The Photo-filled Blog of the Century. WOW, Lead Loon, Patient Updates.

It's been a while since the last blog. It's been a work in progress for some time now. Every time I feel like it's ready to go... something amazing happens. So here it goes ladies and gentlemen... an amazingly long, awesome, photo-filled blog!

Lets spin back time a little ways. We've had several releases these past few weeks! Releases are the epitome of our hard work at REGI.  I have to say that working with the patients in the clinic can be an emotional roller-coaster, but releases make everything worth it. I wish everyone could experience the feeling of releasing a rehabilitated bird back into the wild. Here's some photos from our recent releases.

We just love releases. But release wouldn't be possible without rehab, and rehab isn't possible at REGI without support from YOU!

This past weekend we celebrated the 3rd Annual Wings Over Wausau (WOW... great acronym if you ask me!). WOW was a big success this year, we saw several faces from last year, as well as hundreds of new wide-eyed bird nerds in training! Although many people came out to see the birds up close and personal and hear their stories, WOW also featured a silent auction table, vendors, food, and bird games.

Thank you everyone for coming out to support us! We couldn't do it without YOU!!

 The Wausau Grand Theater, a beautiful backdrop for the stars of the show!

 The staff, interns, and volunteers getting ready for the doors to open!

 Mike with a male American kestrel and intern Kerry with a peregrine falcon at the falcon station.

 Interns Alyssa and Sarah at the turkey vulture station.

 Executive director Marge Gibson with an education Western red-tailed hawk.

Rehabilitator Katie holds a red-tailed hawk stretching her wings over Wausau... get it?

Not a second after getting the birds put away from WOW, we had 2 new patients come through the doors and, the phone rang once more. 

A loon had been found up in Ashland, Wisconsin (4 hours from REGI) washed up in a marina on the boat launch. Nothing appeared to be injured and to the staff here at REGI that meant one thing.... lead poisoning. After flying to REGI via airplane, the loon landed safely in Antigo. After drawing blood to check the lead levels our suspicions were confirmed. The lead levels were off the charts.

The common loon shortly after being admitted with an off-the-charts lead level

 X-rays from the loon showed 2 lead sinkers in the bird's intestine

After a trip to the Antigo Vet Clinic, the X-rays revealed 2 lead sinkers in the loon. Not a good diagnosis. Lead from the sinkers works its way into the bird's blood and sequesters in the bones. Treatment is time consuming, meticulous, and extremely expensive.

Lead poisoning in birds is 100% human-induced, and loons aren't the only ones that are effected. Eagles, swans, and the endangered California condor are constantly in a battle against lead. One lead sinker can kill an eagle. One lead sinker can kill a swan. One lead sinker could kill REGI's new patient loon. Just ONE. Our unlucky loon has ingested two.

Although not impossible, the road ahead will be a difficult one for this guy. Staff is working round the clock and we have our fingers crossed that the sinkers come out soon so we can begin the road to recovery. Until then, we play a difficult and frustrating waiting game.

** For more information on lead poisoning in wild birds please click here.

** DO YOU FISH? For alternatives to lead tackle please click here.

On a happier note, there are some of our growing babies... one of which has stole the hearts of many... the Virginia rail!

 Look at the Virginia rail! He's getting so big (relatively speaking), and is about the size of your palm. He's graduated into an outdoor enclosure!

 This young goldfinch came in not long ago without feathers. Hard to believe it's already turning yellow!

 This young cardinal is under the wing of an adult male foster parent

This killdeer came in weighing no more than the change in your pocket, but has grown into a stunning young bird. Keep an eye on the blog for an upcoming release!

As happy as I am to share our baby bird updates... I can't stress enough the importance of using non-lead sinkers & ammunition. Just as we've moved away from lead paint in homes for our own health, we now need to focus on a mind-frame to protect the environment we live in. 

As a full-time rehabilitator, hunter, and fisherman, I wish every outdoors-man could witness a lead poisoning case first hand. It changes everything.

