A Northern Flicker was the first bird to be admitted in 2024. It had collided with a window and was unable to stand. A radiograph showed no sign of fractures. It had feeling and movement in both feet and legs but its breathing was labored. We are hopeful that there will be improvement with anti-inflammatories and tincture of time.

The annual BMW Membership Meeting will be via Zoom on Saturday, January 13, at 11:00 am. A Zoom link for the meeting will be posted on BMW’s home page. 

There will be a review of 2023 accomplishments and plans for 2024 will be discussed. Members will have an opportunity to vote for BMW’s 2024 officers and ask questions of board members or the director. I Hope to see you there!

We have reached the end of another year and thanks to the dedication and hard work of staff, interns and volunteers, hundreds of wild birds have had a second chance at living free. We could not do this work without the generosity and compassion of you our donors. Thank You!

We are grateful for your support and look forward to continuing with you at our side in 2024.

Kestrel Release

American Kestrel 23-348 was admitted with a swollen wrist after a collision, most likely with a vehicle. When a bird has an injury in a wing joint the prognosis is often guarded. Fortunately this little falcon defied the odds and recovered beautifully. I attempted to take a picture of the release, but I was not quick enough. He flew across the open field and landed in the clump of trees in the distance. It was a great release which is all I can ask for!

Sharp-shinned Hawk 23-369 was moved outside to a small pen. She had flown into a glass door, separating her coracoid from the sternum. We immobilized her shoulder for 2 weeks, then continued cage rest for another week. She will stay there for a week and then be moved to a flight pen.

Thank You to all who have made a year end gift to Blue Mountain Wildlife.  Your generosity has been overwhelming. If you have not yet made a year end gift, there is still time to do so through the Valley Giving Guide (before midnight 12/31/2023) and have your donation increased with matching funds. Thank You again! Happy New Year!

It continues to be quiet at the Pendleton Center with no new admissions this past week. The weather is cold, but daytime temperatures are mostly above freezing with no precipitation. Not bad for the middle of December. 

Volunteer Kenny picked up a Cooper’s Hawk at the prison in Connell, WA that had run into a fence while chasing a bird. Michele examined it and found no injuries. After a few days to recover in a hospital cage, it was moved to a flight pen where it was soon flying like an accipiter should! It was released today (Sunday) 9 days after admission. Good job everyone!

Thank you to all who have made a year-end donation to Blue Mountain Wildlife. Your generosity will allow us to start the new year off equipped to help wildlife in need. If you have not yet made a year-end gift to BMW, please consider donating through the Valley Giving Guide and have your donation qualify for matching funds. Thank you again for your generous support.

I hope you enjoy my favorite picture drawn by preschoolers who came to visit BMW… 

BMW’s Washington center will not have a permitted wildlife rehabilitator on-site as of January, 2024. This will be the situation for several years, as Michele and Laurel move to Arizona to meet job-related obligations. BMW had been caring for injured Washington migratory birds at the Pendleton center since 2001, in compliance with Oregon Administrative Rules. The Washington center was created to provide a place where baby Barn Owls, found in hay stacks that were being moved, could be raised and released after their nests were destroyed.

Currently, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is not allowing BMW to care for “Washington” birds in Pendleton due to the most recent outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza.  In response to the HPAI outbreak, BMW created a stand-alone Intake Center where wildlife can be quarantined and tested for HPAI before being admitted to the main clinic, ensuring the safety of both rehab birds and BMW’s resident education birds.

I’m hoping we can come to an agreement with ODFW to allow BMW to continue caring for the wildlife of both eastern Oregon and eastern Washington. I will keep you posted.

Two Releases this Week

Great Horned Owl 23-320 was released in a park near where she had been struck by a vehicle. She flew strongly and landed atop a light pole, looking around to get her bearings, before flying off. We wish her well and hope she stays away from the freeway!

Barn Owl 23-352 was released in a field near Hermiston, Oregon where she had been found. We suspect she had been struck by a vehicle. This is the barn owl that was raised at BMW’s Washington facility after her nest (in a haystack near Pomeroy, Washington) was moved. We know she started life as a Washington owl because she was banded before being placed in a nest box at the Washington center. 

Sharp-shinned Hawk 23-369 flew into a window at the Pilot Rock City Hall. She appears to have separated her left coracoid from the sternum. We’ve wrapped her wing to her body to immobilize the wing and shoulder. Now we wait and see if tincture of time wild the trick.

Thank you to all who have made a year-end donation to Blue Mountain Wildlife.  If you would like to help us continue caring for our region’s wildlife, please consider using the Valley Giving Guide. Your gift will be increased with matching funds. Click on the image above to go to BMW’s donation page. 

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