WILDLIFE CONSERVATION & REHABILITATION~2010 & 2011

beans · **Posted:** Sun Mar 27, 2011 2:29 pm

At IBRRC, we do not have education birds. It is strictly a research hospital, so no tours. I agree with this philosophy (for hospitals) because the patients are very sensitive to humans, whom they see as predators. This speeds up their heart rates and blood pressure and can delay or even prevent their healing.

At Lindsay, the Museum is separate from the hospital. The general public is encouraged to come to the Museum and see all of the exhibits, including the education birds. Trained volunteers give talks about individual birds. Children learn to respect wildlife and learn something about the animal's natural history.

gigi · **Posted:** Sun Mar 27, 2011 2:38 pm

Thanks beans. Part of our frustration is that to have a rehab license, we must do so many educational talks to meet the requirements. We mostly use film and slide shows and that is what we will have to do 100% of the time now. It is all for the protection and safety of the birds after all....

beans · **Posted:** Sun Mar 27, 2011 5:46 pm

beans wrote:

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….

Update on what is happening:

IBRRC is in receipt of the information I sent from Animal Services. Records have been checked, and this is what we found:

2011: 4 birds from the City dump (transfer station)

11-062 2/11 - Released 3/5
11-128 3/12 - Euthanized 3/20
11-130 3/14 - In care
11-145 3/23 - In care

2010: 3 birds from City dump (transfer station)

10-206 3/10 - Released 3/16
10-2351 9/10 - Released 9/23
10-2357 9/15 - Released 9/22

(This list does not include other birds we have picked up from this city)

Jay Holcomb now has the information he needs to open talks with the City authorities. He'll begin by sending emails (with the information) and suggest a meeting. I'll be invited to attend.

gigi · **Posted:** Sun Mar 27, 2011 6:04 pm

beans wrote:

Jay Holcomb now has the information he needs to open talks with the City authorities. He'll begin by sending emails (with the information) and suggest a meeting. I'll be invited to attend.

Great news about having the necessary data. Good luck to Jay when he makes his presentation. Thank you for the update beans.

kittenface · **Posted:** Sun Apr 10, 2011 10:22 pm

Pet Hummingbird...

This guy found this baby hummingbird after it was attacked, and he nursed it

back to health until it decided to stay and be his pet. Very charming video... and be sure to have your sound on.

http://www.wimp.com/babyhummingbird/

gigi · **Posted:** Sun Apr 10, 2011 11:24 pm

I saw that before, but sure enjoyed it all over again. Thanks KF! :smile:

beans · **Posted:** Thu Apr 14, 2011 1:08 pm

This is a look at the area of the spill today....

gigi · **Posted:** Fri Apr 15, 2011 10:45 am

It is indeed wonderful how this great immense planet was able to heal itself after such a tragedy with so little lasting effects. That being said, I hope we never have to experience that again - for both the wildlife and human toll, although short termed, was devastating.

kittenface · **Posted:** Mon Apr 25, 2011 10:23 am

You know I get at least 20 google alerts about Falcons and at least 6 a day anymore are about this and
I'll tell you it is starting to worry me but at least they are addressing it before it gets as bad as DDT

Peregrine falcons face new pollution threat
Traces of flame retardants found in falcon eggs from Spain and Canada

SusanE · **Posted:** Wed May 04, 2011 9:12 am

That's a depressing story. If it's in Canada, then it is undoubtedly in the U.S. At least researchers are aware and maybe something can be done before it is too late.

gigi · **Posted:** Wed May 04, 2011 9:36 am

And something like this is in the back of my mind as I watch the Indy falcons struggle this year....

obxbarb · **Posted:** Thu May 05, 2011 5:10 pm

And in Richmond as well. Really hoping they test samples from both nests.

gigi · **Posted:** Fri May 20, 2011 1:14 pm

I was not part of this rescue, but I thought it was an interesting story all the same.

