Construction Is About To Begin
One year ago you, friends and supporters of Blue Mountain Wildlife, were rising to the Soar Higher Capital Campaign Challenge by BMW member Linda Wolcott to match her $25,000 donation. By the end of last April, you had exceeded Linda’s challenge, raising a combined total of $53,000. Since then additional donations, grants from the Autzen Foundation and Blue Mountain Community Foundation and funds from a bequest by Cathy Oliver have grown the fund to $86,000.
This week Kralman Steel Structures began work on a new building that will provide housing for Golden and Bald Eagles, Turkey Vultures, four species of large hawks, and three species of large owls. Construction is scheduled to take approximately six weeks. We are so grateful to everyone who helped make this project possible. Hopefully, if we are diligent in our efforts in defeating COVID-19, you will have an opportunity to see the new display pens at BMW’s annual October Open House.
Week In Review: The First Baby of the Season
As is generally the case, the first baby of the season was a hatchling Great Horned Owl who fell from its nest. The tiny owlet was uninjured. The picture above is a compilation of two photos. On the left the owlet weighed 107 grams (almost 4 ounces). On the right, four days later, it weighed 192 grams (nearly 7 ounces). When we accuse someone of “eating like a bird,” we usually mean they are eating a very small amount. Not so!
In general, birds have a higher metabolic rate than mammals since it takes more energy to fly than to walk (or run). Therefore, pound for pound, or gram for gram, birds need more calories than mammals. This little owl can easily eat one-quarter of its body weight per day in mice: $0.75/20 gram mouse X 4 mice = $3.00 (and I didn’t include the cost of shipping the mice!). This is why we spend so much money on food. BMW’s food expense in 2019 was $61,737, down significantly from $103,175 in 2018, when there was a tsunami of baby Barn Owls.
Feeding a good quality diet is one of the most important aspects of wildlife rehabilitation. It is critically important to feed baby birds an appropriate diet. Feeding hamburger or steak to a baby raptor, for even a day or two, can cause irreversible metabolic bone disease. If you find a baby bird please do not feed it. Call your nearest wildlife rehabilitation center right away (just google wildlife rehabilitation by state) to determine the best course of action.
Thought for the Week
Daphne and Lucy still refuse to take Safe Social Distancing seriously. Fortunately, dogs can’t catch COVID-19.
