Catching Up and Patients Continue to Arrive

The worst part about taking vacation is getting back to mounds of work. Work doesn't take a vacation but should. I am going to do a memo next time!



( Photo: Barred Owl hit by a car in Mosinee has made great progress.)

While I was gone several patients were admitted. This is a slower time of the year as we don't have any babies to feed, but accidents continue to happen on a regular basis.

The Barred Owl pictured above was hit by a car near Mosinee. Someone stopped on the highway and put her in their trunk. Imagine their surprise when they got to work, opened the trunk to show co-workers and get help for the owl, and the bird, now conscious, jumped out in the parking lot of FED EX in Mosinee. The Marathon County Sheriff Department called REGI to alert us to the situation. I am grateful to this fine agency. We are located over an hour from the site, and they are excellent about responding to evaluate. They let us know if we need to come out or if they were able to capture the bird and only require transport. Education Director Steve Fisher lives the closest to the site. He got a VERY early morning call to "re-rescue" the owl. Steve wears many hats around here! He never knows when that next phone call will come or what adventure it will bring. The poor Barred Owl was standing but not able to fly and would not have survived had she been left in the parking lot. She had lots of drama in her life that early morning.

The exam after admission revealed blood in her mouth and one ear. That indicated a head and chest injury with some bleeding in the lungs. We are delighted to report that not only has she done well but may be coming out of critical care today and start the next phase of her rehabilitation.



( Photo: The Bald Eagle that was hit by a car is "STANDING".)

The Bald Eagle hit by a car last week is improving. We had another little "surprise" in his blood work. I will update that in the next blog.

In my last blog I commented that wild birds have to be perfect to survive. One reader sent me an email to ask if my comment diminished the need for our work. NO, it surely doesn't. Most of our patients come to REGI through human-caused events: being hit by a car, window collision, illegally shot, poisoned ( usually accidentally when people are trying to kill insects or rodents) and similar situations. A few year ago we saw "illness" in otherwise perfectly healthy birds but that was a rare situation. West Nile Virus, an emerging disease in the U.S. at that time, takes advantage of even the strongest immune system because no natural immunity yet exists. That is one reason we are careful with the likes of Avian Influenza ( A.I. ), for instance, and continue to test for it in target species.



( Photo: This beautiful Red-tailed Hawk is wrapped in what we call our "burrito wrap". I coined the phrase many years ago and notice it is now widely used in the raptor world. )

The truth is we don't "repair" birds that have what may be "genetic" problems.
While we don't get many, there have been some that for whatever reason should not breed in the wild. The chance of weakening the species is simply too great. Many of those birds are kept for educational purposes or placed in zoos or wildlife centers.

Off and running.
Have a great day everyone.

Marge Gibson © 2010

Home Again, My Vacation Filled with Birds

( Photo: Ring-billed Gull on the Florida coast.)

I took a little time off to get some sun and re balance before spring hits. From today forward I will not have a day off until late August.

Wildlife rehabilitation is a hard job and not only physically. It is hard to care for critically injured birds constantly. Most people don't realize that in wildlife rehabilitation there is no such thing as an 8 hour day. Dealing with injured or critical patients is just like any hospital. You can't just go home after your shift. With non-profits like REGI, the funds are not there to hire adequate staff AND give excellent medical care and quality food and housing for the patients. I am the Executive Director, but I am also the one that does the after hours care 24-7. Getting away even for a few days, is a very good thing.

I am a source of frustration for my family when on vacation . Birds somehow invade my life even when I am suppose to be enjoying green trees, blooming flowers and family. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE spending time with my family and the green grass, flowers and all those other things, but when most people see a lovely pine tree, I see the Red-shouldered Hawk beginning courtship behavior IN the tree. Most people see three Sandhill Cranes on the roadside. I see a pair of adult Sandhills and their colt from last year. The adults, preparing their youngster in earnest, to be on his own, as their new breeding season approaches.

We went on a fantastic air boat ride. We had the opportunity to see incredible wildlife. Introducing our grandson to this beautiful habitat and the birds and animals that populate it, was a thrill I will never forget. As wonderful as it is to educate the public...



