Whirlwind Few Days, Bald Eagle Hit by Car, Barred Owl Release, American Woodcock Chick Admitted, Volunteers

( Photo: This adult Bald Eagle was hit by a car near Neillsville, WI. She has a spinal injury, but is moving her legs today. It is less than 24 hours after admission so we remain hopeful.)

What a fast-paced few days it has been! I can hardly remember it all, let alone write about everything.

The adult Bald Eagle in the photo above was found by a citizen near the side of a road. The location indicates the eagle was hit by a car. Wild creatures are unable to tell us what happened to them, so we put pieces of evidence together just like CSI:). Well, maybe not just like CSI, but you get the picture. That's why we ask lots of questions of those finding our wild patients. Our admission form has questions not only about where the bird was found, but the circumstances. The information helps us figure out what happened so we can understand and respond correctly. We don't know for sure what happened, of course, unless someone observes the bird being injured or gunshot residue exists or there are other indications.



( Photo: Alberta with the Barred Owl that was released on Tuesday night. The photo was taken a few days after he was admitted in early March.

The photo above shows a beautiful Barred Owl soon after he was admitted to REGI. He had been hit by a car near Mosinee. Rose Shelley found the owl. She scooped him off the street and put him in her trunk. He was near death. Rose knew it was his best chance of survival. His story quickly became an odyssey that includes the Mosinee Police Department, REGIs own Education Director Steve Fisher, and the employees of Fed Ex in Mosinee.

The first call REGI received was from a very excited Fed Ex employee saying an owl had been in someone's trunk, but when they opened the trunk, out popped a very dizzy owl. The Mosinee Police Department responded. Steve Fisher was quickly on his way as well. It all ended well when they were able to contain the owl and Steve transported him to REGI for care. We get lots of "interesting calls" at REGI. Often they are given in a kind of excited "shorthand" with important facts being left out until later.

We were very happy to let Rose and a group her friends release this owl back to the wild after he made a full recovery at REGI. It is so good to know there are people like Rose that care about wild ones when they are injured. Thanks Rose, Fed Ex employees, Mosinee Police Department, and REGI staff.



( Photo: Rose Shelley and friends prepare to release the Barred Owl that was hit by a car near Mosinee on March 2, 2010. We know the photo is blurred but it is the only one we have. sorry::( )



( Photo: A day-old American Woodcock chick was admitted last night. It is shown in a brooder that mimics what its natural habitat would look like.)

The Doering family of Merrill called yesterday evening to say they found an strange little bird on their lawn with no sign of an adult. They tried to put it in the woods but it followed the children in the family back to the house. It was likely lost from its family. The family quickly drove to REGI to get the little one care.

We are grateful when we are able to admit chicks soon after they are found. Youngsters are not able to thermo-regulate, keep themselves warm, without an adult. They always need a brooder or incubator. Our thanks to this great family for getting this little one help.

American Woodcock are secretive birds. They eat earthworms for the most part from the forest floor. They can be challenging to raise to release, but we have great success with them. It is important to make sure they feel comfortable with their environment or they will not survive. We take great pains to provide a natural "habitat" for them from day one. Can you see the woodcock chick in the photo below? It is on the left of the photo.



( Photo: The "brooder" American Woodcock habitat from above. It is a Rubbermaid container with natural leaf litter. Even the water dish has small stones to allow for safe foot placement for the chick. The legs of gallinaceous birds splay easily when on any slick surface. Splayed legs can result in a crippled bird. )



( Photo: Check out that long beak on this tiny American Woodcock. The beak is delicate and flexible to probe worms from the soil.)



( Photo: Super volunteer Dave Koch was back yesterday to continue repairs on our Peregrine Falcon enclosure. Dave brought Scott Breneman, a recently retired science teacher, to help with the project. Many thanks to both Dave and Scott for your help. It means so much to us.)

The repair work continues on the REGI compound. After twenty years we have lots to repair. We sure could use more volunteers to help with repairs, painting, and the like. While our work with the birds is important, we need to have our cages in good repair to continue to do good work with the birds. If you are interested in helping call Molly at 715-623-2563.

In case you noticed the time I began this blog, from this time on through summer I will be up at least part of the night tending baby birds. It is a long process from nestling to release of a healthy adult.: ) If you know someone who is interested in feeding baby birds, please give Molly a call.

Have a great day everyone.

