New Patients, Lead Poisoning, and Great-horned Owl Releases

I have a mini update for you all. We continue to see many patients coming through our door, but here is just a peek at what we have now.

I'm going to spend a moment talking about the first patient I'm introducing to you because this is a species that isn't common to our clinic or our blog. Yellow-rumped Warblers are beautiful and fascinating little birds that spend their summers in the far north and west. This time of year, they begin migrating to their warmer wintering grounds in the south, and luckily for us, they pass through our area so we can enjoy their beauty for a short while. The most fascinating fact about these little birds pertains to their digestive system of all things. These birds can forage on bayberries and their relatives which have a thick coating of wax for protection that other birds cannot digest. Because of this unusual trait, Yellow-rumped Warblers can subsist on these berries and live farther north than some of their warbler cousins.

Photo above: This beautiful Yellow-rumped Warbler accidentally hit a window near Woodruff, WI. Luckily for this little one, only a few days of recuperation were needed for a full recovery, and he has been released to continue on his migration southward.


Photo above: This lovely little male Barred Owl was likely hit by a car and has a wing fracture. He is in very good weight, and is expected to make a full recovery!


Photo above: This gorgeous female Bald Eagle was seen feeding on a gut pile when she then tipped over onto her back. She was rescued, and when she arrived at our clinic, a blood test was done to determine if she was suffering from lead poisoning. The results were off the charts. The good news for this beauty is that she is with us for treatment, and with a lot of perseverance on her part, she can pull through. Please excuse the "crumbs" on her beak, she just finished enjoying a piece of salmon when I photographed her.

During and after hunting season, many Bald Eagles are brought to our clinic suffering from lead poisoning. Because they are scavengers, Bald Eagles are at a huge risk of becoming poisoned by lead this time of year. When a deer is shot, bullet fragments containing lead are left in the woods in gut piles. Unknowingly, scavengers, including Bald Eagles, feed on these gut piles and become very ill. With luck, these poisoned animals are found and brought to us for help, but sadly, those that do not get help will ultimately die. Making the switch to non-lead ammunition can be the difference between life and death for wildlife. I am a hunter myself, and the few extra dollars I spend on a box of lead-free ammunition, is worth it. Please, if you are a hunter, make the switch.


Things are slowing down a bit this fall, and we have been experiencing the joy of release with many of our patients. Two Great-horned Owls that were originally admitted due to starvation and being hit by a car were able to make a full recovery and are now free once again!

The gun deer hunting season is fast approaching, and that means it is time once again for Have-A-Heart for REGI! Those of you who are hunters, or know anyone who hunts, please save the deer hearts for us! Heart provides an excellent source of nutrition for the raptors in our care, and you can do your part to help us out. Information about drop-off sites can be found on our website under the "events" tab or by following this link!

Thanks everyone!

Karissa Mohr
Wildlife Educator

Patient Update and a Huge 'Thank You'!

It's a busy time of year here at REGI, even without all of the babies of summer. We haven't had time for an update for quite some time so I wanted to share with you just a few of our most recent patients.

Photo above: This Bald Eagle was admitted into our clinic with very high levels of lead in his blood. He has undergone treatments for lead poisoning and is still in critical condition. Each treatment for lead poisoning is a couple thousand dollars and recovery is not guaranteed. We hope that he continues to fight for his life; though he is weak from his illness, he has proven to be a fighter. It is likely that he picked up lead from a deer carcass left from the latest gun-deer season. Cases like this lead poisoned Bald Eagle would be virtually non-existent if hunters and fishermen made the simple switch to lead-free ammunition and fishing tackle.

Photo above: This male American Kestrel was suffering from starvation. His weight has improved a bit and his outlook is very good. He is currently in a flight enclosure regaining muscles necessary for flying and continuing to improve his weight.

Photo above: Two young Trumpeter Swans, also called cygnets, are keeping each other company. The cygnet on the left was admitted in very low weight with a high parasite load. Once the parasites were eliminated we put her in with a "buddy". Trumpeter Swans are highly social birds during non-breeding seasons and benefit from contact with others of the same species. It was amazing to watch her improve once she had some company. She went from not eating at all to eating well on her own. She has some weight to gain yet, but she is showing improvement.

Photo above: An adult Trumpeter Swan, admitted with a wing injury, and a cygnet Trumpeter Swan, suffering from starvation, recover together. Like the two swans above, they find comfort in company. Seeing these two birds side by side provides a great example of the differences between adults and cygnets. Adult trumpeter swans are a beautiful snow white color with a black bill and feet. Juvenile, or cygnet, trumpeter swans are a sooty gray color for their first year with a pinkish bill until their first winter. This cygnet is still gray but his bill has already turned black.

Photo above: This female American Goldfinch was admitted with wounds from a cat bite. She has been treated for the bites and is currently recovering. It is so important for people to keep their cats indoors all year long because protected song birds suffer when the cats invariably hunt them.

Thank You!

