Bird Cams Around the World

It's so discouraging to watch those planes that spread those pesticides. Don't people realize these poisons kill the beneficial insects, too?

photo by Greg Breese/USFWS

Last week, Audubon filled the great hall at the Organization of American States, joining conservation leaders from the U.S. and beyond to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act. Senior Interior Department officials were in attendance, as were Ambassadors from Brazil, Panama, the Bahamas, and the Dominican Republic. Both the Interior Department and our international partners recognized the important contributions of this seminal act to hemispheric conservation and called for its continued support. Meanwhile, Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), one of the most steadfast and outspoken champions for bird and wildlife conservation in the U.S. Senate, introduced his bill aiming to reauthorize the Act and increase funding.

Audubon's President writes about saving neotropical migrants in the March-April issue of Audubon magazine

The permit process takes forever! The center on the receiving end must past inspection: cage size for the bird, general facility and its current permits, etc. etc. But this process ensures that the animal will be in a place where he will receive excellent care and not be bored. Unfortunately, with the cut in federal and state funds, there are fewer inspectors to make visits and write up reports.

Gigi, the Hattons don't keep educational animals? Glad to hear the owl will have a good home!

Do you know who in Indiana got the rescued falcon from Ft. Wayne? Evidently she will be staying there for a few weeks.

Lindsay hospital received 62 animals last week, bringing the total to 404 for this year.

Ten of the patients were baby opossums that were found still attached to the nipples of their dead mother. The whole lot was brought to the hospital where the staff carefully removed the babies. Nine of the babies have survived so far. If you find a dead opossum, check to see if there are babies in the pouch. Don't try to remove the babies yourself, but bring the mother, with offspring still attached, to the nearest wildlife hospital.

Here is what a baby Opossum looks like (not a Lindsay hospital picture)

We thought we had a dead opossum in the yard this morning. When Frank [husband] and Roy [dog] went out to get the paper, Roy kept running between the bird feeders and the middle of the yard. When Frank investigated, he discovered a "dead" opossum. He put Roy inside and then went to retrieve it, and of course it was gone. I don't think he would have thought to check for babies so I am glad it was just "playing possum". Poor thing.

thanks for the info beans. That baby sure is cute!!

So cute...makes me almost want to rehab them. We have a possie specialist, so I don't.

We have a Possie Team at Lindsay, Squirrel Team, Beat Team, Mockingbird Team, Hummingbird Team, etc. These teams pick up their animals and foster them at home, under the same strict guidelines and record-keeping at Lindsay. Some animals do much better in home care, where it is quieter than the hospital.

Beans, the Wildlife Center does the same thing. Too many animals to give each the special attention they need.

I think I talked about this earlier. There is monofilament (think fishing line) strung over a city dump (transfer station). Its purpose is "vector control" to keep birds out. Gulls (mostly Western Gulls) were flying into the line and getting entangled. The city’s Animal Services would cut them down and call IBRRC. We would pick them up and bring them to the hospital. I picked up a young banded Western Gull last year (not the first) and brought him to the hospital. We read his band and discovered he had been with us as a baby the previous year. We released him when he met our weight, blood, and flying standards. Now, sadly, he was with us again.



The good news is he recovered after a few weeks in the hospital and was released! He bit everyone, including me, but that was ok: he had spirit and determination!



I wrote letters to the City Council with a copy to the Mayor and Directors of Public works and Animal Services. The latter had tried and tried to get the City to do something about the monofilament, but to no avail. Then Jay Holcomb, a City Council Member, and I met at the Dump (actually, it is the Transfer Station) to suggest some changes. Mr. Holcomb suggested that shiny mylar ribbons be strung from the fishing line. The birds could see these from a distance and perhaps would stay away.

This worked for a while, but again the Gulls were getting entangled. This morning received an email from Mr. Holcomb and phoned the IBRRC wildlife manager. Mr. Holcomb is willing to work with the Transfer Station once more to see what else can be done. I spoke with Animal Services, and an officer there is compiling a list of the birds that were caught on the line for the last year. I will pick it up tomorrow and send a copy to IBRRC. Stay tuned….

Thanks Beans. I especially loved the release video. That makes it all so worthwhile!

Regarding the fillament, that is also used at beach resorts to keep birds away from patios and pools as to not disturb all those future melanoma patients. Heaven forbid that we make their cancer causing experience a little less attractive. Makes me crazy.

[OBTW, I was diagnosed with melanoma 30 years ago right when I was 29. Full recovery, and now I never go out without sunscreen. I will get off my soapbox for now and go take a blood pressure pill!]

Gigi, I am pleased you have recovered! But I am appalled that other places use this harmful line, too...

This is one of my favorite pictures from rehab. The adult, Bobby II, is unreleasable and now a permanent foster parent to our barred owls. This is one of his babies who just got so excited when he saw food being delivered that he hopped on Dad's head. We released Baby last fall and think he still comes back to sit on the outdoor cages with hopes of a mouse or rat being tossed his way!

I thought I would share a few images from the Carolina Raptor Center
in Huntersville, N.C. outside of Charlotte. Last September my wife and I
visited CRC and can't wait to go back. It is truely an amazing place. Of
course there is Derek and Savannah who paired up in 1998 at CRC and
had their first eaglets in 2006. As you know they now have two more eaglets
in their nest. The Golden Eagle lives next door to Derek and Savannah. The
Kestrel is absolutely beautiful as is the Merlin. If you are ever in the Charlotte, N.C.
area I suggest a visit.

How wonderful that the eagles have hatched young in captivity. I would love to visit the CRC sometime! thank you Jim.

Our DNR has recently enacted a rule that pretty much prohibits any tours of rehab facilities, including educational. For not providing any funding to these special volunteers, they certainly provide so many barriers and complications.... just venting. I am okay now.

gigi, does DNR mean Depertment of Natural Resources and what are they thinking,
or are they not thinking. What goes on there?

Yes, it stands for Department of Natural Resources. And I have no idea what they are thinking. The bureaucrats have no idea of what goes on in the field in my opinion. Our local rehabbers are very upset, but it seems as if the powers that be do not consult them before making a half cocked decision based on who knows what. Too much government, in my humble opinion!

Well, gotta go take my blood pressure medicine before I pop!

Then we have the most wonderful employees in the field like John and Amy who do all the raptor tracking, etc., and they are truly the best in the world.