Marge Gibson © 2010

American Woodcock Release, Mallards Released,

( Photos: This is our former "baby" American Woodcock, now grown just moments before its release to the wild.
Included are #1 the "baby" picture, #2 The now grown woodcock after its physical and then #3 just as he is being released into the forest.)

There is nothing that makes a day brighter than when we have the chance to release some of our patients back to the wild where they were meant to be. Updating their category as "former patients" is a task we are happy to do.

Katie drove to get this little one after a cat grabbed it near Tomahawk. Woodcocks have such fascinating life histories we were absorbed by the little one from the first day. From my perspective, admitting unusual species when the interns are with us,gives them additional research to do and adds to their preparedness for a life working with wildlife.

( Photo: Aprill, Lance, Natasha and Katie were all smiles after the release. We were all still in the forest, perfect Woodcock habitat.)


I wrote about the adult Woodcock being with this youngster in past blogs entries. Unfortunately we were not able to release the adult with the youngster, but he was 100% ready to be a wild bird and was happy to show us upon release. While we were trying to get photos in the deep forest, he took off flying fast in an effort to put as much space between us and him as possible.

Selecting perfect release habitat is very important to the success of the birds. If released in poor habitat with poor food availability or with strong weather looming can spell disaster for the former patient. Interns learn the importance of the entire process at REGI.





( Photos: Mallard ducks now, grown and flying were released by Natasha, Lance and Alberta on the Red River.
My joyous crew offers a goodbye wave to the mallards now happily seeking the rest of their life.)

When four Mallard Duck ducklings were admitted on May 2 ( see blog for that day) our hearts went out to them. They were pulled from a sewer by a Wausau Police Officer having fallen there following their mother to water on the day of their hatch.

They grew fast and did perfectly during the past seven weeks. It was time for them to be on their own. They were raised by a female Mallard Duck patient for several weeks and were definitely not happy with being caught up for their final physicals. Chubby and feather perfect they were put into a box for the trip to the Red River and perfect habitat for them to continue to thrive.

( Photo: Our Mallard ducklings in mid May with their foster mom Mallard. She was released prior to the ducklings release and is also now free.)
They went out into the water and quickly began eating all the things they grew to love back at REGI and some of the things we were never able to provide for them. It was wonderful to watch them play and eat with such self confidence.

A quick update on our Great Blue Heron chick. He is hardly a baby anymore and is now aware of fish for the first time. The photo is of his first hunting pose the other day when he discovered fish in a pail.


Have a great day everyone. We go into surgery with the Bald Eagle in the morning so be thinking of us.

Marge Gibson 2009

Bald Eaglet Admitted, Heartwarming Stories of American Woodcock, and Great-horned Owl Foster Parents, White Lake Summer School Tour Photos

( Photo: A Bald Eagle chick was admitted after falling from his next near Chippewa Falls. He was only about 7.5 weeks old when admitted.)

I hardly know where to begin. We have had a weekend with jam-packed tours, lots of new faces and patients of every shape and size. I am easily working 18 hour days now and often more. As happens in human medicine, patients seem to get worse in the evening. That makes for long nights spent caring for patients. Sometimes it is just a race for time to get them stable so they can survive until morning.


(Photo: Badly injured and starving when admitted, this adult American Woodcock on the left is now well enough to spend time with the young woodcock. The youngster, raised at REGI, is nearly feathered. Look closely at the photo as they blend into the background so well you may miss them on the photo. The youngster is in the corner and nearly hidden)

At REGI we tease that if we begin thinking about something, it often happens. We have to be VERY careful what we think about. :)

Weeks ago we admitted a single American Woodcock chick. He has done very well, but we mused how great it would be to expose him to his own species. We don't often see woodcocks as patients. We accepted that introducing him to his species was a nice thought but may well not happen.

We've done our best for the young woodcock including creating a naturalish woodcock habitat and providing natural food to assure he is hunting well.

Then, like magic someone drove up with an adult woodcock they found in near their rural home. The bird had severe puncture wounds and was near death from starvation when she was admitted. She remained in critical condition for several days. She was tube fed and given antibiotics for the wounds. Honestly we were not optimistic about her chances of survival. She surprised us as so many cases seem to do. Before long she was unsettled in the small critical care box. We introduced her to the nearly grown youngster. It was a match made in heaven! They are perfect together. The adult is teaching the youngster all kinds of woodcock behavior and vocalizations that will benefit him when he is released to the wild. They are such a team they may be released together. We LOVE when that happens! The adult is an "accidental" foster-parent. She may well have left behind youngsters of her own when she was injured.



