Wrapping up 2011, New Years Patients, Eagle Releases, and More!

Can you believe that 2012 is here already?! 2011was a busy year for REGI. We treated literally hundreds of patients, 76 of those were Bald Eagles, and 22 of those eagles were babies!

One of the highlights of the year was the successful rehabilitation and release of 7 poisoned eagles. It was a first for REGI and the world, as there are no records of any bird surviving this kind of toxin. It is normally 100% fatal! Imagine our joy to see them pull through this. Some of you may have been here with us to see them fly free. You can read what Fish & Wildlife Service had to say about this momentous occasion on their website.

Photo above: Katie Farvour releases one of the 7 Bald Eagles on June 1, 2011 (Photo: Karissa Mohr)

We have another big release coming soon! Saturday, January 14, we will be releasing Bald Eagles at Eagle Days in Prairie du Sac, WI. Prairie du Sac is prime eagle watching territory along the Wisconsin River. Hundreds of eagles gather there to take advantage of open water. This is a perfect opportunity to release juveniles, as the adults are there to guide them through their entrance to the wild world. We have about 30 eagles, juvenile and adult, who are destined for release at different times over the next month! Eagle Days is a public event, with releases by Marge and many activities for families. We hope you will all join us!

Photo above: Marge Gibson introducing the public to one of the eagles that was about to be released at an Eagle Days event.

We received so much support from all of you through the year! We ended the year with a very special Christmas surprise, Lori Schubring, from Wild Birds Unlimited in Wausau, brought us a truckload of donations which we talked about in our last blog. Well, Lori has amazed again, and started off the New Year with a bang! After hearing our plea for someone to transport a donation of mice, rats, and quail from Schlitz Audubon Nature Center in Milwaukee she conspired with her brother, Brian Thiede who lives in Richfield, to bring them to us! This morning they showed up with an entire truckload of food for the birds!

Thank you Lori and Brian, for the time, miles, and commitment to getting us the food we need! Marge and I were talking this morning about what a rare gift it is to have someone like Lori in our lives. When working in rehabilitation you see the very best, and the very worst of people. It is easy to become jaded. But people like Lori remind us that there are good people out there, she truly is one of the best.

Photo above: Lori and Brian work along with Katie and Stacie to unload the truck. (Not only did they deliver, but they helped with the unloading too!)

Photo above: Our newest education bird in training, Lou, enjoys a delicious mouse shortly after our big delivery came in. Yum!

Things in the clinic just don't seem to be slowing down. While the many eagle patients have moved up to larger enclosures or flight spaces we still have smaller patients in need of care. We have patients from the very end of 2011 in the clinic, and our 1st patient of 2012 has arrived.

Photo above: This little Downy Woodpecker is the first patient of 2012.

He came in just after the start of the year from Portage County. Found on the ground, and not flying his rescuers brought him in to the Humane Society. While humane societies don't typically deal with wildlife this little woodpecker was lucky enough to be brought to one that is aware of our facility. They called us right away! Downy Woodpeckers are tiny little things, only 5-6 inches in length, and look very similar to Hairy Woodpeckers. The easiest way to differentiate is to look at the beak. The beak of a Downy is about half the length of their head, and the Hairy's beak is about equal in length to their head.

Photo above: A beautiful Great-Horned Owl patient well on his way to recovery.

This large and lovely owl was found trapped in a fence in the Wausau area. He was found near the ground with his feathers tangled in the chain-link. It looks as though he got a bit too close to the fence while hunting, you could see tracks of a little rodent right in his path. Fortunately we found someone to untangle his feathers and bring him in for examination. He injured his wing slightly during his struggle, but the injury appears to be superficial, and he is on the road to release already. We have 2 Great Horned Owls in the clinic right now. If you are spending time in the woods this winter keep your ears open. Great Horned Owls are the earliest nesters, and you can begin to hear them calling for their mate starting in late January!

2012 is off to a great start! We hope to see you soon.

Molly McKay

Director of Education

Two Cases Released and Three Admitted., House Finch Conjuntivitis, Bald Eagle Hit by Car

( photo: Alberta and Katie about to release a House Finch that came in Feb. 4 from Marshfield with conjunctivitis.)

We released 2 birds this morning and by this evening had admitted 3. That is kind of the way it goes. It is also the reason our census is so stable at anywhere between 13-18 Bald Eagles and about 75 other patients this time of year. That number soars in the summer months of course.

The House Finch below was a special case. She had serious conjunctivitis when brought in early February. Katie and Alberta and Lance and Aprill on weekend worked tirelessly to "prove me wrong" when I worried hers was not a case we could save. Yea for team REGI! The House Finch was treated with ophthalmic antibiotics and her eyes were washed several times a day. To add to that regime, she was tube fed several times a day. This was necessary since she was unable to see and therefore eat or drink. You may wonder why she had to be fed so much. Birds require a huge amount of calories to live. They can eat their own weight or more each day in food. Kudos to everyone for this great work.



