Baby Passerines Pour In, House Finches, American Robins, Ducklings and Gosling, Sandhill Crane With Leg Injury and Lead Poisoning.

( Photo: This is the first sight I see in the morning and the last thing at night, and a few times in the middle of the night! These mouths belong to the nestling House Finches pictured below. Nestling passerines have to be fed every 20 minutes their first week of life.)

Whew! We have been BUSY at REGI. We admitted 18 baby birds of various species and varieties including Eastern Phoebes, American Robins and House Finches, Mallard ducklings and Canada Gosling, and a Bluebird just in the past few days. We also admitted an adult Sandhill Crane ,American Kestrel,and a Red-tailed Hawk.

The phone is ringing often these days with calls about injured birds, baby birds in trouble and sometimes just bird related questions. We like the questions especially if it means we can keep baby birds with their parents to be raised naturally and without human intervention.



( Photo: House Finch nestlings are adorable with bright red mouths and soft melodic voices even when they are tiny. The little ones can easily be mistaken for the House Sparrow which is an invasive species and not well liked in most birding circles.)



(Photo: Four hatchling American Robins snuggle in this tissue. )



( Photo: An American Robin nestling just hatched. You can see the tendency to curl into the shape of the egg is still natural for this tiny one. It is hard to believe this tiny mite will be turn into the State Bird of Wisconsin in a few months. )



( Photo: These four little Mallard Ducks became orphans when their mom was hit by a car near Wausau.)



( Photo: The frightened ducklings ( above) were soon asleep under the heat lamp after their stressful morning.)

Most of the birds we care for come from members the of the public that either see an accident or other injury occur and call REGI for help. A young woman was on her way to work when she saw a female Mallard Duck hit by a car. She was horrified to see several tiny ducklings scatter into the underbrush. The ducklings had been following their mother across the busy road. This stellar young woman did what any daughter would, she called her dad for help! Her parents soon arrived on the scene, scooped up the ducklings and brought them to REGI.



( Photo: Alberta holds a Canada Goose gosling. It was found wandering alone near a lake in Shawano County. )



( Photo: More House Finch babies arrived today from Lincoln County. These are younger than the group admitted this weekend. )

Friday night we responded to a call near Hatley, WI. A Sandhill Crane, unable to walk well was caught up by a landowner and needed help transporting her. We found Kathy and Jay Drobnik waiting with the crane as we arrived. Not only did the crane have a leg/hip injury but was thin and exhibited other neurological signs. We tested her and found she had lead poisoning. We don't find lead poisoning in Sandhill Cranes often. When we asked, the Drobniks mentioned the lake was very low. I will explain why that is a problem and why it can lead to lead poisoning in a future blog.



( Photo: This adult female Sandhill Crane was likely hit by a car and sustained a hip injury. We were surprised to find she also has lead poisoning.)

Forgive the haste of this writing. Baby birds are calling and need to be fed. More photos and updates soon.

As always, our thanks to the great folks that have played a part in saving these fragile creatures. Have a great tomorrow everyone.

Marge Gibson © 2010

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

New Patients Keep Coming In Including a lead Poisoned Bald Eagle, Northern Cardinal, House Finch and Barred Owls

( Photo: This adult female Bald Eagle came from the Tigerton area and has lead poisoning and serious additional complications as a result of the lead poisoning.)

I've been up much of the night with a very critical Bald Eagle suffering from lead poisoning. Forgive me if the blog lacks energy this morning.

In a week when we are releasing many recovered patients, we continue to admit others. Much of the weekend was spent doing exit physicals and driving to release the 3 Bald Eagles near Madison. However, 6 new patients came in as well on the weekend. As exciting as the releases are, we can never forget the new patients back at the clinic.



( Photo: This Northern Cardinal was in the wrong place at the wrong time when a dog grabbed him. Fortunately the dog's owner got the bird from the dog and brought it to REGI.)

House Finch conjunctivitis is a problem we see every winter. It is a contagious disease that affects a few species of small finches. Those that we see the most often are include Pine Siskins, Goldfinches and House Finches. The House Finch in the photos below is suffering with the condition. She has recovered, but we want to make sure she will not be contagious to other wild birds before she is released. We keep up with the most current data on the subject of wildlife disease. Some feel the disease continues to be contagious after it resolves in the original patient, others suggest it is not. We will evaluate the situation and the newest information before this bird is released to the wild. We never want to jeopardize the wild population.



( Photo: A House Finch with conjunctivitis was admitted from the Marshfield area. )


( Photo: The House Finch in a photo yesterday is looking much better and eating on her own. )


( Photo: This Barred Owl was hit by a car in Portage County.)

Barred Owls are some of the most beautiful of the owl family. With their large, deep brown eyes and gentle demeanor they are "easy patients". Sometimes it is nice, especially on more challenging days, to have an "easy patient" in the mix. I found myself smiling while caring for this Barred Owl last night even with the stress of the eagle overwhelming the night.


( Photo: Tube feeding the one of two Barred owls that came in, both hit by cars.)

There is so much to catch up on. I will do the next chapter on the eagle release soon I promise.

Have a peaceful day everyone.

Marge Gibson © 2010