As many of you know, I volunteer at For the Birds of Indiana

. Liz and Chris, who run it, are a wonderful English couple and each afternoon we break for tea and talk about all kinds of things. This is the story of 3 barn owls rescued several years ago. They arrived at a warehouse in downtown Indianapolis after being packed away in crates containing iron - 2 were in one crate together and 1 in a nearby crate by himself.

Well, when the workers unpackaged the iron, they were freaked out by these HUGE birds that were making all kinds of threatening noises. The Hattons were called and when Chris arrived he found scared barn owls chicks, hissing and swaying back and forth like they do. SCARY SCARY!!

This short video was taken before their release in southern Marion County.

beans · **Posted:** Fri May 20, 2011 2:00 pm

I'm so glad they were rescued and released. :sunsmile:

obxbarb · **Posted:** Fri May 20, 2011 10:26 pm

Its a barn owl ballet. So cute!!!

kittenface · **Posted:** Sat May 21, 2011 1:32 am

Ballet

that sweet middle one just could not get a grip on anything with that foot just slidin all over :laugh2

but serious that is a great story and so glad things worked out fine for them.

gigi · **Posted:** Tue May 24, 2011 8:29 pm

What to do if you find a baby bird and The Biggest Myth About Fallen Baby Birds
A great article and video on bird rescue by Dr. Karen Becker

As spring arrives in the Chicago area, once again my Natural Pet animal hospital is filling up with wild baby birds dropped off by well-intentioned people. These folks have come upon a baby out of its nest and felt their only option was to pick it up and take it with them.

Unfortunately, in many cases these baby birds weren't really rescued – they were kidnapped.

I'm re-running my video from last year and the accompanying article as a reminder to readers the steps to take if you encounter a baby bird out of its nest this spring.

Is the Bird You Just Found an Infant or a Preschooler?

Young birds usually fall into one of two categories:

Nestlings are baby birds that are featherless, with pink skin. They can't move around much or fly and they still need to be in the nest.
Fledglings are juvenile birds that are actually old enough to be out of the nest, but still too young to be competent fliers.

What to Do If You Find a Nestling

Nestlings (the featherless baby birds) are sometimes blown out of their nest on a windy day or during a storm. And sometimes, the whole nest comes down.

If you find a nestling, take the following steps:

1. Look around first to see if it fell from a nest that is still intact and in place. If the nest is still there, simply put the baby bird right back in it.

2. If the nest has been blown down or has fallen to the ground, you'll want to collect as much of the nest material from the ground as possible.

3. Next, get a plastic container the approximate size of the original nest or you can cut one to size. Put the nest material into the container and poke a few small holes in the bottom for drainage.
If there's no nest material left, you can substitute either an old wash cloth or other type of clean, dry cloth, or some clean paper towels.

4. Nail your nest container high up in the tree closest to where you found the nestling, and gently place the baby bird back into the nest.

5. From a distance, watch your homemade nest very closely and wait for the mother bird's return.

It is a myth that mother birds abandon baby birds touched by human hands.

Birds (excluding vultures) have a very poor sense of smell, so mama bird isn't likely to pick up your scent on her nestling! Rest assured the mother bird has invested time and energy into raising her baby, and nature will prompt her to continue until the baby bird can survive on its own.

You should feel very comfortable gently picking the nestling up and placing it back in the makeshift nest you've secured high up in the tree.

The Fledgling Stage

Instead of a little pink, featherless baby bird, you might run across one a bit older, a fledgling.

These are young birds that have outgrown the nest. Flying from the nest to the ground is instinctual in fledglings, but their landing and ground take off skills are still developing.

Fledglings spend several days to several weeks hopping around on the ground, learning hunting and foraging skills from their parents.

During this period in the fledgling's development, the mother bird is usually within calling distance of her youngster. She will return intermittently to feed the fledgling while it learns how to find its own food on the ground and continues to mature.

What NOT to Do If You Encounter a Fledgling

Fledglings are more often "kidnapped" than nestlings because people who find them hopping around on the ground alone assume they've been orphaned rather than blown out of their nest.

If you see a fledging, you might be tempted to capture it to get it out of harm's way.

You might look around for the young bird's parents, not finding them, you assume the baby is an orphan and you approach it.

