Patients Big and Small, Warblers, Great-Horned Owl Trapping Injury, Excellent News on Sandhill Crane Patients

It has been awhile since I updated our blog. We have been very busy with a huge variety of patients. We are also in the process of editing our newest newsletter.



( Photo: Warbler hatchlings are very tiny.)

Looking over the last week's photos, it comes to me that I may have to change the format of the blog, if only for these crazy summer days. There are days when we have admitted 10-15 patients a day. I will do more posting of photos with captions that tell the story so we can keep everyone informed better on our daily work.



( Photo: Irrigating the foot injury on a Great-horned Owl that was caught in a jaw trap is an important first step with trapped birds to better see the extent of the injury.
Interns look on from Left to Rt. Jen Rothe, Katie Rymer, Karissa Mohr and REGI staffer Lance Holm.)




( Photo: The trap caught only one toe in this older female Great-horned Owl.)



( Photo: Our summer interns learn how to restrain a Great-horned Owl to provide care in the event you are alone in the clinic when the patient arrives. This wrap we affectionately call the "burrito wrap". If you have ever eaten a burrito, the reasons are obvious.)






(Photo: Our Sandhill Crane patients are now housed together so the adult can function as a foster parent to the youngster. The cast on the leg of the chick in this photo is not off. The leg healed perfectly.)

Great news on our Sandhill Crane patients. The baby admitted when she was only 23 days old with a leg fracture has her cast off and has healed perfectly. More good news for this little family. The adult Sandhill Crane admitted with a leg fracture several weeks ago is now working as the foster parent for the young colt. It is a match made in heaven for both patients. The adult is happy as she was taken from her youngsters when she was injured, and the little patient is delighted with having a "mom" back. With a foster parent the chick will remain a wild crane. We are currently gathering information from crane experts on reuniting the young crane with her biological family.

Back with you soon. We are sure to have another busy day with tours, patients to feed and care for, and new patients to stretch our learning curve.


Marge Gibson 2010