Bird Cams Around the World

Wildlife rehabbers have great stories! Thanks, gigi.

As you well know!!!

Since the redtail flew off, we are assuming no injuries, just knocked off balance and then seemingly needed to regroup before flying off. I guess the office worker who originally saw the altercation, was so disappointed that there was no rescue, but as you know, that is the best case scenario!!

Great story Gigi!! Don't mess with a falcon, even if you are bigger

Lindsay hospital received 45 animals last week, bringing the total for this year to 295.

Four of the patients were house finches suffering from mycoplasma infections. This eye disease affects house finches, goldfinches and other songbirds and can be spread at bird feeders. It's really important to clean and sanitize your bird feeder at least once a week to keep birds healthy.

I clean mine several times a year, but it looks like I need to do that more frequently. I don't believe we have had any birds with that condition. I will have to check. Thanks Beans!!

gigi, by the time we see it, it's too late -- those infected birds have spread it around. If a bird is sick, he will get most of his food from a bird feeder because it's easier. I clean and disinfect mine twice a month. After taking them apart (and I now have some of those feeders that come apart quickly and easily) and thoroughly washing and rinsing them, I let them sit in a 10% bleach solution for about ten minutes. Then I rinse several times and allow them to air dry in the house. It pays to have several sets of feeders, and then you can put clean ones up while the others are drying.

Having several sets of feeders is a great idea beans. I am sure my seed store, Backyard Birds, will love that recommendation!

oiled Common Murre

More than 100 oiled birds have been brought in to International Bird Rescue Research Center (IBRRC) for care after being coated with oil in a natural seep event along the Southern California coast. The birds, whose insulation and waterproofing are affected by the oil, have begun to flood the Los Angeles Oiled Bird Center, which is managed by IBRRC – 64 of them since February 1. Natural oil seeps are common, but stirred up by winter storms they can be deadly for seabirds.

So far during this event, IBRRC specialists have treated Western and Clark's Grebes; Common Murres; Common, Pacific, and Red-throated Loons; California and Western Gulls; and a Northern Fulmar.

Oil seeps occur naturally all along the coast of California, most notably in the Santa Barbara Channel near Coal Oil Point, which emits between 5,280 and 6,600 gallons of oil per day. Oil is particularly harmful to diving birds that spend time on the surface where the oil sits. It interferes with the birds' ability to maintain their body temperature by impairing the natural insulation and waterproofing properties of their feathers, which can result in hypothermia, as their metabolisms try to combat the cold. Oiled birds often beach themselves in this weakened state, and become easy prey for other animals.

While high profile events like the Gulf Spill grab all the headlines, small spills, natural seeps, algal blooms, and even extreme weather can impact birds, keeping IBRRC staff and volunteers at the organization's two rehabilitation clinics busy 365 days per year.

IBRRC knows, from 40 years of experience, to anticipate a large influx of oiled birds during the winter months. This year has been a particularly challenging one, with severe storms moving seep oil around at a time when large numbers of migratory birds are feeding off California's coast.

Yes, it has definitely been a challenging winter.

SGB. I LOVED your story. When you started out by saying we weren't going to like this, I was all prepared for a bad ending. We have a goose and duck rehabber in our area who is notorious for not returning calls. Many times we [For the Birds of Indiana] will take in or pick up the duck or goose until we can get it to her. People get frantic. They want to do the right thing for an injured or sick animal and then the road blocks go up.
I for one, am glad you did what you did! And won't turn you in!!!!!

Oh, I brought two of my feeders in to clean. One is all cracked, letting moisture in so it is in the trash!

SGB, you did exactly the right thing. Its easy to treat, but deadly if you don't. We also have rehabbers who don't return calls. Sometimes there are just too many animals for the number of rehabbers. SGB...you would make a great one

I agree! Sky, you are a natural. Time for you to volunteer at a rehab center and get some formal training. :)

Movie Trailer: Queen of the Sun

This is a very important short documentary about bees…. Be sure to see it! You can watch the trailer here and read about the film. We need to help bees before it's too late--

Thank you Beans. It is alarming. I have heard about all kinds of colonies being wiped out, including the small one we had at the horse barn. My dentist is a bee keeper and so far his are healthy.