It's rare, but there is a slight chance you could be dive bombed by a mother or father bird as you get close to their baby. If that should happen, it's your cue to leave the fledgling alone.

In most cases, however, you won't see or hear the parents. If you capture the baby to remove it to what you believe is a safer location, what you're unintentionally doing is kidnapping the fledging from its mother and interrupting its natural development.

What you want to do instead is simply keep pets and children away from the area where the fledging is hopping about.

The mother and father will continue to support their young bird from a distance and within a relatively short time the fledgling will develop the breast musculature and feathers it needs to fly away to its life as an adult bird.

How to React in an Emergency

There are a few situations which are genuine emergencies and you'll need to intervene to save the life of the nestling or fledgling you've found.

If you find a nestling, have followed the steps I outlined above, and the mother bird hasn't returned to the nest within a day or so, do the following:

1. Prepare a shoebox with some soft nesting material (clean, dry cloths or paper towels).

2. Retrieve the baby bird from the makeshift nest and gently place it in the shoebox. You may also be able to remove the homemade nest from the tree and place it with the bird into the shoebox.

3. Put the shoebox in a warm, quiet area of your home. Don't attempt to feed the baby bird.

4. Contact your veterinarian, your local humane society or federally licensed wildlife rehabilitator for further guidance. The National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association (NWRA) has a website at http://www.nwrawildlife.org where you can find links to directories for local wildlife rehab organizations or individuals.

If you find an injured baby bird or one that appears cold, weak, unable to move well or is otherwise debilitated, very carefully move it to a shoebox prepared as described above. Again, don't try to feed it, and contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator immediately for further guidance.

Should You Keep It?

Many people who rescue a wild baby bird are tempted to keep it and raise it themselves. There are a few problems with that approach.

First you need to be aware that not all birds are alike.

Nutritional requirements depend on what species the bird is. For example, some species of baby birds eat worms and bugs.

But if the baby bird in your care is a seed-eater, worms can be toxic. (That's why I warn against feeding a bird you've rescued before you contact a licensed professional to determine next steps.)

It's crucial that you know not only the species of bird, but also its metabolic requirements and what it can safely eat. This is information you should only get from a licensed professional. Guessing at the species of a baby bird or what it can eat can quite literally be deadly.

And did you know it's against the law to raise wildlife without a license?

If you're interested in becoming a licensed wildlife rehabilitator, you can get more information on that subject, as well, at http://www.NWRAWildlife.org.

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

Thanks for posting all that great information, gigi...(knock on wood) I haven't found any babies on the ground this season. I'm gonna take that as a positive sign and not think about the alternatives!!!

SusanE · **Posted:** Fri May 27, 2011 7:03 pm

Loved the owl video, gigi, and thanks for that very informative article about what to do if one finds a baby bird on the ground.

Elaine · **Posted:** Mon Jun 13, 2011 5:14 pm

I read what Gigi said about wildlife rescue, and I am glad she posted it here, as it bears repeating. Our Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre (WRC) here in Edmonton, Alberta (Canada) advises the same, and tries to get the message out regularly to the community. Until last year, I worked as a volunteer at our WRC, which focuses on bird rehabilitation. They do a very good job, even when they are overwhelmed, as happened two years ago when all the birds that landed on a tailings pond in northern Alberta (where the oilsands are located) were rescued, and brought to the Centre for cleaning. The WRC did its best, but the majority of birds died. This Centre would like to do more for other injured wildlife, but our government does not allow them to rescue or rehabilitate larger wildlife, which is so discouraging.

I have been meaning to post on this Forum for such a long time. My only excuse is that as I have been spending so much time at the Manitoba Falcon Forum, I forgot to participate here at BCAW. But here I am. Finally, I must say that after reading so many posts on this Forum over the past few weeks, I am humbled by the range of knowledge, expertise and caring on BCAW. I am so glad this Forum exists. Wildlife Conservation is without a doubt at the core of my existence, and I am glad that I am not the only one who cares so much.

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WILDLIFE CONSERVATION & REHABILITATION~2010 & 2011

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