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.