( Photo: An American Alligator didn't move fast enough for my camera in this photo. )

Then, as quickly as the alligators plunged into the river, I saw Purple Gallinules wandering the same marshes. If everyone has plenty of food available sharing the same habitat isn't an issue. It does keep the population strong. The weak do not survive. They especially do not survive to breed. That in itself keeps the genetics of wild animals absolute perfection. While we may have a little catch in our throat about that reality, it is as it should and needs to be to maintain a strong and viable wild population.



( Photo: A Great-blue Heron ( look hard in the center) stands on a clump of dead grass hunting while several alligators lounge in the waters below him. It gives a whole new meaning to the term, " You snooze, you lose".



( Photo: Black Vultures sit on the bank waiting for the remains of the alligators last meal to become available.)

So, that is how it was. It was a great time with my terrific family. I got a little sunshine, in a year when sun has not been in abundance in Florida. But, no matter where I go or what I do, birds always fill every one of my senses. I think that is a good thing. Seeing birds wild and strong, refocuses me on the importance of our work and making sure when our patients leave REGI they are perfect in every way and back to 100%. They have to be to survive and thrive in their complex natural world.



( Photo: A non-bird I couldn't resist. )

So, I am home. The blog will be back up to speed now.
Remembering my late mothers birthday today. She would have been 98 today.
Have a great day everyone.

Marge Gibson © 2010

Klondike Days Keeps the Education Department Busy

(Steve talks to a group about the Western Red-tailed Hawk.)

It has been a busy week for the education department at REGI. REGI Education Director Steve Fisher and I presented information about REGI and our raptors as part of Klondike Days in Eagle River, WI. Some of you may have seen us there. Steve and I spent Saturday meeting with the public, and Steve's wife Evie joined him at the REGI display on Sunday. If you are not familiar with it, Klondike Days is a two-day winter festival in northern Wisconsin. The weather was beautiful, in the low 30's, and drew people out by the thousands!

This year was the 20th anniversary of Klondike Days. The events were numerous and included dog sled racing, lumberjack competitions, ice carving, Native American cultural expositions, a traditional Voyaguer encampment, and so much more. It was all of the best of the Northwoods in the winter. REGI could be found in the high school field house, along with other educational programming opportunities and a craft show. It was great to meet some of our fellow wildlife educators from the Northwoods Wildlife Center.

We were kept busy from the time we arrived until we left. The flow of people was constant while we had an average of 20-30 people at our booth from 9am-4pm. We estimated that on Saturday alone we spoke with well over 500 people, though likely many more, as they estimate the number of visitors to around 10,000 for each Klondike Days weekend! We brought a variety of birds with us. Of course we brought our old veteran, our Western Red-tailed Hawk. She has done so many programs with us and always is the consummate professional. But we also brought owls and falcons each day. As educators we are always happy to get out into the public and talk about how amazing raptors are and about REGI's role in helping people understand the important issues surrounding them.

We all went home at night exhausted but happy. We had such a great weekend! We have a couple more big events coming up in the next few weeks. We will be at the International Owl Festival March 6-7 in Houston, MN and at the National Eagle Center on March 13-14 in Wabasha, MN. Maybe we will see some of you there!

(Right: Steve speaks with some children about the Peregrine Falcon.)

-Molly McKay
Environmental Education Coordinator

Bald Eagle Caught in "Wolf Cam" is a REGI KID!

( Photo: From a video put out to get photos of wolves, came this surprise! # 76-76-76 was a patient at REGI in 2002.)

A few days ago I received an email from DNR biologists Ron Eckstein and Pat Manthey. They had received some photos of a banded Bald Eagle. I band the Bald Eagles released after recovery at REGI, so they included me in a thread of several other folks to identify the leg band. Tim Wilder, serving the military at Fort McCoy, WI sent the following note to the DNR along with several photos of the eagle from his video cam.

"I thought I would let you know that I got photos of a banded bald eagle.

For several years I have been getting wolf photos using a trail camera baited with road-killed deer. Though I normally get a good number of wolf photos – I get hundreds of eagle photos. The other day I got numerous photos of an eagle with bands on each leg. The band on its right leg has the numbers 676 visible in some of the photos – assume that is not all of the numbers.

Anyway – thought I would let you know but assume there is no way to track down who would have done the banding and where the bird was banded."

