Summer is officially here and temperatures reached the mid 90’s on Saturday. That makes today’s 81 degrees feel like spring has returned. There were ten new admissions in the past week. Most didn’t fare well after encountering cars, cats, windows or power lines.

Northern Flicker 24-212 is responding well after hitting a window. Fledgling Red- tailed Hawk 24-213 seems to be OK, but is a in quarantine until it can be tested for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). Red-tails are a high risk species for HPAI, a disease we can rarely treat successfully. The closest lab that can test for HPAI is the Veterinary Diagnostic Lab in Corvallis. UPS can transport the sample over night with standard shipping, but it takes two days to complete the test. This means the hawk admitted on Thursday will remain in quarantine until we receive its HPAI test results next Wednesday. We take these precautions to protect the other rehab birds in the clinic and our resident education birds.

Young Ring-necked Pheasant 24-216, not quite old enough to fly,was found in the middle of Hermiston. While pheasants are not native to North America, having been introduced here in the 1880’s, they are not considered a pest, but a popular upland game bird. This bird may have been raised in captivity and escaped its enclosure or be a wandering teenager. Either way it seems to be healthy and will be released in suitable habitat when its a little older.   

We were pleased to welcome long-time Washington volunteer Toni and her friends Terri Sue and Noelle for a visit. 

They shared a few photos of birds they spotted as they traveled about eastern Oregon. Toni captured an Osprey bringing a fish to its young…

Terri Sue shared this photo of an adult Great Grey Owl…

And Noelle caught this young Great Gray Owl dining on a rabbit under the watchful eye of its parent…

Tricia caught one of the young Kestrels we recently released having a bed-time snack…

Thank You to Tricia, Harini, Rebecca, Nora and Adrian for planting the Blue Mountain Wildlife Forest. Twelve willow and 6 bamboo trees have been planted. A couple people warned of the invasive nature of bamboo when I mentioned them in the last newsletter. Our research indicated that this species can be controlled by breaking off (and eating!) shoots that spread in an undesired direction or by mowing. They will provide excellent perching opportunities for many birds.

Kirsti Captured Kestrels And Barn Owls After Release

Adrian and Tyler spent some quality time with Daryl…

And LB and I went for a walk…

Kirsti’s Barn Owl in the moonlight…

Birds came from throughout eastern Oregon to Blue Mountain Wildlife this past week. A starving Golden Eagle was transported more than 140 miles from Unity, Or by ODFW and the Tribal Bus. The one-year old eagle was nearly 50% under weight and we were not able to save her.

Two American Kestrels from separate locations in Ontario, OR, a distance of 167 miles were also transported to Pendleton by the Tribal Bus. A third Kestrel was found in a dumpster at a freeway exit near Hermiston. Fledging can be dangerous work! Fortunately the kestrels were uninjured and will soon be placed in a hack box in preparation for release.

A fourth fledgling Kestrel was not as lucky. He crashed during an early flight, fracturing the left radius and ulna at the wrist joint. The injury was not repairable and the tiny falcon was euthanized.

A young Barn Owl released at the end of May was struck by a vehicle not far from BMW. His left humerus was fractured and right elbow dislocated. The injuries were not repairable and the owl was euthanized.

A fledgling Great Horned Owl was found in the middle of the road between Enterprise and Joseph. The person who found the owl transported it to La Grande and put it on the Tribal Bus. The owl is in quarantine until she can be tested for avian influenza in the coming week. Her injuries appear to be minimal and we are optimistic that her recovery will be swift. We are very grateful to the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation. The bus service is provided free of charge to all residents in the region, both humans and birds. Thank you CTUIR!

Two nestling Ferruginous Hawks were found in the middle of a rural road near Heppner. These hawks are a federal species of concern and rarely admitted to BMW. They are found in open and arid landscapes and nest in juniper or cottonwood trees or on rocky outcrops. These two birds appear to have been blown from a nest on a rocky cliff. Each has a broken leg that has been splinted. It is hoped that their young age will help them recover quickly.

You can spend a weekend or a week! This is our busiest time of year and we are short-handed. If you have a few hours or a few days to spare, we would welcome your help. The intern trailer is available to stay in. We are pleased to have board treasurer Kirsti and her husband Ken here for a few days. They are helping with a variety of tasks including making preparations for the installation of new cameras in the clinic and Education Building. Thank you Ken and Kirsti! 

Kirsti captured these photos of American Kestrels as they began exploring their world. We will continue placing mice on the platform until they no longer return for food, having perfected the craft of catching their own.

Like a week ago, there were another 17 admissions this past week. Short-eared Owl 24-164 was tangled in a barbed-wire fence. The finders were able to get the owl out of the fence and bring him to the center. Once the wound was cleaned and the damage could be seen, two tears in the skin were closed with surgical staples and the wing was bandaged to immobilize it. The damage seems to be mostly superficial. Hopefully it will heal quickly.

We suspect that Osprey 24-169 has been electrocuted. There are small wounds on the right wing tip and left foot. The primary feathers of both wings appear to be burned. It can take several days for tissue damage to become apparent. Although adult Osprey are notorious for not wanting to eat, this guy seems to appreciate trout! Their feet are perfectly designed to catch slippery fish.

A week ago Sunday, a Black-billed Magpie 24-157 was found caught by its neck in power line guy wires. Initially the fledgeling couldn’t hold his head up. He has made great progress this week and is now able to eat on his own.

There are two young songbirds in the clinic, nestling American Robin 24-166 and fledgling Brewer’s Blackbird 24-168. The Blackbird is slightly older and will soon be making its first attempts at flight.

The four Great Horned Owls being raised at the GHOW hack site have “fledged.” They are still roosting in the old barn were the have been fed for the past three weeks. Three of the owls can be seen in the photo below. We will continue providing them with food as they practice their flying and hunting skills. They will have the additional benefit of interacting with a wild family of Great Horned Owls whose young are the same age.

We have 18 willow and bamboo trees that will create a windbreak and provide perching opportunities for many birds. If you have two or three hours during the middle of one day this coming week, we would appreciate your help getting them into the ground. If you are able to help please call 541-278-0215 and let us know what time works for you. Thank You!

There also is a need for a pick-up truck that can be used to take one load to the Transfer Station for disposal. If that is something you can help with please call the number above.

There were 17 new admissions this past week, including 10 more Barn Owls. All have been banded. The door to the flight pen will be opened this week, allowing them to begin fledging.

Great Horned Owl 24-154 was struck by vehicle near La Grande and brought to the center. Her wing fractures were new injuries, but she had strange lesions surrounding both shoulders. The cause wasn’t apparent, but they had been present for some time and were likely responsible for the owl’s emaciated condition. S,adly all we could offer her was euthanasia.

Black-tailed Jack Rabbit 24-155’s back was broken when he was struck by a vehicle. The injury was not repairable and he was euthanized.

We were pleased to have three second grade classes from Central Elementary School in La Grande visit. They dissected owl pellets, played the migration game and learned about eagles, hawks, owls and Turkey Vultures!

We said goodby to intern Harini this week. She quickly became part of Team BMW during her 8-week internship. She even made time to complete a grant proposal to the Richard King Mellon Foundation to help fund a new hospital. She will enter Georgetown University in the fall as an environmental biology major. We wish you the very best Harini and are confident you are destined to accomplish great things!