- Katie Rymer, Assistant Avian Rehabilitator

Grown Ups, Patient Updates, & Interns

Hey everyone, were still swamped in baby season here at REGI.

Here's a picture-filled blog full of updates!

_____ All Grown Up _____

These merlins made their debut on our last blog (above), look how grown up they look now (below)

Hard to imagine that just several weeks ago these striking falcons were just white puff balls with large eyes, sharp beaks, and quick feet. Merlins go from hatching to flight in only one month, and we can attest to that here at REGI. This has been the summer of the merlins. We've seen seven fluffy babies come through our clinic doors. All of which are currently flight training in an outside enclosure!

The Virginia Rail is doing great, and enjoys fresh duckweed and insects daily

Look at who else is growing up! REGI's Virginia Rail is no longer cotton ball size! He stirred up quite an array of followers on our Facebook, and would like to thank everyone for their monetary donations to support his bloodworm addictions! He still has expensive tastes, and has moved up to waxworms & small minnows.

This baby turkey vulture had a high-speed migration in a car from the University of Minnesota

The University of Minnesota contacted us this past week with an interesting request. They had acquired a turkey vulture chick that had fallen from its nest into a large body of water, and he needed a foster parent. Kayakers found the little one flapping around in the water and were able to pull him up into the kayak and get him to the University of Minnesota. Here at REGI, we have several successful turkey vulture foster parents, some of which who have fostered Minnesota vultures in the past. It appears that these two are over the whole Packer/Viking feud, and are getting along great!

_____ Patient Updates _____

This young broad-winged hawk came into the clinic just yesterday. His parents may have kicked him out of the nest because he appears to be fully blind in his left eye.

This red-tailed hawk came into the clinic starving and has an injury to a leg. Cases like this lead us to believe he she had some sort of collision with a car which left her unable to hunt.

This great-horned owl came into the clinic very thin. A male great-horned owl weighs over 2 lbs, and a female can be over 4 lbs. This one came into the clinic weighing just over 1 lb. Release is a long way in the future for this owl... but we are crossing our fingers/toes for success

_____ Summer Interns _____

 Licensed rehabilitator Alberta & intern Alyssa tubing one of several fledgling eagles in the clinic

The interns this summer are doing a fantastic job! They truly get the whole rehabilitation experience here at REGI. Although they work long hours (as all of our former interns will remember), their spirits stay strong. The following are all photos of the interns learning experiences to date. They have seen a vast array of different species come through the clinic doors, and never know which one could be next!

Licensed rehabilitator Alberta & intern Maddie tubing another fledgling eagle

Intern Kerry holding a belted kingfisher while he anxiously awaits a larger box in the clinic

Interns Maddie and Sarah tubing the 1 lb great-horned owl

Intern Molly enjoying some alone time with our education peregrine falcon

_____ Summer Tours _____

 Molly, our education director, leading a tour past our crows & raven

Our education peregrine falcon poses for the tour group. Come meet our peregrine up close on one of our on-site tours

Summer tours are still soaring strong. Tours run Tuesdays, Thursdays, and the second Saturday of every month. Most tours still have spaces for both the 10AM & 1PM time slots. Call the education office at REGI to reserve your spots ahead of time (715) 623-2563.

Enjoy your week, it sounds like we finally have some rain in the forecast!

- Katie Rymer, Assistant Avian Rehabilitator

Turkey Vulture Pumpkin Fun, Saw-whet Improving, Barred owl Hit by Car

( Photo: Morrie and Pilchard our resident Turkey Vultures love investigating the used Jack-o Lanterns left over from Halloween. )

Enrichment is important for the birds in captivity. They get bored when things remain the same and life has no challenges. Let face it, their life in the wild is perilous, but raptors are born thrill seekers. Our education birds have lots of things to keep them busy. Some species need more challenges than others. Turkey Vultures love to seek out their food and use their sense of smell. Not many birds have a good "olfactory" system. Turkey Vultures are the exception to most avian species and have an exquisite sense of smell. They also happen to be gregarious and full of curiosity.

