Four birds were admitted to the wildlife center this past week. The first was a Common Raven.The details of what happened to the bird were vague, but it had been fed by people since it was a tiny nestling, They said it could fly, but it didn’t like to. A physical exam and radiographs revealed the bird had metabolic bone disease due to a calcium deficient diet. The long bones in both wings showed signs of poorly healed fractures. We all need calcium in our diet in order to grow healthy bones and for metabolism. Euthanasia was the only humane option since metabolic bone disease is not reversible. 

Two shotgun pellets are also visible in the x-ray. It is illegal to shoot a Raven, but the damage caused by the pellets was minor compared to the damage caused by the poor diet. 

If you find a baby bird on the ground, please call the nearest wildlife rehabilitation center. Taking a migratory bird out of a nest is illegal as they are protected by state and federal law.

Great Horned Owl 24-053 fell out of its nest and impaled its wing on  a sharp stump at the base of the tree. The damage to the wing was too extensive to repair and the owlet was euthanized. Nestling Barn Owl 24-054 was found when hay was being loaded onto a truck. Unfortunately its siblings did not survive. This little guy is fine and now in a hack box with 11 other Barn Owls! 

Western Bluebird 24-055 was found in a road and was likely hit by a car. A radiograph showed it had a compound fracture in the right humerus and old, healed fractures in its right leg. What a tough little bird! Unfortunately the wing fracture could not be repaired and the bird was euthanized.