Happily, Tim could not be further from the truth. The USFWS is very careful about following all banded or marked birds. Records are kept at the Bird Banding Lab in Laurel, Maryland. If you find a banded bird you can call and report the band number. You will be notified as to when and where the bird was banded and even who banded it. This is true for all kinds of birds from tiny finches to and through Trumpeter Swans and Bald Eagles. We are so lucky that our former patient was identified.



( Photo: "Hey, I think I might be on camera!")

I wish the photo quality was a bit better in the blog, but trust me the original were terrific and the band was very clearly a black band with white letters with the numbers 76-76-76 on the right leg. I was elated. The Band Permit Holder is Sergej Postupalsky of Madison and the eagle was banded by Joe Papp, an Eagle Biologist that worked in the Upper Peninsula of MI for many years. Sergej shared the following from his field notes:

This bird has an interesting history: Notes received from Marge at the time indicate that she had received it on 5/26/02 as a 4-week old nestling from “Hwy D Plainfield, WI.” For history she said: “Nest down, erected new nest,but parents gone. No response ” The eaglet was taken to Raptor Education Group, Inc in Antigo and put with a foster parent Bald Eagle to recover from injured suffered in the fall and until a wild nest could be located for fostering. Eaglet was fostered into a nest containing a single eaglet of matching size at Cisco Lake (Go 03), Gogebic County, Michigan, on 6/05/02.

( Photo: Guess who? Eaglet, no known as 76-76-76 when admitted to REGI was cold and wet having come down in a driving rain storm that downed trees in Wood County. She was dumped a river and nearly drown. A resident of the area rescued her and got her to REGI. )

We are always thrilled to receive information on former patients. This was a special day to find that this tiny eaglet survived her injuries but, was raised well at REGI by a foster parent Bald Eagle ( Miriam) and was not imprinted to humans during her stay at REGI. The wild eagles that were given an extra "bonus" chick cared for her well and now some eight years later she is alive, well and very beautiful.

Thanks to Tim, Ron, Pat and Sergij for sharing the information with us.

Go 76-76-76 and we hope you live many more years and continue to do well in the wild where is exactly where we want you to stay!

Have a great day everyone.

Marge Gibson © 2010

Bald Eagle Admitted Hit by Car, Update on Great-horned

( Photo: Carefully lifting the Bald Eagle from the transport box. We don't want to make a medical situation worse with aggressive handling when a patient presents after being hit by a car. )

This afternoon we received a call from Stockbridge-Munsee Tribal Warden Will Miller. He had just picked up an adult Bald Eagle that had been hit by a car. We prepared for the patient's arrival in the clinic while Warden Miller rushed the eagle to REGI.



( Photo: The Bald Eagle is weighed on arrival to assure he was not underweight. Aprill puts the information in his medical records.)

The eagle had internal bleeding, so a minimum physical was done. We will put him on rest for about 12 hours to allow the bleeding to stop before we manipulate his body any further. There are many medical problems including fractures we can fix tomorrow, but first we have to have a living patient to work with.

I will check on him every few hours throughout the night to assure he continues to do well and does not need additional care.



( Photo: The Great-horned Owl trapped in the leg hold trap on Friday is a beautiful owl with long ear tufts and a gentle but serious demeanor. )



( Photo: The Great-horned Owl trapped in a leg hold trap on Friday has his leg soaked in very warm water to stimulate circulation to the foot. )



( Photo: The owl has a way to go for the foot to recover from the trapping injury, but it looks a lot better that a few days ago. )



( Photo: Aprill and Jen, both students at UWSP, worked the weekend. Here they are today cutting up meat to feed the birds... what else would they be doing? :) There is ALWAYS lots of meat to cut up for raptor dinners.)

Off for the night. Lots to do tomorrow. Have a good tomorrow everyone.

Marge Gibson © 2010

Leg Hold Trapping Again, Well Again:))

The good news today is we are all feeling better. Molly is still fighting a Upper Respirtory Infection, but the rest of us have survived. Why is it when you are sick you feel like you will never be well again?


( Photo: DNR Warden Jim Horne, with the Great-horned Owl he rescued from a leg-hold trap and transported to REGI on Thursday afternoon. )

Sad news last night when DNR Warden Jim Horne brought in a Great-horned Owl that had been caught in a leg hold trap meant for a fox. It is a beautiful young male owl. Jim took the owl from the trap himself and wrapped it in his jacket in an effort to slow the heavy bleeding from the leg. That is dedication. The State of WI is blessed to have great wardens such as Jim looking after our wildife.


