Two Bald Eagles, admitted as starving fledglings in July, were released this week on a cool blustery day at McNary Beach Park where they had been found. The male eagle was released first. His sister soon followed:

The only other admission this week was a Great Horned Owl that had been struck by a train. It had multiple fractures in the right wing and shoulder. Euthanasia was the only humane option.

The Barred Owl admitted with a broken rib and a shoulder injury has been moved to the large flight pen and is flying well. The plan is to release him in the coming week.

This week Golden Eagle 24-362 was returned to his home territory near Richland, OR and released after spending two and one-half months at BMW recovering from a fractured scapula.

Once the scapula was healed, the eagle was moved to a flight pen.

When ready for release, a metal band was placed on his right leg.

Then there was a long drive and the release!

We returned to BMW to find a Red-tailed Hawk. A woman had called about an injured “eagle” in her driveway near Boardman just as we were leaving to release the eagle. Volunteer Dan was able to capture the hawk and transport it to Pendleton. Dan has traveled countless miles to rescue wildlife. Thank you Dan!

My initial thought when looking at the hawk was that he had been electrocuted. Radiographs made it apparent that he had been shot. The fractures were not repairable. If allowed to heal, the hawk would have been left with a chronically arthritic elbow and unable to fly. Euthanasia was a kinder gift to offer the bird.

We were pleased to welcome families from the Wagon Wheel Co-op on Friday. They learned about BMW’s Education Birds and then dissected owl pellets. 

A heart-felt thank you to The Roundhouse Foundation for a three-year grant to support the camera expansion project. The grant will allow additional cameras to be placed in the Education Building mews, as well as the rehabilitation pens and in the clinic. We are very grateful to The Foundation for their generous support of Blue Mountain Wildlife and rural Oregon. Roundhouse Foundation supports creative solutions to the unique challenges associated with rural culture and landscapes of the Pacific Northwest.

Except for Great Horned Owl 24-375, who managed to get tangled up with a ramp into a chicken coop (truth is stranger than fiction!), car and window collisions caused the injuries to birds who were admitted this past week. The owl doesn’t appear to have any broken bones, but he does have a droopy right wing that has been immobilized with a bandaged. After a week of cage rest he is getting feisty! We will give him one more week of rest and then see how the wing is doing.

Two Golden-crowned Kinglets flew into a window at Blue Mountain Community College. One tiny bird recovered quickly from the collision and was released in a nearby clump of trees. The other sustained multiple fractures and was euthanized.

Northern Saw-whet Owl 24-380 was found on a mountain road above Weston. It’s right radius, ulna and scapula were all fractured. We presume the cause was collision with a vehicle. The little owl was never going to fly again. Euthanasia was the most humane option.

Barred Owl 24-372, admitted just 8 days ago with a broken rib and swollen shoulder is also getting feisty. He made an escape attempt and ended up on top of the x-ray machine when a clean towel was being placed under his perch. He will be going outside to a flight pen this coming week!

BMW was a quiet place the month of October with just 4 admissions. Sunday, yesterday as of this writing, there were three admissions plus a visit from a dear friend that I had not seen for more than 20 years. After examining a Barred Owl and Golden Eagle, Dea and I had a wonderful visit. Then it was time to feed the Education Birds and Barn Owls (the last clutch of owls are still returning to the hack box for food). 

Tricia and I had just finished dinner when the doorbell rang and we admitted a Red-tailed hawk. It appears to have a head injury. We administered fluids and pain meds and will do a more thorough exam today.

The Barred Owl has a broken rib and damage in the right shoulder. The wing has been immobilized with a body wrap to allow the injuries to heal. We rarely admit Barred Owls. This bird was found near Arrowhead Travel Plaza east of Pendleton and is presumed to have been struck by a vehicle. 

The Golden Eagle had an old compound fracture of the right humerus close to the elbow. There was nothing we could do but provide a humane euthanasia. 

Hopefully the rest of the week will be relatively uneventful.