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

Chilly Weather/Washington Island Bird Festival/Adult PasserineToxins

More new patients are pouring through the doors. We admitted several adult passerines during the past few days including a Cedar Waxwing, Brown Thrasher and a Female American Robin to name just a few. The Thrasher and the Robin likely came into contact with a pesticide on the insects they ate as both suffered neurological symptoms. It is hard to see otherwise healthy adults in such a predicament. It is harder when you consider these adults likely have left a nest filled with babies. Understanding that what mom and dad eat, they feed the youngsters adds insult to injury. Many will die in the nest due to toxins. It is like a game of domino's. With the work we do we have a heightened awareness of the environment and everything that affects the balance. We would sleep better if we didn't. :(

My goodness, another week of "unseasonably cold weather", or as I like to call it " "unreasonable cold weather". For those of us in the north land that translates into suffering freezing temperatures all week. The forecast for next week may be more of the same. It is tedious to those folks that have to cover their tomato plants and flowers that were planted in an optimistic moment, but at REGI freezing temperatures mean all of our baby birds still have to some inside every night. Wild birds have their babies out with them, but have the advantage of not being raising in incubators. They are therefore more climate prepared than those raised at REGI. We have to step down the temperature gradually so their bodies can cope. Having said that, I suspect many species will have poor reproductive success this year due to the "unseasonable temperatures. It will be interesting to see how the bird counts go in the fall.


I was honored to be the guest speaker for the Washington Island Birding Festival Dinner this past weekend. The topic of the evening presentation was Wild Owls of Wisconsin. I brought with me four owl species native to Wisconsin. It is interesting for birders to see up close and personal some of the birds they often only hear or catch sight of as a fleeting glance. I had to laugh as my education birds are so well known they are often greeted by the audience as old friends. So many wonderful people attended. We talked on for hours even after the presentation.
What a terrific group it was. Many thanks to organizer Sandy -Ursula Petersen for inviting me.


The Wood Duck census is growing here at REGI. More tiny Wood Duck ducklings have been admitted. They are such tiny and fragile babies and will be able to join the older Wood Duck ducklings when they can tolerate life without a constant brooder and develop some size to prevent being picked on. They are eating LOTS of bloodworms and waxworms these days. We appreciate JADA Baits of Antigo so much for providing our patients with waxworms. Hearing our pleading voices on their answer machine cannot be easy.

We continued to have Internet connection problems this past week, but as of yesterday that appears to be a thing of the past. We will be able to update the Blog consistently now. I thank those of you that have written to me missing our daily updates. It is great to know we are missed!

That is all for now. Have a great day everyone. Ours will be busy with two patients have been admitted already this morning and it is only 6:30 A.M.
Best,
Marge Gibson 2009