Update on Lead Poisoned Bald Eagles, American Kestrel Admitted



#005 today. Note the green colored mutes on the blanket behind her ( rt)  That green color is a signature color of a lead poisoned bird.



It was a quieter day today. Knowing what you have in the clinic is somehow easier than being surprised by critical cases. It was refreshing to find the Downy Woodpecker doing so well he was able to be in the outside aviary.  The American Goldfinch was singing today even as he recovers from his cat caused injuries.  His happy song put some perspective on the day.

The male #007 is doing better. He is not longer hypersensitive to stimulus, his seizures have stopped. He was given his injections today sub-Q in the chest to try to save the legs for future days. The injections of Ca -EDTA is destructive to body tissue, so we are careful to alternate sites. Both eagles need 2 a day for the first four days and then four days off. The time off is so the blood can circulate through the bones, where lead is stored, to integrate it into the blood again. Lead is chelated from the blood and that is how it works. It is an arduous process at best.
#007 even ate some muskrat today on his own. That was a surprise, but we tube fed him anyhow as he remains dehydrated. His lead level is still sky high so many things can still go wrong within the next few weeks. Lead poisoning can cause multi-organ failure and often does. We have learned to take the good with the bad and are cautiously optimistic for #007 while being vigilant for signs of problems.

The female #005 did not have a good day. She has developed cardiac failure. We worked hard with her today, hoping against hope that we can correct the heart issue. That can and has happened in past cases, but it is discouraging.  With cardiac failure, fluid builds around the heart.  We treat for that problem as if it were a separate illness. We have had excellent results with that process in many cases that were thought to be hopeless. She is such a stunning eagle and a great gentle soul. She needs some positive energy tonight.



#007 with Katie, Albert and Stacy after a blood test.




We admitted an American Kestrel with starvation today. The weather can be an issue for birds that have remained in the northwoods during the winter season. This winter has been a gentle one at least for us in WI. Several species have remained further north than normal. Cold snaps catch then unaware and causes nasty surprises. I think our new patient will be fine with a little food and a warm place to finish out the winter.

We had lots of calls today most with questions about wildlife in their woods. A sweet elderly lady found a Chukar by her bird feeder. We don't have Chukar here in WI except those that have escaped from game farms.  We sent a volunteer to see if he could give her a hand catching up the little guy. 

No news on any of the eagles reported in past days with trouble. We have a fresh snow today and wind so maybe tomorrow will be a better day to find them. Lets keep our hopes up they are found in time.

I continue with the end of year reports.  They are due on January 31st.  After that I will be able to hold a normal conversation.  Paperwork is my least favorite part of this work and yet there is lots of it. :(

Have a wonderful tomorrow everyone.

Marge Gibson











Busy Day with Six Admissions, Saw-whet Owl, Broad-winged hawk, Coopers Hawk, American Goldfinch, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Mourning Dove

( Photo: This adult male Coopers Hawk was admitted from the Mosinee area. He has stunning red eyes. He was shot illegally and has a wing fracture. )



(Photo: This Saw-whet Owl weighed only 54 grams when admitted.He has a broken wing. His prognosis is very good for a full recovery. )

We are often asked to describe a typical day here at REGI. The thing is, we don't have a "typical" day ever. Each day is new and different with both challenges and joys. A few days ago we took several more calls than usual after our normal hours. By morning we had five patients waiting for transport from the Wausau area. Oddly each patient has a broken wing.

The Saw-whet Owl above was likely hit by a car near Hatley, WI. He was in the middle of a highway when spotted by an alert driver. He has a wing fracture but has a great prognosis for a full recovery. That would not have been the case had he not been removed from the road. The tiny owl is also low in weight. Migration exhaustion could be the cause of his low nutrition. When birds migrate they lose weight. If the little one landed in another Saw-whet Owls territory ( breeding has started for this species) he would be chased out. Finding a comfortable place to hunt and relax is not as easy when resident birds are breeding.



( Photo: A cat got this male American Goldfinch. Cats mouths harbor deadly bacteria. Birds injured by cats need immediate antibiotic treatment if they are to survive.)

American Goldfinches are lovely little members of the finch family. Our most recent American Goldfinch is a brightly colored male. In the spring and summer we admit hundreds of cat caught passerines. This tragedy has an easy "fix" if only cat owners understood the importance of keeping their pet indoors, especially during this sensitive season. Adult birds are often killed while defending their nests or young. In the end it is not one bird killed by a cat, but the entire family if the parent is not longer there to feed babies.



( Photo: Lance Holm examines a Broad-winged Hawk with a wing fracture. )

Broad-winged Hawks travel as far as Argentine for the winter. We admitted an adult male with a broken wing. Broad-winged Hawks are fascinating. They are demure and chunky looking members of the buteo family just as Red-tailed Hawks. This patient likely just arrived from his winter migration when he was hit by a car.



( Photo: This male Yellow-bellied Sapsucker broke his wing, but is comfortable in captivity as he heals. He loves the hang out on a vertical perch and eats tons of waxworms. If you look close you can see a waxworm in his mouth. )

As always it is the public that finds these birds and brings them to us so they can have a second chance at life. Thanks everyone for stepping up and helping the wild ones when they are injured.

I have been occupied with the Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill. I will post news articles that ran during the past few days. I am on call to go to help out, but no one knows where the oil will come ashore or when. There are many more unknowns than solid facts at this point. We are organizing to respond when needed.

Going along with that thought. A friend, Ed Clark, posted the warning below on his blog. I will use it because he said it well.

"Many groups are soliciting fund to help oiled wildlife in the Gulf. WATCH OUT! The only group working this spill is Tri-State Bird Rescue and Research. They are being paid by BP! Others claiming to be caring for oiled wildlife are either not telling the truth, or doing something other than removing crude oil from ...feathers! Watch out for predatory fundraisers capitalizing on your compassion!"

Have a great day everyone.

Marge Gibson 2010