We had another quiet week with no new admissions at the Pendleton Center. We were able to release Western Screech Owl 23-012 admitted on February 27 after being found stuck to a sticky trap. After a bath and a few days inside to completely dry and get his bearings, the little owl went out to a flight pen. There is a covered roost at the opposite end of the pen, but the owl preferred the camouflaged wooden door. Can you find him?

The owl was banded and Tricia released it at Riverfront Park in Hermiston, close (but not too close!) to where it was found. 

Please remember to place sticky traps where they will not catch unintended victims like birds or bats. It is also a good idea to cap your chimney with a spark arrester so birds or squirrels will not be tempted to investigate the chimney as a possible nesting site and sparks cannot escape and start a fire.

It was another fairly slow week as we inch toward spring. The Benton City Center admitted an adult Barn Owl from Yakima that appears to have been in a collision. It has no apparent fractures, but is unable to fly. Hopefully tincture of time is all that is needed for a full recovery.

A Fourth Barn Owl Egg Hatched

There are now 4 baby Barn Owls at the Benton City Center. Barn Owls are in a separate family from other owls. They look rather prehistoric without feathers!

There were two admissions at the Pendleton Center

A Northern Flicker was mauled by a dog and died of its injuries before we could examine it. A Western Screech Owl was found inside a house, stuck to a sticky trap. After multiple baths with Dawn Dish Soap and time in an incubator to dry off, the owl was acting like a typical feisty owl with a good appetite. It is now outside in a flight pen and should be ready for release soon.

It Looks Like Spring?!!

Saturday…

Sunday…

Thought For The Day

In the Before Times (before COVID19) during classroom presentations, I would remind students that we are all connected and what we do to the environment we do to ourselves, therefore we should take care of the world around us. It is easy to think, as individuals we have no power, but that is not true! We can each make choices that will conserve resources: turn off the light when you leave a room, combine your errands to reduce the number of miles driven, shop local and plan menus to include more whole grains and fresh produce. You will save money, consume fewer calories and reduce your environmental foot print! Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!

The First Owls have Hatched at the Benton City Center…

Michele reports two barn owl eggs have hatched and a third is hatching as I compose this newsletter. Baby season has officially arrived at BMW!

Bald Eagle 23-011

We lost the second Bald Eagle to ingested lead toxicity this year. The eagle was admitted Wednesday and died Thursday afternoon. The rapid screening test for avian influenza was negative, but his blood lead level was high, meaning it was above the level our LeadCare machine could read. We started chelation therapy immediately, but the eagle died 30 hours after he was admitted. This is why we encourage Lead Free Hunting and Fishing!

Momma Barn Owl and Eggs!!!

She wasn’t the greatest housekeeper, but this Barn Owl picked a very protected place to nest, until the owner wanted to do some remodeling. 

Fortunately he was willing to wait for volunteers Kenny and Janie to drive to Outlook, WA and collect momma and her eggs. First they captured mom, then Janie collected the eggs.

Now momma owl and her eggs are safely in a nest box at BMW’s Tri-Cities Center. Michele candled the eggs and they all appear to be fertile. Good job everyone!

Two Great Horned Owls were admitted this past week. GHOW 23-009 tested positive for avian influenza and was humanely euthanized. Below is a photo of the positive FLUDETECT test strip. The rapid test is similar to an in-home COVID test and can be completed in 15 minutes. Although the test can sometimes result in a false positive, it is a useful screening tool for owls like 23-009 who are exhibiting symptoms of avian influenza. 

We can use a more accurate PCR test for high risk species who are asymptomatic, but it requires sending the test sample to the Veterinary Diagnostic Lab in Corvallis at a cost of $80, as compared to the $10 cost of the rapid test. 

GHOW 23-010 was struck by a vehicle on Interstate-84. His left eye was badly damaged and was not going to be functional. A one-eyed Great Horned Owl has a very poor prognosis for survival if released, so he was also euthanized. 23-010 tested negative for avian influenza so illness was not a factor in his injury

Western Screech Owl 22-423 Released

Tricia released another Screech Owl this past week. It received a head injury in a collision (with a window, a car or ????) on December 26, 2022. She released it in a park near where it had been found.

Pendleton Outfitters

A new business in town and a new podcast! And we are on Episode 1…