Busy Earth Day, More Releases and New Patients Admitted, Volunteer

( Photo: This male Northern Cardinal was released on Thursday. He suffered a wing fracture in late winter. )



( Photo: THIS is why we wear gloves when handling Cardinals, Blue Jays and some other strong-beaked birds. They use that beak so effectively and not only for cracking open sunflower seeds. :) )

Earth Day was one busy day! Education Coordinator Molly McKay was up super early to be at the Port Edwards High School for an Earth Day Festival. What a great job the high school students did putting it together. Molly will write about it early next week. We are hoping to get some photos from the school as we forgot our camera.

I did an interview on Wisconsin Public Radio with host Glenn Moberg on the WPR program "Hwy 51". At the same time Education Director Steve Fisher was at WSAU Channel 7 doing an interview for Earth Day and for the Sunday morning show with our wonderful education partner, Malcolm, our Barred Owl. It was so good to hear about the great things happening in the world and hope even more are to come.



( Photo: Catching a well-conditioned passerine in the flight aviary is not easy task. At the end, everybody is exhausted including the staff. Here Alberta finally snags the Northern Cardinal. )



( The Northern Cardinal could not wait to get out of Katie's grasp. He headed for the woods and off to the rest of his life. He had such a severe wing fracture when admitted we were not sure he would heal, but he did and is now living proof rehab works!)



(Photo: Alberta releases an American Coot that spent most of the winter with us at REGI. It could not believe its good fortune to finally have a lake to call its own.)



( Photo: The American Coot quickly found cover from which it could survey the lake. We found it hiding in some cattails. It is well camouflaged. Can you see it in the middle of the photo?)

Yesterday we admitted another American Coot seemingly to replace the patient we released. That is the way it goes here at REGI. One patient sent out the door and two more admitted. The coot admitted yesterday has lead poisoning and will be with us for awhile as the lead is chelated from its blood.

Volunteer Dave Koch spend two days working and repairing caging at REGI. Our caging is getting older now and the harsh winters take a greater toll every year. Volunteers who help with construction and repair are vital to our work. Dave has worked several days every spring to help us, and we are so grateful to him for his time and to his wife for sharing him. :)



( Photo: Dave Koch, "volunteer extraordinaire" spent two days at REGI doing repairs to caging. Thank you, Dave! )

We hope to get some rain to fill our lakes here in the northland. Our area is all about lakes and many of ours are either very low or nearly empty. It is very hard to comprehend.

Have a wonderful day everyone.

Marge Gibson © 2010

Snow Bunting Released, Northern Cardinal Better, Barred Owl with Fractured Mandible, Volunteers

( Photo: Snow Bunting admitted in early January with a wing fracture was released today.)

It was a busy Saturday, but a beautiful day here in Northern Wisconsin.

We released our beautiful Snow Bunting that came in with a wing fracture in early January. The beautiful visitor from the north, healed well. He was flying so well in fact that he gave Lance and Abby a work out when they tried to catch him up from the flight aviary for his release. I said he was released but that is not quite accurate. While we were taking photos of him just before the release, he grew impatient and decided to exit from my hand before we were ready with the camera. Oh well, the important thing is he is a free bird tonight and will be making the trek back north soon for breeding.


( Photo: Northern Cardinal admitted on Jan 31st was well enough to go into a indoor aviary and out of intensive care.)

The Northern Cardinal in the photo above has done so well. He came in with a dog bite. He has a few serious days in intensive care but turned the corner yesterday and today was so active we tried him in the aviary. He is a little underweight so will remain in an indoor aviary until he gets his weight back to normal range and then will be released. Yea!!

We had some great help when volunteers Joe Krumrie and Abby Ruppert both students from UWSP came up for the day. Both are experienced with raptors and helped do some handling and made some jesses for the education birds. Thanks to both Joe and Abby for their time today. We got a lot of work done and it is always fun to talk to students that are interested in birds.


( Photo: Joe Krumrie works with our Gyrfalcon/Prairie Falcon while Abby Ruppert holds Aries our Broad winged Hawk.)



( Photo: Joe and Abby made jesses for our Screech Owl. Joe puts them on the little guy while Lance holds him.)


( Photo: The handsome Screech Owl has his first lesson in being glove trained.)

This is the same Screech Owl that was shot a few weeks ago. His wing injury was so severe that he will not be able to fly again. He continues to have vision problems. Since he will not be able to be wild again, his next option is be spend his life as an education bird. To find out if he agrees with that opportunity and doesn't mind captivity he has to do through a training phase first.
Not all birds are comfortable enough for captive placement, but he did real well today.


( Photo: This Barred Owl has a split lower mandible. )

We admitted an adult Barred Owl. This is an interesting case and one are working to repair. The owls lower mandible is split in two parts. As you an imagine she is unable to eat well on her own and has to be tube fed or fed small strips of meat. We will be trying a new technique to repair the beak tomorrow morning. I will let you know how it goes.


( Photo: Bald Eagle with Lead Poisoning is still fighting for her life. The green droppings are one of the indications of lead poisoning and is a sign of liver failure. )

The Bald Eagle with lead poisoning is continue to fight for her life and we are not going to give up on her as long as she is willing to keep trying. She is very sick, but such a beautiful and strong female eagle I remain hopeful until she is no longer.

Have a good tomorrow everyone.

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

Winter has Arrived, Northern Cardinal Released

( Photo: This adult Bald Eagle is enjoying some venison brought to REGI by WI hunters.)

Wisconsin has had the oddest weather. In October I complained, and rightfully so, about winter having arrived too early. With three inches of snow decorating the ground on October 12th, I wasn't the only one that thought winter was upon us. Many bird species that spend the summer in Northern WI expedited their migration schedule fleeing the snow and cold temperatures.

I must have some "pull" with those that control weather because when November arrived, the temperatures were more like what October should have been. It is confusing for those of us living and working in the "frozen tundra" of Wisconsin. I suspect was getting a mite too comfortable with the warmer than usual November. I lulled myself into thinking that this year gentle temperatures would remain through March, at which time it would become spring again.

Last night ended that dream. Now my worry for the birds both wild and in our care begins anew. Darn!


( Photo: Male Northern Cardinal as he is released. He is not really rumpled as the photo indicates.)

We released the male Northern Cardinal that was admitted about a month ago. He recovered quickly and molted in the feathers he was missing when admitted. The photo shows a rumpled bird. The photo was taken quickly as he was about to make his exit. He was fine but unhappy about being chased and caught up in aviary. He was not sure what was happening but didn't want to participate in the "fun". If only he knew our intentions were to let him go he might have had a smile on his beak. What a different bird he was as he flew off than the day he was admitted lying in a box.

People love the beautiful cardinal. They are a bright spot in the winter landscape and are one species that spend the winter in WI. They frequent feeders and keep our otherwise quiet winter world joyful.

The Peregrine Falcon is improving. He was injured in August near Poynette and recently developed complications with his nictitating membranes of his left eye not closing well. The surgery of the other day will resolve the problem. He is regaining the peregrine personality now so we know he is feeling better.

We are working hard on getting the last newsletter of the year out this upcoming week. There is still some last minute work to be done moving sensitive birds indoors and winterizing outside pens for those that are able to withstand the winter temperatures.

We have three Bald Eagles ready for release. They will be be released this month into a wintering area. That is good news. I will let you know the dates for the releases so those who want to attend can do so and celebrate with us.

Have a good day everyone.

Marge Gibson ©2009