( Photo: The left leg of the Great-horned Owl was caught in the double spring trap. The heavy bleeding indicates an artery may have been nicked. )

The owl is resting quietly now. He was given fluids to try to replace the blood loss.
We will have to wait and see how much circulation to the foot has been compromised. There is some discoloration now, but hopefully we can save him. He is still in shock but we are always hopeful. The leg itself does not appear to be broken and that is a good thing.



( Photo: Katie prepares to wash the owl's leg, so we have a better view of the injury. )

A group of Snow Buntings appeared yesterday. I couldn't help but wonder if the little one we released last weekend was among them. They are preparing to move north for breeding.

With all the snow and cold temperatures in the southern part of the U.S., I worry about the birds that are beginning to think about coming back to their natal area for breeding.

That is all for today. We have lots to catch up on after having a week of flu.

Have a good day everyone.

Marge Gibson © 2010

Updates on Trapping Injured Eagles and Flu Overtakes Us

We have been hit with a round of cold and flu here at REGI including me. I thought we had escaped the viruses this year and then ... a sniffle started, then one employee after another went down like a wave.

I do have some great news and updated photos of some of the Bald Eagles that had trapping injuries. I will share those and hope tomorrow I have a little more stamina to write.



( Photo: The Bald Eagle we call "Trapper" continues to improve. You can see his foot ( L.) is still swollen and not 100% functional, but he has not lost any toes and is using the leg well.)




( Photo: Bald Eagle from the Town of Texas in Marathon County that was caught in a coyote trap. )

We are cautiously optimistic about both of these eagles, but recovery will be an extended period, as not only the tissue has to mend, but also blood routes reestablished in the affected legs and feet, as well as nerves that were severely damaged.

Sadly, we lost the lead-poisoned Bald Eagle a few nights ago. Lead wins another one. I wish the folks who think lead is not a problem in our environment could spend a few days with us at REGI.


( Photo: Adult Bald Eagle dying of lead poisoning. )

I am off to get some sleep and try to get over this monster virus that lurks.

Wash your hands everyone::). Stay well!

Marge Gibson © 2010

Snow Bunting Released, Northern Cardinal Better, Barred Owl with Fractured Mandible, Volunteers

( Photo: Snow Bunting admitted in early January with a wing fracture was released today.)

It was a busy Saturday, but a beautiful day here in Northern Wisconsin.

We released our beautiful Snow Bunting that came in with a wing fracture in early January. The beautiful visitor from the north, healed well. He was flying so well in fact that he gave Lance and Abby a work out when they tried to catch him up from the flight aviary for his release. I said he was released but that is not quite accurate. While we were taking photos of him just before the release, he grew impatient and decided to exit from my hand before we were ready with the camera. Oh well, the important thing is he is a free bird tonight and will be making the trek back north soon for breeding.


( Photo: Northern Cardinal admitted on Jan 31st was well enough to go into a indoor aviary and out of intensive care.)

The Northern Cardinal in the photo above has done so well. He came in with a dog bite. He has a few serious days in intensive care but turned the corner yesterday and today was so active we tried him in the aviary. He is a little underweight so will remain in an indoor aviary until he gets his weight back to normal range and then will be released. Yea!!

We had some great help when volunteers Joe Krumrie and Abby Ruppert both students from UWSP came up for the day. Both are experienced with raptors and helped do some handling and made some jesses for the education birds. Thanks to both Joe and Abby for their time today. We got a lot of work done and it is always fun to talk to students that are interested in birds.


( Photo: Joe Krumrie works with our Gyrfalcon/Prairie Falcon while Abby Ruppert holds Aries our Broad winged Hawk.)



( Photo: Joe and Abby made jesses for our Screech Owl. Joe puts them on the little guy while Lance holds him.)


( Photo: The handsome Screech Owl has his first lesson in being glove trained.)

This is the same Screech Owl that was shot a few weeks ago. His wing injury was so severe that he will not be able to fly again. He continues to have vision problems. Since he will not be able to be wild again, his next option is be spend his life as an education bird. To find out if he agrees with that opportunity and doesn't mind captivity he has to do through a training phase first.
Not all birds are comfortable enough for captive placement, but he did real well today.