It is now near the end of the year and we wanted to take time to thank all of our supporters that have helped us out this year and in the past. Because the birds cannot speak for themselves I will help assist them in thanking you. Thank you to everyone who has donated funds, food (including deer hearts!), and supplies; volunteered time; transported injured birds; and anything else that I may have missed. You have helped us in a huge way! You have provided many sick and injured birds a new lease on life. We truly could not continue without the help of all of you!

You are the wind beneath our wings!

Thank you all!

Karissa Mohr

REGI Wildlife Educator

Bald Eagle Admitted from Merrill, More Lead Poisoning, Busy Education Weekend, Updates on Patients

It was a romp-in stomp-in weekend at REGI. We've had several new admissions. On Saturday REGI birds and educators were at three programs at one time. Our birds certainly earn their mice! :) Director of Education, Steve Fisher will do a separate blog on his weekend of programs at Copper Harbor, MI.



( Photo: This 4-5 year old Bald Eagle was admitted from Merrill. She was likely shot in the right chest. She also has lead poisoning. Notice the color of her eyes has a dark look, rather than the bright yellow of a full adult Bald Eagle. She also has a few brown feathers on her head that are leftover plumage of an immature bird. When Bald Eagles are young they are dark brown all over including their beak and eyes. That color changes slowly over the first 5-6 years or more in some cases.)

It is always sad to admit a Bald Eagle suffering from lead poisoning. They are so sick, disoriented and many times convulsing. The beautiful nearly mature Bald Eagle admitted from Merrill is such a bird. She was noticed a few days before by some alert landowners. They observed the eagle, carefully watching to make sure she was not just resting in their field. When the eagle moved only slightly and appeared unable to fly, the folks called State of WI DNR Warden Rick Peters. Rick is an old hand at eagle capture. Over the years several of our patients have lived thanks to his quick response to a scene. Rick was able to capture this Bald Eagle with little effort.



( Photo: Back at the REGI clinic we drew blood and tested the Bald Eagle for lead poisoning, as well as several other tests for anemia and total protein. In this photo Don holds the eagle as we wait for test results.)

The eagle exhibited many symptoms of lead poisoning including seizures and vomiting. Lead poisoning is ugly and is 100% human caused. Birds cannot recover from lead poisoning without human intervention and chelation with CA EDTA. Don and I worked on this magnificent eagle late into the night doing bloodwork and started chelation injections to try to save her life.

The eagle is improving but has a long way to go before she is released to the wild once again.



( Photo: Getting an x-ray of the new admit Bald Eagle from Merrill at the Antigo Veterinary Clinic in Antigo.)



( Photo: Broad-winged Hawk admitted last week with a wing fracture is doing well and eating on his own. We expect a full recovery.)



( Photo: The American Woodcocks admitted during the past two weeks are doing beautfully and growing quickly.)


Saturday we had a joint fundraiser between REGI and Crimestoppers. If you have never seen or heard the Dorf Kapelle band you are missing an amazing experience. We laughed and sang so much my voice was raspy the rest of the weekend. Thanks to everyone that helped out. We appreciate your support.



( Photo: Dorf Kapelle Bandleader, Ernie Broeniman, entertains the crowd up close and personal.)



( The Dorf Kapelle Band Fundraiser was terrific fun! In this photo John Jacobs, organizer of the event, gets rowdy with this friends. That is John in the blue shirt, middle of the photo, holding the table shoulder high. )

Have a great day everyone.

Marge Gibson © 2010

WDNR Spring Hearings Right Around the Corner

(Photo: One of our lead poisoned Bald Eagle patients who came in over the winter.)

On Monday, April 12, each Wisconsin resident will have the opportunity to have your voice heard at the DNR Spring Wildlife and Fisheries Proposed Rules Hearing and Annual Conservation Congress County Meeting. The spring hearings are an opportunity for individuals interested in natural resources to provide input through a non-binding vote to the DNR, Natural Resources Board and Conservation Congress. You can access the questionnaire before attending the hearing to get an idea of what other issues are being voted on and what changes are being proposed. While there are many proposals to be voted on at this hearing, and each them holds equal importance, there is one rule that will be voted on that is very near and dear to our hearts here at REGI. That is rule 61.

QUESTION 61 – Lead reduction in fishing tackle Lead in the environment is poisonous to wildlife. This proposal is designed to reduce the incidence of lead poisoning (lead toxicosis) in waterbirds, shorebirds and secondary poisoning of raptors, such as eagles and ospreys by reducing the amount of lead added to Wisconsin waters due to lost fishing tackle. Studies have shown wildlife is most likely to ingest fishing tackle measuring less than 2.5 cm (1 inch) length and 25g (1 ounce) in weight. Removing lead in fishing tackle of this size would be the most effective way of protecting wildlife. The Federal lead shot ban for waterfowl hunting, and state restrictions on lead use in fishing tackle in MA, VT, NH, NY and ME have reduced toxicosis in waterfowl. A follow up study on the effectiveness of lead free fishing tackle in New England has shown a reduction in bird mortality. A similar ban in Wisconsin will protect our wildlife resources and migrating populations moving through our state. Since inexpensive non-lead alternatives to lead sinkers and jigs are currently being manufactured and are available to retailers at a reasonable cost, transition to non-lead alternatives will not put an undue hardship on Wisconsin anglers. Would you support efforts by the state to phase out the use of lead fishing tackle less than one inch in length and less than one ounce in weight for use in Wisconsin waters?
61. YES ___X____ NO _______

Be sure to check YES! to support efforts by the state to phase out the use of lead fishing tackle! This change could make the world of a difference to many birds.


