Thank You Bald Trust for your Continuing Support
We received a $2,000 grant from The Clara and Art Bald Trust this past week. Grant funds will help cover the cost of upgrading our x-ray system. Our x-ray reader recently quit working, in large part due to the dust that is a constant presence in eastern Oregon. The new system is completely sealed with no moving parts, essentially a maintenance-free system. Taking a whole-body radiograph is an important component of our intake protocol.
Gunshot Red-tailed Hawks 21-730 and 21-734
Below are examples of the usefulness of whole-body radiographs. The first radiograph shows an air rifle pellet near the left wrist and partially healed fractures of the left ulna and metacarpals. Notice the difference in muscle mass between the birds left and right side. The muscle on the left side is atrophied compared to the muscle on the right side because the bird was unable to use his left wing after being shot.
The second radiograph shows a very large callous at the top of the right humerus. The hawk was probably shot at least three weeks ago, explaining why the hawk is so thin. If you look closely you can see small metal fragments below the arrow. The two birds were shot with different types of projectiles. Both caused major damage. We are conducting physical therapy to increase range of motion in the first hawk’s left wrist in the hope that it will be releasable. The second hawk was euthanized because it would never be able to fly.
Sticky Weed, Terrible Stuff
I don’t know the name of this grass, but it has tiny seeds that stick feathers together. Neither the Barn Owl nor the Black-billed Magpie pictured below could fly because of the grass seed in their feathers.
Visitors from the REACH Museum
We were pleased to host Pauline and Andrea from the REACH Museum this week. We discussed ways that BMW and the Museum could partner during the pandemic. Speaking of he pandemic, I encourage you to get the COVID-19 vaccine if you have not yet done so. If you have questions or concerns about the vaccine, please talk to your health care provider.
Red-tailed Hawk Release
If you look closely in the second photo below you will see the hawk perched on a tree branch in the upper part of the picture. She seemed quite contented to be back home.