( Photo: This Barred Owl has a split lower mandible. )

We admitted an adult Barred Owl. This is an interesting case and one are working to repair. The owls lower mandible is split in two parts. As you an imagine she is unable to eat well on her own and has to be tube fed or fed small strips of meat. We will be trying a new technique to repair the beak tomorrow morning. I will let you know how it goes.


( Photo: Bald Eagle with Lead Poisoning is still fighting for her life. The green droppings are one of the indications of lead poisoning and is a sign of liver failure. )

The Bald Eagle with lead poisoning is continue to fight for her life and we are not going to give up on her as long as she is willing to keep trying. She is very sick, but such a beautiful and strong female eagle I remain hopeful until she is no longer.

Have a good tomorrow everyone.

Marge Gibson © 2010

U-Tube Video of Sunday's Eagle Release

I just became aware of a U-Tube video posted by the fine folks at Four Lakes Wildlife Center in Madison. It is of the REGI Bald Eagle Release on Sunday January 31, 2010. Many thanks to Lori Connor and Bill Wright for taking the video and posting it. It is so good to have such a terrific group in the Madison area caring for wildlife. It was not so long ago Madison's injured wildlife had no place to go. In 2002 Four Lakes Wildlife Center was developed and we are grateful. They did a lovely blog entry on REGI and other Wildlife Centers in WI. That spirit of cooperation and professionalism is a wonderful thing. Check them out at Four Lakes Wildlife Blog.

All of the eagles released on Sunday January 31, 2010 came in with wing fractures. Additionally the adult eagle had lead poisoning as well when admitted.

The youngest eagle (released second --dark colored eagle) was shot soon after she left her nest in July. She had a fracture of the right wing. Some folks commented she didn't fly well after release. That isn't factual. She flew over the river and then came back circling several times. She seemed fascinated by the open water. She touched her wings to the water, and that is something often see adults do when released. So, she was a bit overconfident, not under, but it is hard to tell that unless you were in attendance.

The adult had a wing fracture as well as lead poisoning. We see secondary injuries in lead poisoning cases. The lead poisoning causes the birds to be disoriented due to the neurotoxin. They can fly into objects, trees, etc., or even cars before they become too weak to fly.

The 3-4 yr-old female Bald Eagle (mottled in color) is from Marathon County and was found in a corn field by some landowners. Tom Meyers DNR Biologist from Mead Wildlife Center rescued her. She is one big lady bird. Females are larger than males in most raptors. She is an example of how much larger they can be.


Very busy here last night and today, but will be back to you soon.

Marge

New Patients Keep Coming In Including a lead Poisoned Bald Eagle, Northern Cardinal, House Finch and Barred Owls

( Photo: This adult female Bald Eagle came from the Tigerton area and has lead poisoning and serious additional complications as a result of the lead poisoning.)

I've been up much of the night with a very critical Bald Eagle suffering from lead poisoning. Forgive me if the blog lacks energy this morning.

In a week when we are releasing many recovered patients, we continue to admit others. Much of the weekend was spent doing exit physicals and driving to release the 3 Bald Eagles near Madison. However, 6 new patients came in as well on the weekend. As exciting as the releases are, we can never forget the new patients back at the clinic.



( Photo: This Northern Cardinal was in the wrong place at the wrong time when a dog grabbed him. Fortunately the dog's owner got the bird from the dog and brought it to REGI.)

House Finch conjunctivitis is a problem we see every winter. It is a contagious disease that affects a few species of small finches. Those that we see the most often are include Pine Siskins, Goldfinches and House Finches. The House Finch in the photos below is suffering with the condition. She has recovered, but we want to make sure she will not be contagious to other wild birds before she is released. We keep up with the most current data on the subject of wildlife disease. Some feel the disease continues to be contagious after it resolves in the original patient, others suggest it is not. We will evaluate the situation and the newest information before this bird is released to the wild. We never want to jeopardize the wild population.



( Photo: A House Finch with conjunctivitis was admitted from the Marshfield area. )


( Photo: The House Finch in a photo yesterday is looking much better and eating on her own. )


( Photo: This Barred Owl was hit by a car in Portage County.)