This year we reached out to the public and encouraged children to bring us their used Jack-O-lanterns once they began to fade after Halloween. It was a great idea if we say so our self!

Not only were the Turkey Vultures enamoured with the pumpkins, but other species were as well. The Sandhill Cranes, Wild Turkey, and corvids like the American Crows enjoy them as well. For some we hide meat pieces inside and let them "find" them and work a bit to get the meat out. Others like the Sandhill Cranes and Wild Turkeys just wanted to tackle the pumpkin itself. Even the seeds are excellent food for many species.



( Photo: This female Saw-whet Owl was admitted several days ago. She is improving quickly. While she is still being tube fed most food, she was chomping on mouse when I last peeked in on her. )



( Photo: This Barred Owl was hit by a car on Monday evening.
She suffered a broken wing. )

Our education team has been very busy with programs in Northern WI. Education Coordinator will update everyone soon with their travels.

Snow is predicted this weekend. We know we have been very lucky this past few weeks, but sooner or later the white stuff will come. Enjoy the warm temperatures and bundle up for the weekend.

Have a great tomorrow everyone,

Marge Gibson 2010

Turkey Vulture Update!

We thought you all might enjoy watching a news clip of the Turkey Vultures in their new homes at the Oregon Coast Aquarium. (Left: CJ and a Turkey Vulture at REGI before flying out to Oregon.)
(Below: The Turkey Vulture is ready for travel!)

REGI Turkey Vultures Debut at Oregon Coastal Aquarium

( Photos: Turkey Vultures raised at REGI look out over their new home at the Oregon Coastal Aquarium in Newport, Oregon. )

Today was a special day for some of our former patients. This was the day they were presented to the public in Newport, Oregon at the Oregon Coastal Aquarium. We at REGI are glowing with pride at the photos that demonstrate their "perfect behavior" on this important day. By all accounts both staff and the public were delighted with the birds.

Their story started in the summer of 2008 in Central WI. Some young boys found a Turkey Vulture nest. Somehow two tiny Turkey Vulture Chicks ended up in the boys bedroom. The boys parents didn't discover the "secret" in the bedroom for a week or so. We were called and soon the tiny balls of down were patients at REGI. The diet the boys provided to the baby vultures was bread rather than the meat and bone young vultures need. They suffered serious nutritional deficiency.



( Photo: The female Turkey Vulture (Baby B) Leaves REGI for the last time as we headed to the CWA airport on Friday Oct 16th. She would be taking her first flight without using her own wings!)

The Turkey Vulture chicks were raised at REGI, but due to their delicate condition when admitted, they required additional handling and care. We were not able to put them with foster parents to be raised. Sadly, the chicks became imprinted to humans. They would never be able to be released to the wild. The next best option was placement in an educational facility. We are very selective about where our former patients are placed. We were pleased when we received a call this spring from CJ McCarty the Curator of Birds at the Oregon Coastal Aquarium inquiring about our young Turkey Vultures. We agreed the Aquarium was a fine placement. With the decision made, work began on the aquarium's Turkey Vulture exhibit.

CJ flew to Wisconsin in early October and spent five days with us at REGI. She learned everything she could about the vultures from how to handle them to the key to their very individual personalities. She wanted them to feel comfortable with her. THAT is the sign of an excellent curator. We were already pleased with the facility but after meeting CJ we were thrilled and confident the Turkey Vulture chicks we cared for and grew so fond of would have a wonderful forever home.



( Photo: CJ McCarty, Curator of Birds at the Oregon Aquarium makes last minute checks on the vultures carriers at the airport.)



( Photo: The Turkey Vultures leave WI from CWA. They were gently handled by some great staff at the Northwest counter. (thanks guys)

Our Turkey Vulture kids have a great new home and an adoring public. We could not be happier.

One more thing, tonight the vultures are still being called "A" and "B", but tomorrow they will have real names after the results of a naming contest are revealed.
There is a great video and article in the Oregonian Click here for the news coverage.

Have a great night everyone.
Marge Gibson 2009