Ione Community Charter School 1st and 2nd Graders Visit BMW
Students from Ione played the Migration Game, dissected owl pellets and learned about the raptors of eastern Oregon. Below, Samantha and Kerry are helping them dissect the pellets.
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Two Bald Eagles were admitted this past week. The first, an adult female with a brood patch (indicating she was part of a breeding pair) died just before reaching Pendleton. She was found near Brewster, WA, 230 miles north of Pendleton, unable to fly. She had no obvious injuries, although some of the skin on her left foot was discolored. Her blood lead level was 13.9 micrograms/deciliter, high enough to affect coordination and decision making, but generally not fatal. The cause of her death remains unclear.
What is clear is how amazing BMW volunteers are. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife called at 11:30 a.m. to see if we could take the eagle. It took a few phone calls and texts and about an hour-and-a-half to arrange the four hour trip. She arrived in Pendleton at 6:30 p.m.. WDFW volunteers transported the eagle from Brewster to Ephrata. Adams County Pet Rescue covered the Ephrata to Othello leg. BMW volunteers Kennie and Janie picked up the eagle in Othello and transported her to Umatilla, where they met Bob. The eagle was alive when they reached Umatilla, but died before reaching Pendleton. Although the outcome was not what we had hoped, the effort was extraordinary. Thank you to everyone who tried so hard.
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The second Bald eagle, an immature male, was found 180 miles southwest of Pendleton near Kimberly. He had been seen on the ground for about two weeks before the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife was called. ODFW transported the eagle to Pendleton the following day. The exam revealed that he was quite thin, his right wingtip had been severed and part of his left minor metacarpal was missing. There were also abnormalities in the skin and blood vessels of both wings. We suspect that the eagle had been electrocuted. He is responding well to supportive care. Although he will not be able to fly, he may be a good candidate for use in education.
Welcome Taylor
On Friday we welcomed new intern Taylor for an 8-week internship. Taylor is a senior at Murray State University in Murray, Kentucky, and will be applying to veterinary school in the fall. Below she and intern Kerry are treating the eye of a Burrowing Owl.