Barred Owls are some of the most beautiful of the owl family. With their large, deep brown eyes and gentle demeanor they are "easy patients". Sometimes it is nice, especially on more challenging days, to have an "easy patient" in the mix. I found myself smiling while caring for this Barred Owl last night even with the stress of the eagle overwhelming the night.


( Photo: Tube feeding the one of two Barred owls that came in, both hit by cars.)

There is so much to catch up on. I will do the next chapter on the eagle release soon I promise.

Have a peaceful day everyone.

Marge Gibson © 2010

Marge Gibson Named a "Person of the Decade" in North Central Wisconsin

We are proud to announce our Executive Director, Marge Gibson, was named one of the "persons of the decade" in North-Central Wisconsin. On Sunday, January 31, the Wausau Daily Herald published a special section honoring 50 people in our region who have been influential and have had a important, positive impact during the past decade. (link below) We here at REGI are proud and happy that Marge Gibson was included in that select group. We know how hard Marge works and how deeply passionate she is about birds. We know that she is committed to the importance of education, using the birds as ambassadors and educational partners to explain the environmental issues affecting all of us. We see her work tirelessly to promote understanding of problems that all birds encounter, and to compassionately care for each individual bird brought to REGI with her unique, caring expertise.


( Photo: During an eagle release this past Sunday January 31, 2010 on the lower Wisconsin River. )

Marge has influenced people world wide as well as in our area. Her enthusiasm and strong sense of purpose are clearly evident to everyone she meets, and her passion brings out the best in all of us who know and work with her. From all of us on the staff here at REGI, we say congratulations, Marge, for a well-deserved honor. We know what a special, truly influential, person she is.

A link to the article is below.
http://www.wausaudailyherald.com/ic/wdhpod.shtml



Steve Fisher
REGI Education Director


( Photo: Marge Gibson while doing field research on Bald Eagles in Alaska in 1989.)

Eagles Released at Lower Wisconsin River Site (Chapter #1 of Three)

Male adult Bald Eagle when he was rescued in August of 2009. He was suffering from lead poisoning and a fractured wing when found in a swamp and deep woods. The eagle never would have survived had it not been for a concerned citizen, Ron Drayler. Ron found the eagle while surveying some land. He then raced to the closest phone to call REGI for help. The eagle's rescue photos are below photos of his joyful release.)



( Photo: A nice crowd gathered near Sauk City, WI, to celebrate the release of three Bald Eagles, including this adult Bald Eagle found injured in August near Wausau.)


( Photo: The Bald Eagle was able to give a great group of senior citizens from The Pines Assisted Living an up-close and personal view of his magnificence minutes before his release. - Since the residents were not able to brave the cold temperatures, we went to them in the bus. Photo by: Arlene Sykora)



( Photo: One last view of the adult Bald Eagle seconds before he opened his wings under his own power and began a new phase of his life.)



(Photo: Free again, this adult male Bald Eagle takes his first wing beats in the wild since he was rescued near Wausau, WI in August 2009. Photo by: Bill Wright)



(Photo: The day in August when I was able to capture the injured and sick Bald Eagle from a swamp and wooded area near Wausau, WI. A very excited Ron Drayler signals REGI interns that we captured the eagle. It took a few hours of wading the swamp, but success that day assured this eagle would live to fly again.)


( Photo: Ron Drayler looking very pleased we were able to rescue the Bald Eagle he found dying in a wooded/swamp area. I just look very tired after tromping the swamp and swatting mosquitoes for over an hour to rescue the eagle.)

It takes so many people to make a success like this possible. We can rehabilitate Bald Eagles, but without people to find them and alert us to their situation, they would die without have a second chance at life. Ron made a difference for this eagle, but so can each one who reads this blog. You never know when you can become a hero to wildlife. Notice that this Bald Eagle suffered from Lead poisoning as so many do. Lead Poisoning is fatal without exception unless the bird is treated with chelating agents. Lead poisoning is something that every person can do something about. Thanks, Ron, for your part in this story.

Ron shared that his son will soon be leaving for deployment to Iraq. We join the family in their pride for their son's duty to our country.

Another Chapter, another story and release is coming up tomorrow.

Have a wonderful day everyone.

Marge Gibson © 2010