( Photo: Last photo taken of our House Finch in captivity. Now she is free.)



( Photo: This is how the House Finch looked when admitted to REGI in February.)



( Photo: Intern, Amber Brunette, and Alberta in the aviary trying to catch the Downy Woodpecker for release to the wild. )

We also released a Downy Woodpecker that was admitted in early winter with a broken wing. It amazes me how many people don't think bird wings can be "repaired" once broken. The truth is they can, IF we get the into care early enough. That is one reason we are insistent that birds come into care quickly so the healing process has not already begun with the bone "out of place".
Birds have to be perfect to survive in the wild. After the fracture heals the bird spend a month or more in an outdoor flight cage. This is to assure not only the bone is well healed but the muscles around that broken bone are back to 100% as well. In the wild there are many things that are important. Those include finding food, avoiding predators and attracting a mate.



( Photo: Our handsome male Downy Woodpecker was excited when he realized all that chasing to catch him in the flight cage was to release him to the wild. He never looked back as he took his freedom. )



( Photo: Katie and Amber tube fluid to the Ring-necked Pheasant admitted on Monday. )

Our Ring-necked Pheasant admitted from Wausau on Monday continues to improve as far as her leg is concerned, but had a little back slide on her kidney function. Being hit by a several thousand pound car when you are a few pounds of bird is a harsh. All kinds of things to go wrong. For this pheasant, her kidneys are still healing. We monitor our patients closely so when she went into kidney failure, we were able to respond and give her oral fluid. She is doing great tonight.



( Photo: This female Bald Eagle was hit by a car. She has a broken wing and internal bleeding. )

Speaking of tonight, I received a call from the Forest Country Sheriffs Department ,about a Bald Eagle by the side of the road. A citizen was waiting with her. We see both sides of people, the worst and the best. People that wait in the cold rain for hours until someone could be found to help, are absolutely the best. The person the hit her and didn't stop are not in that category.

It will be a busy night as we fight to save her. More later.

Marge Gibson © 2010

Chequamegon Bird Club Trip to REGI, Downy Woodpecker Admitted

( Photo: Education Coordinator Steve Fisher, describes the special adaptations of a Barred Owl to the group. That is Malcolm, our ancient Barred Owl on Steve's glove. )

It seems like the REGI name should be changed to "Education R Us" these days. In "normal" years,we are unable to do programs on site in November due to the winter weather. Last year at this time we were looking at below zero F. temperatures. This year we had snow in October, but November has been downright balmy. ( We think anything above 32 degrees F. is balmy in Northern WI. ) Recently we were able to do an on site program for a favorite group, the Chequamegon Bird Club. The bird club members made the long drive from Medford, WI to REGI see the program. Afterwards, they continued on their way to the famous Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum and the Birds In Art Show in Wausau. They also took time to do some birding on the way. It was an all bird kind of day for them.

It is a bit like "preaching to the choir" when we do programs for bird clubs. There is nothing quite so bonding as a shared passion. The members get to see many species up close and personal that they sometimes only "hear", or catch as a fleeting glance in the wild.

Below I will share some of the photos of the day with the Chequamegon Bird Club visit.





( Photos: Education Coordinator Steve Fisher, leads the tour as Wildlife Rehabilitator, Katie Farvour handles our education birds including a Great-horned Owl and Saw-whet Owl for folks to see and photograph.)



( Photo: Steve explains why the Peregrine Falcon is the fastest animal is the world to the group.)



( Photo: Steve describes the Golden Eagle to the bird club members as Avian Technician, Lance Holm, holds our education Golden Eagle for an up close and personal view.)

A beautiful Downy Woodpecker was admitted last night. He has a broken wing, but is otherwise in good body weight. He should do well in care. We hope for a full recovery. With a little luck, he will be released either this winter or in early spring. Many thanks to the Bennett family of Wausau not only for rescuing the little guy, but transporting him to REGI in the evening.


The Downy Woodpecker is a tiny woodpecker, but has personality plus. Nothing much phases these little ones. This new patient was in care for all of two minutes when he ate a wax worm from my fingers. Many thanks to Jada Baits of Antigo for supplying us with a constant source of wax worms for our patients. Live worms are so expensive to buy. Jada Baits generosity has allowed us to continue our work with passerines and other insect eating birds.



( Photo: A male Downy Woodpecker was admitted last night. He has a wing fracture but is otherwise in good condition. Note the yummy wax worms in the bottom of the box.)

We wish safe travels to those that are on the road or traveling in some way on this day before Thanksgiving.

Best to all,
Marge Gibson ©2009