 front toes. Unfortunately, that back toe is needed for perching and grasping. I'm just holding out a glimmer of hope that she can over come and adapt. Other birds of prey have been able to do so. ..Just a shame that she's gonna have to figure all of this out in the cold of winter..I'm praying for a lot of carrion or an ample supply of fish from Larry.

Anyway, thanks again.. I know this has been very stressful for you and the team and so appreciate your dedication to Lucy!!!

PattiO · **Posted:** Wed Dec 19, 2012 11:45 pm

<SIGH>

Thank you so much for keeping in contact with us here talon. I'm sure your heart is very heavy indeed. I voiced my opinion on the FB page so I won't state it again. I'm conflicted on the situation. I feel so bad for her. I don't want her to suffer. Winter is very hard on these large birds. If she has to expend larger amounts of energy to eat/find food with only one foot to stand on ... she won't survive. But I will hold out some hope that she can adapt.

I just wish we could know what caused this. Allison asked about the possibility of her having gotten caught in a trap ... could that be?

:tissue:

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