Everyone is migrating. Overhead, flocks of ducks and geese are flying south. BMW’s migration into temporary quarters is well underway. Building 1 of the Intake Center has become the office for Winnie and me.

It’s tiny, but can also provide space for Tricia and interns Isabella and Kelsi to take shelter during a cloud burst.

Winnie and Tricia reconfigured the ramp to facilitate moving large items out of the clinic like the tool box that holds lots of equipment and supplies.

A cardboard path made moving the toolbox into the temporary clinic much easier.

The temporary clinic is compact and efficient!

Bald Eagle 25-509, a fourth year female eagle, is the first patient to be treated in the temporary clinic. The eagle was struck by a vehicle in the mountains near Ukiah, OR. X-rays showed damage to her hips and an elevated blood lead level of 16.6 micrograms/deciliter. She is receiving supportive care and chelation treatment.   

The contents of the clinic are being moved into the Intake Center and a pod to make way for a portable classroom that will become the new clinic.

Supplies that may be needed in the next month or two are stored in a former hay storage shed.

There were three admissions this past week. Northern Bobwhite Quail 25-504 did not survive injuries from a cat encounter. 

Great Horned Owl 25-505 was euthanized due to injuries caused by electrocution.

Peregrine Falcon 25-506 was found in Pendleton and died shortly after admission. The falcon was exhibiting signs of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza. We should have test results by the middle of the week.

I am officially moved into my new house. Thank you Tricia, Winnie, Kelsi and Isabelle for all your help moving and thank you Winnie and Randy for the beautiful rocker and welcome mat!

On Tuesday morning Tricia captured this photo of the super harvest moon. It was spectacular and could be seen well past sunrise.

There were two admissions this past week, Sharp-shinned Hawk 25-501 and  Great Horned Owl 25-502.

The owl had bruising on the underside of her right wing from the elbow to the wrist. She is standing on a perch and eating well. Hopefully with anti-inflammatories and tincture of time she  will soon be back patrolling the night skies.

The Sharpie was found with burs tangled in her feathers. 

It was all hands on deck removing the burs.

There were a lot!

She was happy to be on her way and had no time for goodbyes!!

The majority of injured wildlife admitted to Blue Mountain Wildlife have encountered cars, cats or windows. Although the result of human activity, the injuries are not intentional. Gunshot injuries are intentional and usually illegal.

There were two gunshot victims this past week. American Crow 25-496 was found in downtown La Grande, unable to fly. An exam and x-rays found damage to its left wing, The damage was not repairable and the Crow was euthanized. The air rifle pellet that caused the damage is visible near the bird’s keel.

Cooper’s Hawk 25-498 was found in Athena. The left humerus and shoulder joint were damaged and not repairable. The hawk was euthanized.

Three Great Horned Owls and a Barn Owl were admitted with injuries that could not be repaired.

Great Horned Ow 25-491 had a coracoid fracture and a dislocated hip.

The right humerus and elbow of Great Horned Owl 25-492 were badly damaged.

The left radius and ulna of Barn Owl 25-493 were fractured.

Great Horned Owl 25-500 had injured its right wrist resulting in arthritis that had caused the joint to be frozen.

I should clarify that when I say a fracture is not repairable it means the bird will not be able to fly sufficiently well to be releasable. If a bird is non-releasable, my permits allow two options: euthanasia or placement as an education bird. If the bird’s condition and temperament are compatible with being in an education program, we can usually find suitable placement. More often than not, the birds are not suitable for education and euthanasia is the humane option.

Turkey Vulture 25-497 was found along a road, presumably struck by a vehicle. Our exam found a fractured right tibiotarsus and fibula. The fractures were close to the knee joint which was also damaged. The prognosis for recovery was poor and the bird was euthanized.

Common Snipe 25-499 was found near Joseph with a wing injury. An x-ray showed a fractured right humerus and badly damaged shoulder. The damage was not repairable. The photos below show the Snipe being positioned, under anesthesia in preparation for taking an x-ray, taped to the x-ray table in a dorsal/ventral position and the resulting x-ray.

There is some good news to share. Great Horned Owl 25-476 is continuing her recovery from extreme emaciation out in a flight pen. Her flight is perfect. We do not know what caused the owl’s emaciation, but suspect it was the result of a head injury. It is challenging to evaluate subtle abnormalities in her brain function.

Adult Swainson’s Hawk 25-443 who was admitted with multiple broken feathers, is flying fairly well, but will be spending the winter with BMW. She will need to molt in the spring before being able to make her migration journey to Argentina.

BMW’s treasurer, Kirsti, captured the photo below of a young Great Horned Owl approaching a feeding platform at sunset.

Sharp-shined Hawk 25-486 was admitted on Wednesday, a sure indication that fall migration is underway, as we see these small hawks during the spring and fall. They are bird hunters. Instead of catching a bird, the hawk’s feathers were tangled with weed seed, making him unable to fly. Once the seeds were removed his feathers looked a bit frazzled, but after a few days of preening and dining on coturnix quail he was flying well and released. 

Three Great Horned Owls were admitted this past week, all were emaciated. In addition to being extremely thin, owl 25-483 had a fractured left ulna. The prognosis for the bird’s recovery was very poor and it was euthanized.

Hip and spinal injuries seemed to be the cause of emaciation for Great Horned Owl 25-485. The owl’s packed cell volume (the percentage of red blood cells in the blood, PCV) was 38. Its total protein was 1.1. Both of those values were artificially elevated due to the bird’s dehydrated condition. If hydrated,  the owl’s total protein would be less than 1.0. In general, we cannot save a bird whose total protein is less than 2.0. Euthanasia was the most humane option. Below is the radiograph of the owl.

Great Horned Owl 25-487 appeared to have been involved in a collision that fractured several ribs. From the physical exam and blood work, we suspect it had been on the ground starving for more than a week. The PCV was 33, a low value that would probably be below 20 if the bird was hydrated. The total protein was very high at 7.0 and there were cheesy lesions in the bird’s mouth. These are signs of aspergillosis, a fungal infection. The fungus is present in the environment. When birds are stressed they are more susceptible to the fungus. In the bird’s debilitated state, the prognosis for recovery was poor and it was euthanized. 

Below is a photo of intern Rachel examining the owl while it was under anesthesia. Rachel has been part of the BMW team since August 4, assisting on a daily basis wherever needed. We wish her well as she continues her studies at Oregon State University. Thank you Rachel for all your help. 

Rachel and Tricia released a McGillivray’s Warbler at Rice Park…

And a young Swainson’s Hawk at BMW…

There are hazards when working at a rehab center, some more serious than others. Swainson’s Hawk Teddy decorated Tricia’s glasses with a mouse tail during an afternoon training session…