The babies keep coming. The Pendleton Center admitted 3 Northern Harriers (ground nesting hawks), 4 baby Skunks and a Hummingbird. The Harriers were inadvertently “rescued” by well-meaning folks who thought they were being attacked by a hawk, no doubt one of the parents. It took 2 1/2 days to organize a return trip to La Grande for the Harriers and recruit a new volunteer, Tom, to keep eye on the youngsters until the parents realized they were back.

The Harriers were color-coded so we could tell them apart in the clinic, and banded before their trip home. They are well-suited to hiding in tall grass.

Four Baby Skunks

These young skunks were orphaned when their mother was struck by a car and killed. They are eating solid food and soon will be moved outside to grow a little bigger and learn to forage for food before being released.

A Very Young Hummingbird

At three grams, this nestling Hummingbird is almost full-grown. It is the youngest hummingbird we have admitted… still begging to be fed. Adult hummingbirds eat a very low protein diet, getting most of their calories from the nectar of flowers. They also eat tiny flying insects which are what they feed their fast-growing babies. We are feeding this guy tiny mealworms and blood worms. 

BMW Volunteers to the Rescue Again

Yakima volunteers Kathy, Bill and Ken responded when a Raccoon was struck by a vehicle and killed while trying to cross I-82 near Yakima. Her 3 kits were stranded in the freeway median under an overpass with cars zipping by on either side at 70 miles per hour. A Washington State Patrol trooper stopped, but said he could not stop traffic for raccoons. Kathy and Ken caught the first kit, then Bill arrived with a large salmon net and quickly caught the other two. The kits were not very grateful, but I’m sure they owe their lives to Kathy, Bill and Ken. They took them to BMW’s Tri-Cities center where they were examined and found to be in good condition. They will coordinate with Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife once the kits are ready to be released. Thank you for a job well done!!!

Lots of babies are still being fed at both the Pendleton and Benton City centers, but many are beginning self-feed. Five robins have been moved out to the songbird pen in Pendleton.

Bald Eagle 23-024

The Bald Eagle admitted in March with lead poisoning and fractures in his left halux toe and wingtip is doing well out in the large flight pen. He is slowly molting his damaged primary feathers. We know his lead toxicity was the result of eating carrion that had been shot with lead ammunition. We don’t know what caused the fractures. Trauma to a wing often causes feathers to molt prematurely. Once the feathers have regrown we can evaluate his flight ability. In the meantime, he is dining on rabbit and rat. He also enjoys a bath after breakfast!

And Another Teenage Robin…

Days are still filled with baby bird feedings from 7 am to 9 pm: 

4 House Finches

2 Brewers Blackbirds

There are also 2 Scrub Jays and 3 American Crows. Most are beginning to self-feed. Two Robins are are outside in the Songbird Pen. Two more are inside and self-feeding. They will soon go outside. 

Short-eared Owl 23-143

This fledgling Short-eared Owl was found near Boardman, Oregon. He had an injured left eye and was very thin. Dr.Yackley at Pendleton Veterinary Clinic examined the eye and determined that the owl should have at least partial vision in the eye. The eye has healed and the owl has gained a significant amount of weight. The next challenge is to reunite him with his family which could not be located when the owl was found.

Great Horned Owl Update

The 4 owls at the hack site are flying, but still coming back at night for food.

Birds and kids were hopping this past week at Blue Mountain Wildlife! Two classes of 2nd graders visited from Athena and three classes from La Grande. 

Students learned about birds of prey… 

Dissected owl pellets and played the Migration Game…

Baby Bird Feeding Is In High Gear…

Intern Lizzie has been busy! Her day starts at 7:00 am and she is feeding babies, along with her regular duties, until 9:00 pm. There are American Crows…

House Finches…

Western Screech Owls…

And Another Barn Owl…

Six young Barn Owls shave been transferred to the Benton City Center. More than 70 owlets have been placed in hack boxes there. All have fledged, but are still returning for food (mice) at night. It will take them a month or so to become proficient hunters.

Four Great Horned Owls have fledged at the Pendleton hack site, although the two youngest are still quite fuzzy and have minimal flight skills… 

There is a resident family of owls at the Great Horned Owl hack site. Tricia spotted mom feeding one of her youngsters. Mom is on the left. Her full grown offspring is on the right. The resident owls will be great role models for the owls we have placed there…

Swainson’s Hawk 23-114

A few injured birds were admitted this past week, including a Swainson’s Hawk. Unfortunately his left wing was too badly damaged to repair and he was humanely euthanized. The hawk was very thin, having been on the ground at least a week, but  had managed to catch a snake. It is the bulge at the base of his neck (in the crop).

Hanging out with friends at the hack site…