Two Releases: Ms Confidence & Mr Over Thinker
The Week in Review
Fortunately, business is slowing down. There were just 10 admissions: six raptors, two Black-chinned Hummingbirds (I think a first for two in the same week), an American Crow and a Ring-billed Gull. In addition to the two Swainson’s Hawks, an American Kestrel, a Great Horned Owl, and five Barn Swallows were released.
The Great Horned Owl pictured above has a head injury. She appeared to be both blind and deaf when admitted. She has regained some hearing. If at least some vision does not return, we will have no option other than to euthanize her. She is willingly eating four mice twice a day. That gives us some time to see if she can regain her vision.
Osprey 19-466 Stuck in the Mud
Truth really is stranger than fiction. This young Osprey surely thought he was diving after a fish. Instead, he firmly planted himself in a mud flat at Willow Creek Reservoir near Heppner. Fortunately, Neal Hinds, a bird watcher and good Samaritan from Hermiston, decided to check out the reservoir. Neal pulled the Osprey out of the mud, washed him off with a jug of water he had in his car, and transported him to Pendleton.
The photo above was taken the following day, after a bath. The mud came off fairly easily. There do not appear to be any injuries, but all of his tail feathers are broken. We will have to see how he flies with a damaged rudder.
