In Memmoriam
We extend our deepest sympathies to the family of Alex Gadaire who died of a seizure disorder this past week. Alex loved birds of prey. He completed a BMW internship in 2013 and volunteered at the Pendleton center this past summer. Below he is providing physical therapy for a Great Horned Owlet. Winnie compiled this remembrance of Alex
John Day Red-tailed Hawk
A Red-tailed Hawk was taken to the John Day ODFW office and then transported to Pendleton. Five shotgun pellets are visible in the radiograph. The humerus fracture is two or three weeks old and not repairable. The hawk is the 21st documented gunshot bird in 2015.
Busy Volunteers
There were nine admissions this week, four on Friday. A Barred Owl hit a window in Yakima. Volunteers Mark and Wayne responded, transporting the owl to the Tri-Cities Center. They received a call regarding a Red-tailed Hawk in Wapato on their way home. They responded to the hawk call, turned around and met volunteer Laurel in Prosser, who then transported the hawk and the owl to Umatilla where she met Bob, who brought the birds to Pendleton.
While Bob was driving to Umatilla I drove into town and met a man from Milton-Freewater who had found an injured Ruffed Grouse at Harris Park (17 miles from Milton-Freewater). We had time to examine and treat the hawk, owl and grouse, before meeeting the Confederated Tribes’ Walla Walla bus to pick up a Western Screech Owl.
The Screech Owl had been found in Troy, OR the day before. The finder called BMW on his way home to Dayton, WA. Friday morning he transported the owl to Animal Clinic East in Walla Walla where she was examined and her injured eye treated. Then they put her on the evening bus to Pendleton (with eye meds - thank you!).
As you can see, it takes lots of people to operate a wildlife center, and that was just one day! We are very fortunate to have such dedicated volunteers and willing business partners. Thank you all, you are appreciated very much!