( Photo: Adult Non-releasable Great-horned Owls foster GHO owlet. The youngster was admitted from WI Rapids area on May 2, 2009. Check the blog on that date for his baby pictures.)

Our foster parent Great-horned Owls have been hard at work raising an owlet admitted on May 2 from the Wisconsin Rapids area. His admission story and photos are on the blog from that date. You will notice the photo above was taken quickly and without much aiming. We rarely go into the enclosure for more than dropping food for the adults to give the the chick. Photos when taken are done pretty much as we are moving through the mew. At this point he, or perhaps she judging from the size, is tearing up its own food and beginning to hunt.

Our foster parents work tirelessly. We are so grateful to have them. Not only do they save us work, but more importantly the youngster has grown up NOT IMPRINTED TO HUMANS. He/She can and will be released to the wild in the fall.

The great-horned owl foster parents themselves will have a new home soon as well. You may have noticed in the photo that each of the adults is blind in one eye. Both were former REGI patients. Each had been hit by a car. Collisions with cars often cause head injuries. Head injuries can cause blindness in one or both eyes and/or hearing loss. That is the case with both of these beautiful owls. They are not releasable to the wild due to their disabilities, but are wonderful foster parents. They will both be transferred to Houston, MN and Karla Kinstler's Great-horned Owl breeding project. The owls were not a pair when they arrived at REGI but have formed a strong bond since that time. Their bond was further strengthened this spring while functioning as parents to the orphaned owlet.

Great stories happen here so many times a day it is hard to share them all due to space and time constraints.

Our REGI tours have been more popular than ever this year. If you are planning on coming please call ahead and reserve a spot. Many dates are already filled through the summer.



( Photo: Nicole Swanson and intern Aprill Jeager demonstrate owls eyes to
The White Lake Summer School Program on a recent visit to REGI. )



(Photo: Steve Fisher teaches up close and personal with Morrie, our education vulture.)

Updates and more photos will follow soon.

Thanks for tuning in to the REGI blog!

Best,
Marge Gibson 2009

Memorial Weekend Catch-up With LOTS of New Patients

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( Photo: Barred Owl Owlet fell from its nest in Antigo. An alert homeowner found the owlet and brought it to REGI)

What a weekend it has been! I hardly know where to begin we have been so busy. It is best I give a rough outline and fill in later.

We have had a roller coaster of emotions during the past few days. I am used to it all on some level, but it is all a new experience for the summer interns. I am delighted to announce we have a great group of young people this year. They are proving themselves as super competent quickly.


( Photo: Baby robins like these are just one species of passerines that fill our incubators.)

We had a population explosion of passerine chicks of many species during the weekend. They are tiny but in some ways that hardest to care for. Many species of birds eat only insects their first few weeks of life. We have a few different formulas that augment the insect diet in part to make is possible to raise so many babes. Their fist week of life many of these little mouths have to be fed every 20 minutes. It is EXHAUSTING!

It is exciting to see them developing however and once they are on their own, this labor intensive "baby time" will be but a distant memory. Funny how those memories become sweeter with time.

Katie was very excited the other day when she picked up a bird with an odd description. A caller said her cat caught a bird and she was stymied to come up with a description of the bird. Sometimes it is hard for people to give a good description especially if they are not familiar with nature.
The little guy was a baby American Woodcock.
(Photo: Baby Woodcocks are so odd looking they have to be classified as adorable.)

The American Woodcock is a shorebird with a fascinating natural history. The top beak is flexible. They eat their weight in earthworms daily. Happily our chick is eating tons of earthworms and is growing rapidly.

The little one is doing well and currently is living with two tiny Common Merganser Ducklings. Yes, we know they seem like odd bedfellows, but in this case it is all about age, size and the fact that both species are high strung and need other individuals as companions for the best chance of surviving. The plan is working as all are doing well.


We have a new tiny baby Sandhill Crane colt. She arrived just last night from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Our other Sandhill Colt is now 2 weeks old. He is so tall and interacts with the wild pair of sandhills. It is an odd situation but it seems to be comfortable for the wild pair and for the colt so we are happy with that.
(Photo: Sandhill Crane colt from Michigan's U.P. at just a few days old)



(Photo: Two week old Sandhill Crane colt first appeared in this blog 2 weeks ago. He is now a tall and lanky colt and is interacting well with the wild Sandhill Crane pair.)

The above is just a preview of the weekend. More will follow soon.
Best,
Marge Gibson © 2009