Sage gives a hoot about your safety! With Halloween just around the corner, Sage has some sage advice to ensure the safety of Trick or Treaters.
Have a safe and happy Halloween
A huge thank you to volunteers who helped with the camera project this past week. Ken was here all week doing prep work for the new camera system. When completed next year, we will be able to remotely view video footage or live streaming of the Education Birds, rehabilitating birds in the flight pens and activity in the clinic. The possibilities are endless for what we will be able to accomplish with the recorded footage. Thank you to Ken, Kirsti, Burt, Inna, Nancy and Rick. There will be more opportunities to help with this project next year. Thank you again to everyone! And thank you to everyone who supports BMW’s education and rehabilitation programs. We couldn’t do what we do with out your help!
It was a week with no new admissions, so I will share some of the amazing photos Kirsti captured of Golden Eagle 24-362 who is making an amazing recovery from a scapula fracture, the result of beng struck by a vehicle.
There were just two admissions this past week, Little Brown Bat 24-367 and Western Grebe 24-368. Although the bat had no fractures, he was unable to fly due to internal injuries. It is challenging to evaluate x-rays of a 5 gram bat (that is less than one-quarter of an ounce), but when we compared his x-ray to the x-ray of Little Brown Bat 24-327 who had two broken wings, but no internal damage, it was apparent that 24-367 did have internal injuries. The prognosis for recovery seemed poor and the bat was euthanized.
The prognosis for the Grebe was much better. It had been found on the ground in Wallowa. Grebes sometimes land on surfaces they think are water, but turn out to be wet pavement or some other solid surface. They need to be able to run across water in order to get airborne. The Grebe appeared to be uninjured and was released at McKay Wildlife Refuge where there are other Grebes.
The Camera Project
BMW treasurer Kirsti and husband Ken have been here working on the Camera Project. Kirsti is heading back to Portland today, Sunday. Ken could use more help on Monday or Tuesday. Thank you to Burt who’ll be here on Wednesday! Kirsti will be back Thursday evening! If you are able to help please call the clinic: 541-278-0215. Thank you in advance!
Kirsti took the photos below during a break from helping Ken.
Ferruginous Hawk 24-192 fell from this nest as a downy baby, breaking his left leg. He is now flying in the large flight pen…
Bald Eagle 24-265 was admitted as a fledgling along with her brother. Both birds were emaciated. They are recovering nicely and should be ready for release in November. Big sister poses and then takes flight…
Lynn explaining to the Ferruginous Hawk “That’s not the way things are done around here.”
We were very pleased to welcome Peggy and Brenda for a visit this past week. They are wildlife rehabilitators at Umqua Wildlife in Roseburg. I appreciate that we can communicate with colleagues, friends and family via a variety of media options, but nothing beats an in-person visit!
Otherwise, the week was very quiet.The only admission came on Sunday, when an adult adult otter was admitted. It had been hit be a vehicle at Hot Lake near La Grande. X-rays confirmed that its back was broken. Humane euthanasia was all we could offer.
We can Use Your Help October 12th – 19th
We have an exciting project in the works. We are revamping our camera system and can use some extra hands installing conduit and pulling cable. If you have a couple of hours to spare between October 12th and 19th there’ll be a job for you. Call or text 541-278-0215 and let us know when you’d like to help. Thank you in advance!!!