(Photo: Bald Eagle suffering from lead poisoning.)

If you have been following our blog for a while you have no doubt seen the impact that lead has had on our patients time and time again. Lead poisoning affects water fowl who scoop up lead tackle from the bottom of waterways along with gravel as well as Bald Eagles and Osprey. Some of the symptoms of lead poisoning include bright green feces and eyes, indicating liver failure, seizures and disorientation. Lead poisoned patients require a series of chelation treatments to try to rid the body of the lead. A tiny amount of lead can cause toxicosis in a bird.

We are looking forward to having a chance to make our voices heard on this issue. There are 72 of these meetings to be held in each county in Wisconsin. Find out where your counties spring hearing is being held by checking out the full list.

(Photo: Marge Gibson massages a Trumpeter Swan who is suffering from lead poisoning.)

So lets get out there and make our voices heard! This is a great opportunity to do something important. We hope that all of our readers will take the time to attend the DNR Spring Hearing and vote YES! to reduce lead in the environment. Put it on your calendars Monday, April 12 at 7:00 pm.

Hope to see you all there!

Molly McKay
Environmental Education Coordinator

Bald Eagle Has Double Trouble, Owl Success

( Photo: This Bald Eagle is doing better but was found to have lead poisoning as well as his injuries when he was hit by a truck. )

Eek! An alien has overtaken my computer this morning. I have written the blog a few times now and it disappears into computer land just as I finish. I will try again.

The Bald Eagle that was hit by a truck on Valentines Day is improving. He had such severe injuries including internal bleeding I was not sure what his future held. He started to improve and then we noticed he had some neurological signs. We did some blood work and guess what? He has lead poisoning in addition to his injuries. We started him on Ca EDTA injections right away. It has been five days since the shots were started and he is is doing much better now.

Lead poisoning is such a terrible thing and sneaky too. He is an adult Bald Eagle that should be out there getting ready for breeding, and instead he is at REGI fighting to survive. He was not able to see, taste or smell the lead ( Most birds have no sense of smell. ) in what was likely a deer carcass he was feeding on, but still it would have killed him had he not come into rehabilitation.

You might wonder how he was hit by a car in the first place and what the chances were he had this kind of double trouble. Lead poisoning makes a bird disoriented in the early stages. When he was admitted, the lead poisoning had not reached the point where he was starving yet. Since he was in normal weight, we didn't suspect it right away until the neuro signs began. The scenario may have been that he was disoriented and unable to get out of the way of the truck that hit him. It happens more than you imagine.

Sad that we humans still allow lead, a known toxin, to be used so casually in our sporting world. I wish people could see it the way I do.



( Photo: Giving sub-q fluids to the Bald Eagle when he was unable to hold down even water. )



(Photo: We went back to tube feeding the Bald Eagle when lead poisoning was diagnosed. )




( Photo: Alberta with the Barred Owl hit by a car in Mosinee ( His finders call him Mr OWL.)

The Barred Owl from Mosinee is improving. He is flying and eating on his own, but we are keeping him confined due to the skull fracture from which he is still recovering.


( Photo: The ear opening of the Barred Owl above. Notice the dried blood in the opening. Bleeding from the ear is one of the signs of a skull fracture.)

A new intern started yesterday for the spring term. She is a terrific young woman, and we are excited to have her as part of the REGI team. I will have some photos soon.

We have been able to move some patients outdoors as the weather has been mild. ( Mild for Wisconsin anyhow.) The Golden Pheasant that came to REGI just before New Years Day was one of the birds that is now outdoors. He is doing great but spring is livening up his hormones. He would like a lady love to share his joy with.

( Photo: Golden Pheasant is now outdoors and looking forward to having a girl friend this spring.)

The Male Ring-necked Pheasant admitted in December with restraints on his legs and his wings and tail feathers clipped, :( is also excited that spring is approaching. He would like a few ladies too in case anyone out there has some female ring-necked or golden pheasants.

We are working on getting the spring newsletter together. We hope to go to press next week. I am preparing to head south, along with Education Director Steve Fisher and his wife Evie, to Houston, MN and the International Owl Festival this weekend. I hope some of you can join us there. I am doing the keynote speech on Saturday night at the banquet. It would be fun to see you there.

We have a busy day ahead of us! Have a great day everyone!

Marge Gibson © 2010