A new species: Myotis evotis
Yes, its a bat! An Idaho family visiting Anthony Lakes in eastern Oregon turned the car around to see what was crossing the road. It was a bat! They (carefully) picked the bat up and took it into Baker City where they called Blue Mountain Wildlife and were referred to Baker City volunteer Tara. Tara sent this photo of the bat, a Western Long-eared Myotis. According to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildife's website, they are found throughout Oregon, generally preferring coniferous forests. The bat appears to have an injured leg. It will be transported to Pendleton where it can be anesthetized and examined.
Another case of metabolic bone disease...
A well-intensioned, but misinformed, individual found a nestling American Kestrel that had fallen from its nest. For 9 days the kestrel was fed chicken, turkey and ham (sandwich meat?) and some mealworms and crickets. At some point, the tips of most of the primary feathers were clipped. Finally, when the kestrel was unable to stand, Blue Mountain Wildlife was called.
An exam revealed a fracture in the right leg, stress marks in the tail feathers (which could be caused by the stress of being separated from his family or poor nutrition for example) and clipped primary feathers. X-rays taken at Pendleton Veterinary Clinic showed decreased density throughout the kestrel's skeleton, the result of metabolic bone disease (caused by poor nutrition). The term "pathological" is used to describe a condition caused by poor management.
Awesome Volunteers
As is always the case, BMW had help this past week from many volunteers throughout the region we serve, including Claudia, Dan, Jay, Laurel and Michele in the Tri-City, WA area, Tim, Liz and Annie in Dayton, WA, Tara in Baker City, OR, Lily, Bob and the interns in Pendleton and, the Tribal Bus Service who transports birds from La Grande, Walla Walla and the Tri-Cities. Thank you volunteers!
An Amazing Assortment
One never knows what the next phone call will bring. In addition to the bat, admissions this past week included a Hummingbird, a Western Kingbird, a Cedar Waxwing, a cat caught Robin, a Mourning Dove, hatchling California Quail, the Kestrel, a Cooper's Hawk, a Western Screech Owl, 3 juvenile Red-tailed Hawks and 3 Barn Owls.
Of the Barn Owls, one had nonrepairable wing fractures, one is an emaciated fledgling who seems to be responding well to supportive care and the third has a broken leg from being hit by a car. In the first photo below interns October and Emily anesthetize the owl with the broken leg prior to being examined and treated. In the second photo October recovers the owl from anesthesia.
Halfway, OR
Emily accompanied me to Halfway, OR this past week where we provided a program for the library summer reading program. Halfway is located 50 miles east of Baker City, halfway between Pine and Cornucopia (now a ghost town) and has a population of less than 300. More than 50 people attended the program!
Next week the Education Team will provide a program on Thursday at 2 p.m. at the Richland Public Library in Richland, WA
